tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23725972768389668262024-03-04T23:26:03.797-08:00Rooted in Christ"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Colossians 2
;6-7Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-51646086666542866002016-01-26T18:02:00.000-08:002016-01-26T18:02:32.642-08:00"Newness of Life"
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My final sermon assignment in preaching class was to write a funeral sermon. I wrote this as the sermon I wish I had preached at my Great Aunt Sandy's funeral. I am sharing for my family as we continue to think about her from time to time and wonder what we might continue to take away from her death. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Isaiah 25:6-9</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Romans 6:1-11</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Newness of Life”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">I entered the room and immediately noticed Sandy was in too
much pain for hugs and too frail for the traditional moment of sitting on her
lap and playing Sandy-Clause with her.<span>
</span>Her mouth was chapped and she had a bucket of ice she was using to
provide moisture to her lips.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">I recognized this point in the
process from my time as a nurse aide,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Sandy was in the process of dying,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Sandy was near the end of her life.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>With tears in my eyes
I approached her bed, knelt down, took her hand, whispered in her ear “I love
you, Sandy.”<span> </span>She squeezed my hand and
woke from her nap as if she had been waiting on me.<span> </span>With tears in her eyes she said, “I love you
too kiddo.”<span> </span>I kissed her forehead and
she smiled and asked, “Will you wait with me? The preacher is coming and I’m
going to be baptized.”<span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">“You don’t have to do this you know?” I said.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">“I know” she replied “But I had planned to just before my
diagnosis, and now I’m out of time. I want to.”<span>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">I kissed her head once again and assured her I would be there
all night until she wanted me to go.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">We talked about life,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">about the fear of dying,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">about the short but full life she
lived</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">before the preacher got there.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>When he did, my
family, all of us gathered around her bed in that ICU and watched something
magical happen.<span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">The preacher looked her in the eyes and said, “Sandy, we’ve
already had this discussion, but gathered here with your family today I ask you
again:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">“Do you accept our Lord Jesus Christ
as your Savior and welcome him into your heart.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">“I do.” she said with a smile.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">The preacher took his small bottle of
oil and anointed her head saying the familiar words “Sandy, child of God, I
baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">We all stood around in that tiny ICU room that evening full
of tears and laughter and sorrow and joy.<span>
</span>After that moment though, Sandy was different.<span> </span>She didn’t complain about her pain, she
didn’t shed anymore tears, she didn’t throw herself the pity party I would have
after getting the news hours earlier that time was running out and death was
imminent.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Instead Sandy told stories,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>she laughed, she cracked jokes, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">and she shared family stories she
wanted to be passed on for generations.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">As Sandy stared death in the face she did so with the newness
of life she found in her baptism-the newness of life promised in the scripture
we read earlier from Romans.<span> </span>As I
reflect on the beautiful transformation I witnessed that night in the ICU with
Sandy, I reflect on the beautiful transformation of our world in relationship
with God. I reflect on the transformation of our lives when we too walk in the
newness of life found only in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">When we gather here to celebrate the life of Sandy we also
gather to celebrate the resurrection of Christ because it is in His
resurrection that we have the chance to live as Sandy did. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Forgetting the sorrow,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>forgetting the heartbreak, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">forgetting the tough days, forgetting
the regrets, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">and looking forward to the moments of
love, acceptance, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">and inner peace that comes with
knowing that </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">you, I , we</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>have been set free from the guilt, the shame,
and the brokenness of our sinful nature. BECAUSE IN CHRIST WE ARE A NEW
CREATION!<span> </span>We are invited to live as such.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">If there is one thing that we can learn from Sandy and the
way she carried herself in those final moments of life, it is that the newness
of Christ is real.<span> </span>It is powerful, and
it can give us great hope that the powers of this world are worthless in
comparison to the power of Christ.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Here we had Sandy staring death in the face, in the final
hours of life, and she leaned into Christ, took a leap of faith and said No
More! She decided moping and being scared was not what she was called to and
after her baptism she took to heart this newness of life, leaned into the
promises of God and shared the Good News with each of us around the bed.<span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">As we leave this place</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">As we leave and head to the cemetery
to put Sandy’s body in her earthly resting place,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">As we say the words, ashes to ashes,
dust to dust</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">As we bid our farewells</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">As we remember our favorite moments</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">As we tell our favorite stories</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">May we remember the newness of life
Sandy has shown us</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">May we make the choice to walk in
that newness as she did</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Staring our mortal lives in the face
and proclaiming that Christ holds power</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Christ has overcome our brokenness by
granting us reconciliation</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Christ has overcome our sorrow by
showing us love</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Christ has overcome death in his
resurrection</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Christ has granted us a newness of
life and invited us to live into that life not just in the final moments of
life, but today, and tomorrow, and the next day.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">So as we leave this place and this
day where we shed tears, share laughs, and mourn the loss </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">of our dear friend, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">mother, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">sister, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">geemaw, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">and aunt, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">may we do so trusting in the promise
Sandy gave us a glimpse of,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>that is trusting in a life that proclaims
Christ’s power in word and deed.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Sandy wanted all of us to trust in
that newness, in that promise, in all of the promises of God.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">So let us lean in as she did,
laughing, sharing stories, and proclaiming the power of God in our world.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Let us lean in and trust the promise
of God to make us clean and set us free from our sins.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Let us lean in and bask in that
newness in mind, body, and soul as we journey in this life-never knowing what
each day will bring.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">And may we challenge each other to
accept this newness and live as Sandy inspires us to-lives of service,
humility, and love for the sake of Christ in our world.</span></span></span></div>
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Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-59753294548248049542015-10-16T17:55:00.000-07:002015-10-16T17:55:37.267-07:00Missing the Point<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"> Sermon for Sunday October 11, 2015 Harmony and First Presbyterian Churches Johnson County Arkansas.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Text: Mark 19:32-45</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"></span></span></div>
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" 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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"> I’ll never forget the
day we were given a tour of an active Mountaintop removal site in Eastern
Kentucky. We walked around and were
given a driving tour of what used to be a beautiful mountain. There were sections where rock trucks bigger
than any vehicle I have ever seen were carrying pieces of the mountain
away. There was another section where
elk were reintroduced to the mountains.
There was a tree farm. There was
something that looked like grass, which was also painted with fertilizer. And
as we ended the tour we got back to the front of the site and I stood looking out
over the destruction of the coal mining operation on one side and the beautiful
Appalachian mountains on the other when our guide came up and said “Did you see
the elk sitting over there? Beautiful reclamation site isn’t it?” It took every
filter I had inserted for the entire trip for me to not say, “No, sir, actually
this is obscene. We take apart mountains
and attempt to put them back together, disturb the wildlife, and you want to
call it beautiful?” But instead I shrugged my shoulders and said “yeah,
beautiful.” As we headed to the car
(most of us in tears) I took one last look at the destruction around me and
thought to myself “We as Americans, as consumers of energy, as followers of Christ
have missed the point of the creation story. We have failed to be good stewards
of this earth.” I’ll never forget the
feeling of emptiness that came with the feeling of missing the point, of
failing to understand God’s plan for creation, of failing to have the courage
to say something to our guide about how I really felt that day as I stood on
the reclamation site. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"> As I read the texts
for this morning I couldn’t help but come back time and time again to the
disciples and their continued pattern of missing Jesus’ point. You see this is not the first or second time
Jesus predicts his death. This is the third time he does so.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">The first came after Peter’s Declaration that Jesus was the
Messiah, when Jesus rebuked him and said, “Get behind me Satan!” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">The second was after he healed a boy possessed with Spirits…
and scripture says the disciples did not understand his predictions and were
afraid to ask him any questions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">The text from this morning is the third and final prediction of
Jesus death and resurrection.</span></span></div>
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The text tells us that they were already on the road to Jerusalem when Jesus
took the twelve aside from the larger crowd to make this declaration, he tells
them that he is going to be mocked, spat upon, flogged, and killed. And James and John respond by taking this as
an opportunity to ask if they can sit at the right and left hand of Jesus. The
conversation continues and the disciples get angry with one another and finally
Jesus tells them it is not about who gets to sit on the right or the left it is
about living a life of service. It is
not about being the greatest; it is about becoming the lowest. It is not about having the answers or the
solution it is about serving. It is about waiting on people, giving them the
basic necessities to live, learning what their problems are, listening to them,
loving them, and giving them all that they need. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Jesus predicts his death and resurrection and then tells the
disciples that this life is not about being great. He has made it clear throughout the Gospel of
Mark that this life-that is the life of following Christ-will be one of
suffering, maybe even to the point of death.
And after he is gone it will be a life of service, of putting the needs
of others, even strangers before the needs and the desires of the self. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">And Jesus didn’t just command his disciples or us to cast our
needs and desires aside to serve others-Jesus did it. Jesus healed the blind,
those with leprosy, and the hemorrhaging woman.
All of these would have been considered unclean or deserving of their
afflictions. Jesus ate with tax collectors
and sinners. Jesus didn’t look out for
himself or put himself before the needs of others, he served. He served
selflessly. Even to the point of death. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">The disciples were on the road to Jerusalem. On the road to Jesus’ betrayal, death, and
resurrection. The disciples knew they
were following the messiah, the anointed one who would change the world they
knew, but they couldn’t comprehend what Jesus was telling them. He was telling them he wasn’t the messiah
they expected. He was telling them that
sitting at his right and his left was not going to look the way they thought it
would. He was not going to go out in a
glorious reign of power that overthrew the oppressive systems of the time. There would be no end to war, no deliverance
of God’s people from enemies, and no immediate divine intervention that turned
the world as it was upside down.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">No. Jesus was going to
suffer at the hands of humans. He was going to be ridiculed, spat upon, beaten,
and nailed to a cross. Jesus was going
to die hanging on that cross with two criminals at his right and left
hands. He was going to be buried in a
tomb just like any other human being.
But unlike any other he was going to rise from the dead, overcome death,
and reconcile humanity to the One who created the universe. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">John Calvin in a sermon during passion week said: </span><span style="line-height: 200%;">"In truth, though death in itself
was cursed in its nature, yet when the Son of God was put to death, the angels
worshiped Him as their chief and sovereign prince. And if we consider the power
of His death and the fruit that comes from it, we will find it not at all a
curse, but it will be the fountain of justice, life, and salvation."</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Christ’s death is the fountain of justice, life, and
salvation because in his death we were given true life. Not a life seeking to be the greatest, not
seeking to be at the right or left hand of the messiah, but one of service to
humankind. One of being Christ in this world.
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">We reflect that service in the work we do here: </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>[Work of the Churches]</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">These are great ministries and do great work.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">The questions we have to ask ourselves are: What is our
motivation? Is it to feel good? Is it to seem good? Or is it pure self-sacrifice,
putting the needs of others before ourselves?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">What <b>more</b> can we
do in our world? What <b>more </b>can we do in this place? How can
we reach out to those who are unclean or afflicted? How can we serve those with
addictions? How can we help those who have fallen on hard times? </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">How can we share the Gospel with those who haven’t heard
it? </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">How can we as a church and individuals continue on-reminded
of the death of Christ- living into that fountain of justice, life, and
salvation?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">I was speaking recently with a group about sharing the gospel
with those who don’t know the story. It
came up in our discussion that many of us didn’t know people who needed to hear
the story of salvation in Jesus Christ.
I think the same can be said of those who need to be served. We may not know them on a personal level, but
are we willing to step out of our comfort zones to get to know them? To get to
know their needs? To serve them as Christ would have? It is easy to sit back and send money or
supplies but are we willing to build lasting relationships?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">In my time in Eastern Kentucky we built some relationships
with some wonderful people. We spent an
entire week listening to stories and hearing how life and culture are in the
mountains. We learned how coal mining is
crucial to the survival of the people of the mountains in Eastern Kentucky and
how more and more jobs were leaving because mountaintop removal was becoming
the new way of doing things. What we
found on our listening trip was a group of people who loved the mountains, they
loved life in Appalachia, they had loved ones who worked in the mines, and to
them life was indeed beautiful on that mountain. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">At the surface beauty isn’t always what we expect. For the
disciples beauty was not in sitting at the right and left of Jesus as they
expected but it became caring for God’s people.
The point was not to be the greatest but to humble oneself in service to
the least. It is easy to miss the point
in our world. It is easy to get caught
up in the flashy ideas, new technology, and next greatest thing. But what if we decided to get caught up in
the business of humility? What if we stepped out of our comfort zones and
befriended the strangers who are different or “other than” us? What if we began
to tell a story of a man who was so concerned with the lowest of the low that
he followed a road into Jerusalem, onto a cross, and out of an empty tomb so
that all the world might know and have an intimate relationship with the
greatest of the great? What if we
stopped missing the point and started seeing the beauty? What if we consider the power of Christ’s
death and the fruit that comes to us from it-the justice, life, and salvation
for all of God’s people. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">From the strip mines of Appalachia to Ferguson, MO</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">From the delta to the lower ninth ward of New Orleans</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">From third world countries to war torn cities</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">From those ravaged by addiction to those stigmatized with
intellectual or physical disabilities</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">From the rich to the poor</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Whether black, white, brown, red or otherwise</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">What if all of God’s children were seen as people worthy of
our reaching out to. Not as charity cases but as children of God who deserve
authentic human relationships and the opportunity to learn about living in a
relationship with the God who created them.
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">The disciples may have missed the point of discipleship but we
don’t have to. Who are the “other than”
people in our lives? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zones to truly
serve God’s people? </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">May we be willing and able for the sake of Jesus Christ in
our world. </span></span></div>
Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-38670634290131390052015-10-10T16:31:00.001-07:002015-10-10T16:31:30.801-07:00Encountering the Human JesusI haven't posted a sermon or a blog in a long time...so here goes nothing...weird format of part manuscript part notes, sorry for that, but it's what I'll preach from tomorrow. <br />
<br />
Sermon preached at Harmony and First Presbyterian Churches of Clarksville, Arkansas on 10/11/15<br />
Text: Mark 14:32-42 <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’
He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated.
And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’
And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’
He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour?
Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’
And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.
And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him.
He came a third time and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and
taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed
into the hands of sinners.
Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’ </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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I have to admit that when I read
this text from Mark I find myself thinking “Jesus why are you being so rude and
mean to your disciples?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I dig
into the text I realize time and time again that in this text we do not meet
the superhero Jesus we expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not
meet the Messiah the disciples expected Jesus to be. What we encounter in this
text is a Jesus who is human. He is dirty, scared, tired, and grieving what is
to come. In this encounter we cannot help but to be drawn into the story and to
allow ourselves to experience and identify with the same emotions the disciples
and Jesus experienced. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
This passage in the Gospel of Mark
is important because it is the turning point of the Gospel. Throughout the
entire Gospel of Mark we find the disciples stumbling along and failing to
understand who Jesus is and what Jesus is doing. Look at Peter’s declaration of
Jesus as the Messiah and Jesus rebuking him, or the transfiguration when Peter
wants to build a monument to remember the moment. Despite having good
intentions and falling short time and time again the disciples keep following
Jesus and keep trying to understand the best they can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For 14 chapters Jesus’ disciples follow him
from town to town, they are rebuked by him, they stand alongside him when he is
approached and questioned by religious leaders, they do tasks he asks which
they think are impossible, and they stick with him through it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
In the 14 verses just before this
text Jesus makes 3 predictions:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
1-Betrayal of Judas</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
2-Dessertion of the 12</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
3-Peter’s denial</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
In the 36 verses immediately after
this text all 3 of the predictions come true. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
And in this particular moment in
the story we find Jesus and all of his disciples in Gethsemane, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE;">Jesus is no longer
making divine predictions but instead he is having a moment of humanity, a
moment where the weight of what is coming down the road at him head on is
weighing on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he takes his inner
circle of friends for moral support while he has an intimate conversation with
his Abba, his Father, and he tells them he is very sad and asks them to remain
in a particular place and keep watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The disciples then fall asleep. Unfortunately we are not given much clue
to why they fell asleep or if they prayed at all before falling asleep. The
only thing the text gives us is that their eyes were so heavily burdened, or
oppressed that they could not stay awake.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This might be the one time in scripture that
we see the full humanity in Jesus as his vulnerability is revealed to us. Jesus
places all he has left in the hands of his disciples while he attempts to make
sense for himself of what is coming. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From this mindset
- from fear and shock and sorrow - he asks that God would simply take the cup
from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asks to be spared from all that
he has predicted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in the midst of
asking for all of this, he realizes that God’s will is what will carry all him
down the road ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not his own
understanding or doing, but the divine plan and purpose of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After acknowledging this, Jesus returns to
his disciples to find them asleep. He is perplexed and comes across as
angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE;">This cycle of prayer
and return continues until Jesus says that it is enough and the “time has
come.” These three words set the tone for the entire passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reader can see Jesus going through the
stages of grief (depression-I am very sad to the point of death, anger-disciples
can’t stay awake, bargaining-take this cup, and finally acceptance-leaving
Gethsemane and walking the road of suffering all the way to death on the cross)
In the midst of this divine story of journeying towards death and resurrection
we get a human Jesus, falling on his knees before God and asking human
questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is in seeing these things
we can truly understand, believe, and identify with a Jesus was truly human. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE;">This passage from
Mark is intense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is full of raw
emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not the Jesus we
normally think of when we read scripture or talk about Christ and the work of
Christ in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Christ is…too
human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too emotional. Too messy. But
isn’t that the Christ we need in a time such as this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a time where every time we check the news
we are brought to tears because the world is so broken?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When headlines read 11 year old boy shoots 8
year old girl over a puppy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where
parents live in fear of sending children to school because they are not sure
they will come home alive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A world where
the justice system seems more like a continued cycle of injustice? A world
where forgiveness is absent? A world where war, poverty, and injustice
reign?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t this the time and place
where we need a Christ who is on his knees praying and begging us to stay awake
with him while he prays?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t this the
world where we wish we might hear ENOUGH ALREADY, ENOUGH!! Isn’t this the world
where we so desperately pray that God’s will be done and that all people learn
to participate in the love, mercy, and justice of God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE;">In these 10 verses
in Mark we are met with a very human Jesus and his human disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His disciples were so physically and
spiritually exhausted that they could not stay awake as Jesus had asked them
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet Jesus still came back time and
time again and asked them to wake up, to pray, to keep watch with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE;">Jesus returns to us
time after time and day after day and we too are invited each and every day to
wake up, to keep awake to the tasks of discipleship, to follow Christ, to
participate in the ongoing work of Christ in the world, and to pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a world such as ours it is easy to become
discouraged. It is easy to feel the walls caving in and the darkness becoming
overwhelming. It is easy to long for and want a superhero Jesus to return and
fix everything around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But today we met
by a dirty, tired, scared, and human Jesus who reminds us that the story does
not end with “enough” it does not end with “the time has come” the story does not
end with the failure of the disciples, it does not end with our faults, our
fears and our failures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It continued on
and continues on. Jesus left Gethsemane and journeyed to the cross where he
took on the sins, the brokenness, the despair of the world and died so we might
know what it is to live reconciled to the God who created us and calls us by
name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news today is that even as
we often journey the road of despair, betrayal, and desertion of God like the
disciples did that day, even though we journey in fear, grief, anger, and
darkness we have a Savior who journeyed to the tomb which is now empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We journey with Christ who is willing to get
on his knees and pray and cry with us in this broken world so that the hope of
light might shine through the darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE;">It is in this
journey we are invited to participate in the ongoing work of Christ. We are
invited to proclaim the good news, to reach out to those imprisoned, to welcome
the stranger, to lend hand to the refugee, to clothe the naked, to feed the
hungry, to love the unloved, to be light in a dark and broken world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news is that Christ lives in each
and every one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question is:
are we willing to participate? Are we willing to get dirty? Are we willing to
look at the raw emotions of humanity and stare them in the face with the hope,
mercy, and love of Jesus Christ? Are we willing to fall on the ground and pray
with raw and honest emotions so that this world might look and be different
than it is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We may
not have encountered a superhero Jesus in the text this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I believe we have encountered Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We encountered the Jesus who is right for
this time and place in our history that is the one who challenges us to wake
up, to pray without ceasing, and to participate in the work set before us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This human Jesus is someone we can identify
with because we see that just as we lament the way the world is around us Jesus
laments with us. But Jesus does not call us to stay in that lament, instead he
calls us to find it within ourselves to say enough is enough, it is time to go
from here, it is time to head towards reconciliation, towards grace, towards
love, and towards a world that is very different than the one we are standing
in. Are you willing to journey from Gethsemane? Are we willing to say enough is
enough? Are we willing to step out in faith and find ways to do something about
the way the world around us looks and acts?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I do not have all the answers on how to fix this broken world but I know
with God all things are possible and with one another we can begin to make a
difference here in this place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what
do you say friends? Do we go home and fall asleep? Or do we wake up and walk
with Jesus? </span></div>
Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-76555173070102365152015-04-02T19:23:00.003-07:002015-04-02T19:23:28.300-07:00Holy Week and RFRA<br /><br />
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I’ve struggled to write all week because I have had a lot of anger. I did not want to write angry, so I put it off and wrote off and on constantly editing what I was trying to say. Today I realized the anger is not going away because we live in a world full of hatred and brokenness. On Monday afternoon I drove to Little Rock to participate in a protest against HB 1228. This piece of legislature gives people in the state of Arkansas the ability to discriminate and refuse service to people based on what they are calling their religious freedom to do so. <br />
<br />
I write because I am struggling to understand. The main examples given have been florists and bakers who do not want to provide services for same-sex marriages. The argument is that some believe homosexuality is a choice; a way someone chooses to live their life in this world is a sin and “against their religion.” I have many thoughts on this and on discrimination and hatred in general but I will try to keep them brief. <br />
<br />
I will start by saying even if something is against your religion you still do not have the right to discriminate, alienate, and refuse to treat someone as something other than human. Period. <br />
<br />
I have found over the years that those who often take this stance are people we label as “conservative Christians.” As a Christian and as a seminarian I have spent a lot of time reading scripture and studying theology and at no point have I ever found that scripture has told me to reject, discriminate, or mistreat someone because I do not agree with them. What scripture has taught me is that in all things I am to love my neighbors and serve all of God’s children. I am to treat them as children of God-with dignity and respect-because anything less would be a sin. What I have learned in scripture is that from the time Adam and Eve were sent from the Garden for disobeying God and sinning against God, God has been at work trying to reconcile the broken world to God’s self. Discrimination, hatred, alienation, intolerance, lack of compassion, promotion of fear, violence, and isolation of others are all unacceptable because to participate in any of these is to treat someone as less than human.<br />
<br />
Today in my tradition we celebrate Maundy Thursday, the night when Jesus ate with the ones who would betray and deny him. The night when Jesus told his closest friends and bearers of the Gospel that his end was coming. The night we were given the command to love one another. On this night we remember. We remember that Christ's death was not just for our own selves but for the sake of the world. Christ did not die for me and for my friends but for my enemies and for strangers. Christ died not to condemn the world but to save it. The Religious Freedom Restoration Acts being passed by states like Arkansas do not reflect the Gospel I have read and studied because they condemn, they alienate, they promote the treatment of those who are not like me as less than human, and they take away people's dignity. They promote hatred and intolerance in the name of the One who told us to love all people and to serve all people so that the light which overcomes the darkness might shine through. Tonight I remember that even those I disagree with are children of God who command me to love. And so I lay aside my anger and I pray that somehow and in some way God might open all of our eyes to see God's own extravagant grace and embrace of all the children of God. For in doing so I know the world can see the light and we are people of the light. <br />
<br />
I think it is only appropriate that we struggle with these things this week because there is something about the cross and resurrection that speaks to us and says God has been in that darkness with us. And because we are resurrection people, we see the light, we know the light, we can feel the warmth of the light somehow in some way breaking through even the darkest dark. We feel it hit our face and that glimpse of hope carries us into the next day, the next week, the next month, knowing and trusting that in our darkness God is still present somehow and somewhere. May God break through and shine light into this world so that we might love and serve all of God's people as God has called us to do in Jesus Christ. <br />
<br />
<br />
Peace be with and within you all,<br />
<br />
Krista<br />
<br />
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Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-71957704062269032302013-10-02T13:36:00.001-07:002013-10-02T13:36:12.752-07:00Brandon Perkins-The Problem with the American Dream<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>This sermon was preached by a friend of mine Brandon Perkins and has been shared with his permission. You can follow Brandon on Twitter </i></span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="screen-name">@thePreacherPerk</span></span></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></u></b><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Problem with the American Dream</span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke
18:10-13, 18-25</span></u></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Intro-</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have a confession, It’s a confession that I hope will not discount your trust
in me to be your youth day preacher this morning. I, Brandon J. Perkins am an
addict. That’s right I am addict. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, before you throw me out of your
church please listen to my predicament and how I arrived in my current state. I
suppose my addiction can be traced to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA on
July 4, 1776. It was there that Caucasian male colonists had been meeting in an
effort to find a way to end the tyranny that they faced. When they emerged from
their meetings on this fateful day they gave us a document whose words dripped
with the double mindedness. On that document I read, </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“We
hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these
are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2372597276838966826#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></sup></b></span></sup></a>”</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It
is these words that have both broken bonds and yet tighten shackles. </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It
these words that have both liberated and oppressed. </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It
is these words that have brought joy and the same words have brought sorrow.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It
is these words that lie at the heart of my addiction. </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">These
words are my drug because I am in fact addicted to the American Dream, and if
you are honest with yourselves today you too are in fact addicted to this
American Dream. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
problem is this Dream looks good on paper</b>. It looks good until you dig
through the white supremacist patriarchal layers that make up its foundation.
Those words that created this Dream were never intended for people who look
like me. They were never intended for any Daughters of Eve. They were never
intended for anybody that wasn’t White, Male, and Wealthy, and yet we have
taken this dream and made it our own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, those words have created a culture
that sends us to school every day t learn what they want us to learn while
devaluing critical thinking skills and an appreciation for all the peoples of
the world. Yes, we take out tens of thousands in student loans trying to be
what society calls “successful.” Yes, we become suspicious of men who look like
us because society has said they are threat to our security. Yes, we listen to
music with great musical rhythms and beats, but ignore the lyrics that degrade
our sisters as they say, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“you're an
animal, baby, it's in your nature.”</b> Yes, we tear down our sisters because
they are not as light skinned as us and their hair isn’t as straight as ours
because that is the definition of beauty that has been fed to us. Yes, we come
to church because of habit and may never ask the question, “What does any of
this have to do with my life.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have gotten hooked on the drug of the
American Dream that tells us to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Get
Money, Get Status, and Get Religion</b> while ignoring how, “life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness” alludes so many of us. We ignore how these words have
done more to foster separation, inequality, and a devaluing of human life than
they have to foster community. We must ask ourselves this morning, “How can we
as people of God deal with our addiction to the American Dream?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">(Pause)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Historical and Body-</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our text this morning we see another
person who has either subconsciously or willing ingested the drug of the Dream.
It is not the American Dream, but the Jewish Dream. It is a dream similar to
our dream. With the summer of Roman occupation was glaring down upon the backs
of God’s chosen people this nation of people needed some hope. With injustice
in the distribution of wealth these people needed something to hold on to. With
a system designed for their demise and servitude these people needed to believe
that things could be different. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It is
this environment that births this ruler who appears in our text. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">We
are not told if he is from the Jewish peasantry or the Jewish elite. </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">We
aren’t told if he grew up on Wall Street or Blank Street. </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">We
aren’t told if he grew up with the best education or no education at all. All
we know is that now he is a ruler under the oppressive Roman Empire ruling over
people who look like him. </span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem with getting status is that we
have to check who our loyalties lie with. You can go off to school and get a
bachelors and masters degree (and you should as I am a huge advocate for higher
education), land a job with the Federal Government, and end up signing off on
policies that make it harder for folks who you grew up with to get into
college. You can land a job with a Fortune 500 company and then see policies
enacted that prohibit persons whom you love from getting affordable homes. You
can become a doctor because of your desire to save lives, but then be forced to
turn needy patients away because they cannot your hourly rate. You can become a
preacher of this glorious Gospel, but then be lead astray to become a celebrity
preacher on a reality TV show on BET, TLC, or Lifetime. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">We have to check who
our loyalties lie with. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Are we gonna serve people
or are we gonna serve an principalities and powers with unjust policies? </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">(Pause)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in this text with this ruler who has
a great deal of status and power we find Jesus doing as he has so often done.
The great Rabbi is teaching but more than that he is embodying how the kingdom
of God should look. Growing up I remember hearing about the kingdom of God, but
it was a kingdom that my grandma said was in the sweet by and by. It was a
kingdom with three gates in the East, three in the West, three in the North,
and three in the South. It was one with streets paved with gold. It was one
where I’m told that every day will Sunday and sweet Sabbath will have no end.
But the kingdom of God that Jesus is talking about in Luke 18 is not the one in
the sweet by and by, but it is the one that He wants to see come on Earth. It
is kingdom that we pray about as we say, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Our
Father and Mother, Hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done.
On Earth as it is in Heaven.” </b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This
kingdom of God takes seriously the present needs of humanity. Yes, I can hear
Rev. Dr. James Cone say,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“What
good are golden crowns, slippers, white robes, or even eternal life, if it
means that we have to turn our backs on the pain and suffering of our own
children?<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2372597276838966826#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></sup></b></span></sup></a>”</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Yes, any religion that
teaches us to spend our entire lives pursuing a Heavenly kingdom and forsaking
our call to build one here on Earth is a religion not worth having. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why Jesus here in this 18<sup>th</sup>
chapter of Luke spends time telling parables about widows looking for justice.
He spends time telling us about the righteousness of the Pharisee vs. the Tax
Collector. He spends times telling us to that kingdom of God belongs to the
little children and that we should never hinder them from partaking in it.
While Jesus is teaching us about equality and a new way of being here comes
this ruler. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">(Pause)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Can
you imagine the scene?</b> Jesus is teaching a new kingdom on Earth in the
midst of a poor population of people who need to have a reason to hope and
believe that better days are ahead of them and then here comes one of their own
who through some means has escaped a life of poverty and hopelessness. He comes
in this crowd of poor people whom he shares a lineage with not dressed similar
to them, but wearing the clothes of the Roman Empire. Then this sellout has the
nerve to interrupt the teaching of Jesus and ask a question. Listen to his
words again, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Good Teacher, what must I
do to inherit eternal life?” </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
you have ingested this American Dream, when you have ingested the philosophy of
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Get Money, Get Status, and Get Religion</b>
you reduce everything in life down to, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">what
do I have to do get what I want.”</b> This ruler comes to Jesus and essentially
says what formula do I have to perform to get into this kingdom that I’ve heard
you talking about. When I was in the 11<sup>th</sup> grade I took Geometry, a
class I hated and never really understood the meaning of. Nevertheless I did
learn a thing or two about formulas. I learned from the Pythagorean Theorem,
the formula for a right triangle in case you all didn’t know, that A<sup>2 </sup>+
B<sup>2 </sup>will always equal C<sup>2</sup>. This ruler in our text is trying
to figure out how he can solve for C and reach eternal life. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Can’t you hear him saying…</b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Look
Jesus, I’ve got money I can give you, I’ve got a great job if you need a favor,
I’ve got relationships with the High Priest if you want inside track to the
Temple. Jesus I’ve got all these things I just need to know what I got to do to
get this last piece of the puzzle.”</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Yes, this ruler shows
us what happens when you reduce religion to your idol and you it view as
something that you do to get something in return, and is that the same kind of
religion that we perpetuate today. I’m glad this morning to be in a PCUSA
church because as compared to other denominations I’ve preached in the PCUSA at
least talks about justice, equality, and access. Yet, this morning I stopped by
to say that we still got work to do because we haven’t quite figured out how
this thing works. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Yes,
we send kids on mission trips to foreign countries. Yes, we will partner with
congregations to paint houses and mend fences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes, we will even spend time working in food banks, and these are all
great things. Yet, we when we do the things we so often leave saying, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">look what we did, look how much we
accomplished, and aren’t we proud of ourselves. </b>We have made all about us
and it this kind of religion that I like to call 11 o’clock news religion. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, an 11 o’clock news religion is one
that gets highlighted after the news anchor has informed us about which
countries are at war, what person has committed a crime in our neighborhood,
which Falcon’s or Braves’ player something great at practice or in a game, and
what tomorrows weather will be like. It is a religion that gets mentioned as
time filer for a news station. It is a religion that many of us will just
completely bypass for reruns of Family Guy or American Dad. It is a religion
that no one in the world seems to care about. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why the ruler is not rattled when
Jesus begins his line of questioning about his keeping of the commandments. He
knows what it means to not to commit adultery. He knows what it means to not
murder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows what it means to not
steal. He knows what it means to not bear false witness against his neighbor.
He knows what it means to honor his father and mother. He knows the
commandments because all that he has is a religion of laws, rituals, and
formulas. He has an 11 o’clock news religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">(Hit This)</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">But Jesus</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
tries to push the man beyond a religion that won’t change the lives of
humanity. Can’t you hear him say to the man, </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“There
is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to
the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jesus
is in essence telling the man,</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Do
something that makes the world take notice. Don’t just have an 11 o’clock news religion,
but also a Breaking News religion.”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the evening that the Zimmerman verdict
came out I was sitting in my apartment watching Sherlock Holmes on TV with my
sister when during the regularly scheduled movie something happened. I got on
Facebook as I so often do and I began to see post after post saying that we had
a verdict. I turned to my Twitter account and began to see tweet after tweet
saying we had a verdict and that he was found not guilty. I began to flick
through the stations and movies that were on TV had gone off and now all I saw
was reporters at the Sanford County Courthouse with the caption Breaking News
flashing across the screen. I realized that when Breaking News is happening
nothing else matters. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what Jesus wanted to see. He wanted
to see a man who had sold out, got the great job, and the great money do
something that would shake up the establishment. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Can
you imagine the headlines;</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Former
Chief Magistrate sells all that he has for the benefit of educating all
children in Galilee.”</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Ex
Roman Magistrate buys affordable homes for all in Capernaum.”</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Former
Magistrate uses money for food programs in Jerusalem.”</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jesus
told the ruler what he is telling us today, </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I
want you to live your faith so well that the world has to stop and take
notice!”</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">But
how do we live a faith like this…</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">1) <u>We recognize our
past failures</u></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">We
have to acknowledge that we have often times made God fit into our box where we
want the Divine to answer our prayers even if they are selfish. We have to
acknowledge that some of our intentions are not for the betterment of the
whole, but are for our betterment alone. We recognize that so often our
religion is the religion of the Pharisee of v. 11 who said, </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues,
adulterers, or even like this tax collector. <sup>12</sup> I fast twice a week;
I give a tenth of all my income.”</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Yes,
we recognize our shortcomings knowing that in order to go forward we must not
embody the attitude of the Pharisee, but of the tax collector in v. 13. Yes,
this tax collector saw the posture of the Pharisee but choose instead to stand
a far off, and as he stood to pray he would not even look up to Heaven, but all
he could do was lift his voice and say, </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“God,
be merciful to me, a sinner!”</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A
repentant heart for our actions done and undone propels us into to our present
responsibilities.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">2) <u>We recognize our
present responsibilities.</u> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">We
take the blinders off of our eyes and get off the drug of this American dream
and see our world for what it really is. We become active at our churches such
as this one and in our communities in programs that follow the example of Jesus
of meeting real needs in real time. We tutor our classmates because we
recognize that all of us can learn. We refuse to buy into the idea that we need
the latest and greatest gadgets and clothes while our brothers and sisters in
our own communities are doing without. We get involved in asking the serious
questions about how and why the injustices that we see exist and then we plan
as a church, community, city, and state, on ways that we can affect real
change. We recognize that we give our whole selves mind, body, and spirit to
the service of following Jesus and cannot rest nor tire until we see people
come to the knowledge that Jesus cares as much about your present life as he
does your eternal life. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">3)
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>We recognize that a new kingdom has
come </u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Yes,
when a live a faith that makes the world take notice. Yes, when we live a faith
that recognizes that the Founding Fathers had it wrong, and that we should say,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“All people are created equal and we are
responsible for ensuring Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness happens
for all of us.”</b> Yes, when we live a faith that shatters the old American
Dream, we can then cast a new one. For I heard the late poet Margaret Walker
say in her poem “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">For My People</b>,” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Let
a new earth rise. Let another world be born. Let a </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
bloody peace be written in the sky. Let a second </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
generation full of courage issue forth; let a people </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
loving freedom come to growth. Let a beauty full of </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
healing and a strength of final clenching be the pulsing </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
in our spirits and our blood. Let the martial songs </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
be written, let the dirges disappear. Let a race of men and women now </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
rise and take control.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2372597276838966826#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></b></span></span></span></a>”</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This
is our charge, This is our calling, This is how we dream a New American Dream.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2372597276838966826#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> “Declaration
of Independence,” <i>The History Channel website</i>,
http://www.history.com/topics/declaration-of-independence (accessed Jan 2,
2013).</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2372597276838966826#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> James H. Cone, A Black Theology of Liberation, 40th
anniversary ed. (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2010), 137.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2372597276838966826#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a> </div>
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Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-11337446884999440082013-09-23T11:42:00.001-07:002013-09-23T11:43:02.998-07:00A reflection on Ephesians and Arkansas<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ephesians 3 </span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words,
a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ.
In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same
body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.
Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to
me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ,
and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things;
so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might
now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.
I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.
</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you
may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.
I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. </span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This passage from Ephesians is one that means a great deal to me. So much so that I will carry it with me forever...on the side of my calf that is. It is important to me because it is a reminder of my calling. To be a servant of the gospel of Jesus Christ for all people. The Gospel that is love and proclamation of justice</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. This passage is not just a reminder but it continuously humbles me because it clearly declares that this calling is not superficial but it is of God, from God, and in God. This is a calling given by the power of God in accordance with the grace of God!! How powerful, how amazing, how humbling, how awesome a calling is this?? Too many times I find myself wandering around wondering what is coming next...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the last two months I left seminary, moved to Louisville and then to Arkansas, have bought a house and am reapplying to seminary. I have no job and feel at times like I am wandering aimlessly in the world. Then I look down at my calf and am reminded I am a servant of this gospel, according to the grace of God given to me by the working of his power! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This journey to Arkansas has been crazy. Had you told me even 6 months ago I would end up here I would have laughed! But my fia<span style="font-size: small;">nc</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">é and I have prayed and communicated and explored all of the possibilities that were in our path and God led us to Arkansas. I still wake up at times and wonder what am I doing? Why did I ever leave seminary? Why Arkansas? But I am called to be a servant of the gospel as much here in Arkansas as I was in Austin, Hanover, or Louisville. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">I am longing to be back in a theological classroom. I long to be back in the pulpit. These things will come. Until then I am embracing Arkansas. I am embracing the outdoors and am spending my time planning a wedding and picking paint colors for our house. I am learning to slow down and I am enjoying the quiet time I have. Soon enough I will be in a classroom being fed again, until then God has me where God wants me. Making neighbors and friends. Learning more about myself and preparing to spend the rest of my life with the man I love and for now that is okay...I am still a servant of the gospel of Jesus Christ and I am enjoying the ride we are on.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">Peace be within you,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">Krista </span></span></span>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-1513036877224132612013-09-13T07:54:00.001-07:002013-09-13T07:54:19.068-07:00The Astounding teachings of Jesus..."Now when Jesus had finished saying these things the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes." Matthew 7:28-29<br />
<br />
After hearing the sermon on the mount referred to a few times this week and spending some time with it I have been stuck on the concluding remarks made in the book in Matthew. I am stuck because I feel as if we forget how radical and powerful Jesus' words are in those three chapters of Matthew. I feel as if we are not astounded enough at the teachings of Jesus throughout the new testament. <br />
<br />
Part of this is a guilt trip I have been on for myself. The last 12 months have been crazy. I have been busy, sick, self indulgent, tired, depressed, annoyed, and at times full of myself. I have not been reflective. I have not been receptive. I have not been myself. I am not writing to make excuses for myself but I am writing because it helps me to be reflective of and receptive to the grace that is before me. My life has changed so much in the last 12 months and I have tried to take everything in stride, but this week reality has started to sink in...I am living in Arkansas, getting married, changing seminaries, making new friends, and entering into an entirely new way of life. <br />
<br />
This week has been refreshing for me. Church on Sunday, chapel (at my fianc<span>é's place of employment) on Wednesday, church supper and Bible study on Wednesday, and now an entire morning to sit and write. I have been surrounded by scripture and prayer, good conversation, laughter, friendship, and gentle souls. It is in this context that I was reading scripture this morning and came across these closing remarks to the sermon on the mount. </span><br />
<span><br /></span>
<span>So I pose these questions to myself and to you: When was the last time you were astounded at the teachings of Christ? When was the last time the proclamation of the Word left you in awe? When was the last time you let yourself be receptive to and reflective of the grace of God? What would our days be like if we could do these things daily? Are we scared to let Christ into our lives in this way? </span><br />
<span><br /></span>
<span>Astonishment, amazement, joy, energy, love, grace, compassion, faithfulness, obedience, life. What would our days look like if we were full of these things because of our attentiveness to Christ's teachings? </span><br />
<span><br /></span>
<span>My goal this year is to blog 3 days a week based on lectionary texts for the week. It is my hope and prayer that I continue to be astounded by Christ and Christ's teachings. It is my hope and my prayer that I will continue to reflect on God's amazing grace, and receptive to receiving it over and over and over again. </span><br />
<span><br /></span>
<span>Peace be within you all,</span><br />
<span><br />KP</span>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-78478696149739151542013-01-13T18:00:00.000-08:002013-01-13T18:00:26.951-08:00Vacation Pictures Part 3<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EGuhoxHSuLrsexORoZPo1tuPQIobfYAQnMITKc7ibiDVBy_3n-m1TPQp705J_huMPVnQk4IvBvMBCpRGOS6SdbwtXsim3EKWTL2axUimAEq-TOs66VT2oy_n4YlorII-S1LhwzsSjlCD/s1600/birding+day+5+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EGuhoxHSuLrsexORoZPo1tuPQIobfYAQnMITKc7ibiDVBy_3n-m1TPQp705J_huMPVnQk4IvBvMBCpRGOS6SdbwtXsim3EKWTL2axUimAEq-TOs66VT2oy_n4YlorII-S1LhwzsSjlCD/s320/birding+day+5+021.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Whooping Cranes including a juvenile (the darker one on the right)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhK0jgOeaJ6GCSNdcIGldZgc8bAyrqBsGnRV4sVdgRfetMxneXJpLdkn5-USa-t5fV3-ht9GJdHUYH9F-TV0gbDbs76RapX_NQDvmIGUiNisVHtUmvjK69d9j8P8zMkgvJ77evZ8-K6L3J/s1600/birding+day+5+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhK0jgOeaJ6GCSNdcIGldZgc8bAyrqBsGnRV4sVdgRfetMxneXJpLdkn5-USa-t5fV3-ht9GJdHUYH9F-TV0gbDbs76RapX_NQDvmIGUiNisVHtUmvjK69d9j8P8zMkgvJ77evZ8-K6L3J/s320/birding+day+5+026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closest I could get to a pair of Whooping Cranes. Beautiful birds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifY6K7jcsD1lmNMSnTboLcmkYYpcvG67vW0fPWwBZBycF6x2B78Dz1UjKT2cZtyk6BwNgyjET9zeMbPYHIiVYbSwlLuwIlXYoB1ocyk0o53oXvLzS2R5MT1P9uxEfZm8RuRsI9vXvucmsf/s1600/birding+day+5+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifY6K7jcsD1lmNMSnTboLcmkYYpcvG67vW0fPWwBZBycF6x2B78Dz1UjKT2cZtyk6BwNgyjET9zeMbPYHIiVYbSwlLuwIlXYoB1ocyk0o53oXvLzS2R5MT1P9uxEfZm8RuRsI9vXvucmsf/s320/birding+day+5+058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snails in the marsh at Goose Island State Park (probably dinner for the birds)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5Ou-CUth5-X_tbTQNPGKJ7klKmDyypHUcF8oB9RWsWBT7KpWALCywwG-KGNKIjdSXy1cpY1629nyZkZteXlBTpAlIRc5hoWRSmIiBMVt94wBtivNoFH_r9Gqcb31_pnjyX7ONgp7eLRl/s1600/birding+day+5+064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5Ou-CUth5-X_tbTQNPGKJ7klKmDyypHUcF8oB9RWsWBT7KpWALCywwG-KGNKIjdSXy1cpY1629nyZkZteXlBTpAlIRc5hoWRSmIiBMVt94wBtivNoFH_r9Gqcb31_pnjyX7ONgp7eLRl/s320/birding+day+5+064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-25918313813532155622013-01-10T21:02:00.000-08:002013-01-10T21:02:36.534-08:00Vacation part 2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2CU1Er-Iet9XgHf7434YfqcpGYSZ_CHOzdSWcUIWeWqoPFBm0HylpmBgLz18hgC_K_GQkY702kzoB4oRyZKE9TUHE9B9MiTqDnPJI_xy0483u5cD4EqajGWsNf3yrDq2wndh8GOGzMNk/s1600/Birding+day+2+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2CU1Er-Iet9XgHf7434YfqcpGYSZ_CHOzdSWcUIWeWqoPFBm0HylpmBgLz18hgC_K_GQkY702kzoB4oRyZKE9TUHE9B9MiTqDnPJI_xy0483u5cD4EqajGWsNf3yrDq2wndh8GOGzMNk/s320/Birding+day+2+036.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer (Whitetail I believe) sitting right by the road at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCkpehpDGluLP-oJrjH-H349qH4sqrgu9msvVFsgAS1RrSHJUzwibUfgFaTt6CY0oJ0KJ_Pbt46d83oI1rWgRD5MIjGPEU20Qp-eKcR6lnyh-iskrrS8pbhKY1-jTGRZS9Zo4wkOe0Bdp/s1600/birding+day+2+afternoon+337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCkpehpDGluLP-oJrjH-H349qH4sqrgu9msvVFsgAS1RrSHJUzwibUfgFaTt6CY0oJ0KJ_Pbt46d83oI1rWgRD5MIjGPEU20Qp-eKcR6lnyh-iskrrS8pbhKY1-jTGRZS9Zo4wkOe0Bdp/s320/birding+day+2+afternoon+337.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mustang Island State Park-Reddish Egret scratching itself</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8qN1d-rkLbqrKF9o2Bw-Q8nnMSpS53946WDyVXT2dQwvDKnaRpnyISKFO48AN2QcLQmoh9XbQb1tKSzBF7ETeqN8M2Iy575wm3Q8KKmZFgxnvF8l04Apt0i6P1zj4wVtazDoW7RmIn8s/s1600/Birding+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8qN1d-rkLbqrKF9o2Bw-Q8nnMSpS53946WDyVXT2dQwvDKnaRpnyISKFO48AN2QcLQmoh9XbQb1tKSzBF7ETeqN8M2Iy575wm3Q8KKmZFgxnvF8l04Apt0i6P1zj4wVtazDoW7RmIn8s/s320/Birding+090.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Tailed Hawk (Dark Morph)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8VZ397N3c7hTalc-3MPZSFTVHCZRhZC4_azq3SqIC-eD-8wvZfltwbE6ICxDqLPChUTFR805I1vtJnRK8UTkjb5WJQzSS6XSyLLw5Cr6g996xgk8r539ynxwzHI6CIiuG8_f72feCtft/s1600/birding+day+3+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8VZ397N3c7hTalc-3MPZSFTVHCZRhZC4_azq3SqIC-eD-8wvZfltwbE6ICxDqLPChUTFR805I1vtJnRK8UTkjb5WJQzSS6XSyLLw5Cr6g996xgk8r539ynxwzHI6CIiuG8_f72feCtft/s320/birding+day+3+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey in a tree at sunrise (Aransas National Wildlife Refuge)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdksLBbyy65FbC-FkREDbz-JPKIegNfh-haLi_5bt-6ezbWYJSyvF-H9RencurOI8XQ1L6nRHF0S7XIXoGnpSGpWptvil7jJrRUaKbxus6DBD3msBtEryNk5LDghaOeMPLaiBxtYe7QuEr/s1600/birding+day+3+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdksLBbyy65FbC-FkREDbz-JPKIegNfh-haLi_5bt-6ezbWYJSyvF-H9RencurOI8XQ1L6nRHF0S7XIXoGnpSGpWptvil7jJrRUaKbxus6DBD3msBtEryNk5LDghaOeMPLaiBxtYe7QuEr/s320/birding+day+3+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise the morning after storms moved through the area</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0Q8Q-y744PIOvpKRqAHL40zW1EvDFKWzGcvrtFb_tiDlu5kYRopS7yA_uQ-YVwXN0ysCX7PfI6E8Jo2iWx24E3O-B_7b5-FL3mbvl-yzB7b9UdkhqqlZ0Le3CoOZQQG-7ToMbSs5GANU/s1600/birding+day+3+133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0Q8Q-y744PIOvpKRqAHL40zW1EvDFKWzGcvrtFb_tiDlu5kYRopS7yA_uQ-YVwXN0ysCX7PfI6E8Jo2iWx24E3O-B_7b5-FL3mbvl-yzB7b9UdkhqqlZ0Le3CoOZQQG-7ToMbSs5GANU/s320/birding+day+3+133.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFzT1kFw95bfgalcKO5uUydc9kGNU3iMR_w1LKJIzquMReRcziLDG3ejDKEEfCtj3xKrYD8P7Slec3ccmvFvoQ0va1gAu_iVhnED23_fFFAdVpHq-4RzlihTchMkUQY42zkLVS0GX6czS/s1600/Birding+084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFzT1kFw95bfgalcKO5uUydc9kGNU3iMR_w1LKJIzquMReRcziLDG3ejDKEEfCtj3xKrYD8P7Slec3ccmvFvoQ0va1gAu_iVhnED23_fFFAdVpHq-4RzlihTchMkUQY42zkLVS0GX6czS/s320/Birding+084.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandhill Cranes (Picture isn't great it was cloudy, but they are beautiful birds!)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUh6654P3VrnsYq4PCiYa8AM2_cdBJV99i1wgw3JAjuye_o4cX8n3yfNP1bFHPqA-LezKBB43eJCQPp6zV-Aa9hQCtOc9ZstvucwTCrO2OgT_vll53_FUf6iqtAHI62GeJnALScgCqs3Bo/s1600/birding+day+3+188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUh6654P3VrnsYq4PCiYa8AM2_cdBJV99i1wgw3JAjuye_o4cX8n3yfNP1bFHPqA-LezKBB43eJCQPp6zV-Aa9hQCtOc9ZstvucwTCrO2OgT_vll53_FUf6iqtAHI62GeJnALScgCqs3Bo/s320/birding+day+3+188.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Pelican taking off out of the water</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioN68EPIs9C254Fdrys08nDW2uG1wWIoflctj_x8o8T0KxcDfqhP8zsm8Ydfo2E-m7o6axBdZk6OT9qb4d0k3sBaa43WQBxaUDCY2DA-dZfDmkGf9ALpQbMBzvoNiB2L9N8kjX7Ta01ydA/s1600/birding+day+3+282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioN68EPIs9C254Fdrys08nDW2uG1wWIoflctj_x8o8T0KxcDfqhP8zsm8Ydfo2E-m7o6axBdZk6OT9qb4d0k3sBaa43WQBxaUDCY2DA-dZfDmkGf9ALpQbMBzvoNiB2L9N8kjX7Ta01ydA/s320/birding+day+3+282.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Butterfly (I am a birder who is trying to learn butterflies, but I believe this is a Plain Tiger)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lMyjYS-NQXaggJf8Csx7uOefyzbghuoU0rqN5HGqtlADhgAoun49LIN4_ws3KrB3uaDA7SDh9rKyUunpsnJNlTOpF7ZfrzmOnkK79zGsCs6mBEi_2uFulkHhYkZHDpGxmjuQcuIeOt2w/s1600/birding+day+3+468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lMyjYS-NQXaggJf8Csx7uOefyzbghuoU0rqN5HGqtlADhgAoun49LIN4_ws3KrB3uaDA7SDh9rKyUunpsnJNlTOpF7ZfrzmOnkK79zGsCs6mBEi_2uFulkHhYkZHDpGxmjuQcuIeOt2w/s320/birding+day+3+468.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Blue Heron</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnUY4BasDHb3LzH72r0YDNrqCWd3XzbiQLY1ePYy3khFnGyQpyeuvY1E_l6VYgG19cuWEkiZ2PRx97gZ4SPfs0gxNCtlL691OdvGFbi3Q3vIj9Tc2UzqoRkLd6Gw0wMMz28SsRBGaZi9g/s1600/birding+day+3+311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnUY4BasDHb3LzH72r0YDNrqCWd3XzbiQLY1ePYy3khFnGyQpyeuvY1E_l6VYgG19cuWEkiZ2PRx97gZ4SPfs0gxNCtlL691OdvGFbi3Q3vIj9Tc2UzqoRkLd6Gw0wMMz28SsRBGaZi9g/s320/birding+day+3+311.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-Crowned Night Heron</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIgJby1KVk4q8JMNAescGWjKIYuf8yKLAcq2vfBtxIX-OMIFjQn36JMSTmoP6MCutn4_aqzVLyTqcH9Uc8LveobFDUbciVQ2rWXaOKswM-YeZAPM3WflgQmQV_38tKKwSM-s8FB4Duvfw/s1600/birding+day+3+477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIgJby1KVk4q8JMNAescGWjKIYuf8yKLAcq2vfBtxIX-OMIFjQn36JMSTmoP6MCutn4_aqzVLyTqcH9Uc8LveobFDUbciVQ2rWXaOKswM-YeZAPM3WflgQmQV_38tKKwSM-s8FB4Duvfw/s320/birding+day+3+477.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Live Oak Grove </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTK8FwIUCO5DTFPEn-3aerPCEJz75YFH2Je1TUvgEr_gS-DsyM0IHGooo89hbBLDohVNu0oFneYNi50ZFf_y68I3FNr6XCX6eiYMBrhSBAn7K5r0qFMQhbvCfobBWLG6zQfd5FUGkn76oJ/s1600/birding+day+3+470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTK8FwIUCO5DTFPEn-3aerPCEJz75YFH2Je1TUvgEr_gS-DsyM0IHGooo89hbBLDohVNu0oFneYNi50ZFf_y68I3FNr6XCX6eiYMBrhSBAn7K5r0qFMQhbvCfobBWLG6zQfd5FUGkn76oJ/s320/birding+day+3+470.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The closest picture I could get (so far) of Whooping Cranes. Beautiful birds.</td></tr>
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<br />Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-33566901372401666272013-01-10T16:13:00.000-08:002013-01-10T16:13:11.614-08:00Pictures from Vacation part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xcf1NZe9LyekrbSGZBxuOP44uIjJHeaMeCG00ptbpbOdfsMxPiQBwFFBOYXuDE-xIcw9MROOELs23KwCi6LL9Cjg93KOhQK_72cvhk6sEEqm8KsVavjJWwwqAxFqFIdHGXd9lVk7VxSA/s1600/birding+2.2+w+dolphins+184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xcf1NZe9LyekrbSGZBxuOP44uIjJHeaMeCG00ptbpbOdfsMxPiQBwFFBOYXuDE-xIcw9MROOELs23KwCi6LL9Cjg93KOhQK_72cvhk6sEEqm8KsVavjJWwwqAxFqFIdHGXd9lVk7VxSA/s320/birding+2.2+w+dolphins+184.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great White Egret</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjsRvKCY5FfjuwjYQHOLKOJhqh8OkpOxv52bXsEFtUpZKwaJBWa1muvYrzTCL4GIqbrY4BYeCD3FtgNIqta3xYgxBIjWF7lsvgprZMCkXpnV58QvVUorArwPc6EOd1JHOhGj0jdMa9XyG/s1600/birding+2.2+w+dolphins+321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjsRvKCY5FfjuwjYQHOLKOJhqh8OkpOxv52bXsEFtUpZKwaJBWa1muvYrzTCL4GIqbrY4BYeCD3FtgNIqta3xYgxBIjWF7lsvgprZMCkXpnV58QvVUorArwPc6EOd1JHOhGj0jdMa9XyG/s320/birding+2.2+w+dolphins+321.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottlenose Dolphin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyFLM5aVylDy9BJe3PaLi8aH-Eo3J9LT4FfrC1d29q4iVlpL4xudlLJchEy4yUBaQdzW-fQBRs5ie_jJlQKxlFqyuB-4VpODqwW2pNodxnFXIWnjNG8W402OYvSG_nVIGBenNtyjqQiEh/s1600/birding+day+2+afternoon+085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyFLM5aVylDy9BJe3PaLi8aH-Eo3J9LT4FfrC1d29q4iVlpL4xudlLJchEy4yUBaQdzW-fQBRs5ie_jJlQKxlFqyuB-4VpODqwW2pNodxnFXIWnjNG8W402OYvSG_nVIGBenNtyjqQiEh/s320/birding+day+2+afternoon+085.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redhead Duck</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCTDyMr3AtNqOXggxPVE3jL2i2BPKp0U_CkLI0AfI4GJMyVx5jpUWJnrkXMC8WRkZqFeGjxOr45d3yqB46OofGoCONMyCnoGw7_vkJKs8uR2VZ73za0U_N2ThdBk52xVq1eCfCMeipKXG/s1600/birding+day+2+afternoon+096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCTDyMr3AtNqOXggxPVE3jL2i2BPKp0U_CkLI0AfI4GJMyVx5jpUWJnrkXMC8WRkZqFeGjxOr45d3yqB46OofGoCONMyCnoGw7_vkJKs8uR2VZ73za0U_N2ThdBk52xVq1eCfCMeipKXG/s320/birding+day+2+afternoon+096.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Blue Heron</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMFx89TMHjfoUG2syGrN5YDZ2edIPrZiKmTKr3rp9cV9CSi2X7vJftrE0bF_YKznUKbVmcXWfGt4OPX3jgqAo72_9JWOQu4DSzm6B2bXfzrl6sjZS0FZg4JzsAH-TcXO-jo7errP24dhyphenhyphen/s1600/birding+day+2+afternoon+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMFx89TMHjfoUG2syGrN5YDZ2edIPrZiKmTKr3rp9cV9CSi2X7vJftrE0bF_YKznUKbVmcXWfGt4OPX3jgqAo72_9JWOQu4DSzm6B2bXfzrl6sjZS0FZg4JzsAH-TcXO-jo7errP24dhyphenhyphen/s320/birding+day+2+afternoon+105.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser Scaup</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4h5OF8l8122n_opjoV_pHBjabwarLO9g4ONRxRSCWIMV3BuTVyErhgAwDFFqtCqXS6P0HQ-A0W550FOONwrLA1iCMvlcsW_PwGUQeSPNJAk3E4s7dCZmyoIyIWC4FCKqaPmVxISwSuPZW/s1600/birding+2.2+w+dolphins+402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4h5OF8l8122n_opjoV_pHBjabwarLO9g4ONRxRSCWIMV3BuTVyErhgAwDFFqtCqXS6P0HQ-A0W550FOONwrLA1iCMvlcsW_PwGUQeSPNJAk3E4s7dCZmyoIyIWC4FCKqaPmVxISwSuPZW/s320/birding+2.2+w+dolphins+402.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rockport Beach</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqQCeNfDbQDJro1apHtuBDj8p1KgvArYfVU6TJ41pMBu8Ibkx7j61w49K-9Pk9IA7uTVBCw1xIS5Hhrao7ZdKRx-lOY48VCwIv7ENlVjkHu9NcefkgyL22rrhFNZznOS4k5Wc4cBBJ6KQ/s1600/birding+2.2+w+dolphins+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqQCeNfDbQDJro1apHtuBDj8p1KgvArYfVU6TJ41pMBu8Ibkx7j61w49K-9Pk9IA7uTVBCw1xIS5Hhrao7ZdKRx-lOY48VCwIv7ENlVjkHu9NcefkgyL22rrhFNZznOS4k5Wc4cBBJ6KQ/s320/birding+2.2+w+dolphins+002.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Blue Heron</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73w6-7n01zNQPiJLbU0HJnJgAy7hVKpUdY0EV-Dk0EbhG9qyiMKLlYtfe1KXObW8w2PSUdXlXuYqQj9eiGlmacFw1o4YlRFHJ_iA0CyAYv4CtNSANfXAyvnGvkQl5-7zE2jqqr9zRWgy9/s1600/birding+2.2+w+dolphins+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73w6-7n01zNQPiJLbU0HJnJgAy7hVKpUdY0EV-Dk0EbhG9qyiMKLlYtfe1KXObW8w2PSUdXlXuYqQj9eiGlmacFw1o4YlRFHJ_iA0CyAYv4CtNSANfXAyvnGvkQl5-7zE2jqqr9zRWgy9/s320/birding+2.2+w+dolphins+024.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Skimmer</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaotETDwUU50TNVqLI9MGhqt-EieNHQ4B33pI0AaaJb3V52RtTdeGWAGaV57HkiNOeHQtv2vWAQmiX8r3lfcPd6vUy6NCqGX4MbQ_dcpkvEODvKVOjKciMxb-vSm-mY4iDIS5_9ejqJgFK/s1600/birding+2.2+w+dolphins+414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaotETDwUU50TNVqLI9MGhqt-EieNHQ4B33pI0AaaJb3V52RtTdeGWAGaV57HkiNOeHQtv2vWAQmiX8r3lfcPd6vUy6NCqGX4MbQ_dcpkvEODvKVOjKciMxb-vSm-mY4iDIS5_9ejqJgFK/s320/birding+2.2+w+dolphins+414.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruddy Turnstone</td></tr>
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<br />Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-15879681278404407562012-12-12T19:09:00.003-08:002012-12-12T19:09:39.881-08:00Madam Moderator Cynthia BolbachI was saddened this morning when I heard that Cindy had been moved into hospice care and go to bed in many ways with a heavy heart and in others ways so very happy that a wonderful servant is with her Maker. After being a YAAD to the 219th GA and watching Cindy journey as moderator of the assembly. I like many of my peers fell in love with her. Cindy had a heart for the church like I had never seen before.<br />
I continued to be in conversation with Cindy via facebook leading up to her preaching at a Synod meeting I was attending as a ruling elder commissioner. <br />
I was sitting down at the bar watching the 2011 World Series with many other commissioners and guests at the hotel when Cindy walked in with our Synod Executive. Right away they sat with us and as I sat beside Cindy (who was tired as she had literally just arrived) we began to talk about the Church, my school work (theological studies major), the baseball game, and many other topics that brought good laughter and wonderful insights from such a wise and thoughtful woman.<br />
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This memory is one I will cherish for a long time. But what I will hold dear to my heart about this faithful servant is how she led by example. Her non-anxious and gentle presence was simply amazing. In her service I saw what it was to be Christ-like in service to the larger Church in ways that were transforming not because of her eloquent tongue or wicked smarts but because she listened deeply and cared so much about what was going on in the church and how we could all work together for the common good. Cindy transformed my life by simply being Cindy. Listening and loving the only way she knew how, with a gentle presence and loving spirit.<br />
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I remember when I posted my blog (<a href="http://kristamphillips.blogspot.com/2011/02/from-voice-of-young-and-proud.html#comment-form">see the post here)</a> Cindy being Cindy responded to my facebook post by thanking me for sharing what I thought. This was very pleasing to my soul because one of the things the YAAD's loved about Cindy was that she cared about what we had to say and what we thought (not that she didn't care about others but she made sure to include us in her conversations).<br />
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In the end I give thanks to God for the service and love Cindy shared with so many. I give thanks that her life continues to live through those of us she touched in very meaningful ways. But I am also going to bed with a heavy heart tonight as the church has lost a wonderful voice of peace and gentle reason. May we all strive in our own ways to let Cindy's legacy live through us as she goes on to be with our Lord for all eternity.<br />
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Peace be within you all,<br />
KristaKristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-42223749562517762112012-09-13T15:56:00.002-07:002012-09-13T15:56:36.204-07:00Sunshine and Rain<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I am one class away from finishing my second week of classes as a seminarian. In one sense it has gone by very slowly but at the same time I look back and realize these two weeks have gone really fast. It is hard to believe I have been in Texas for three weeks and finished two weeks of class. It is also hitting me that I am over 1,000 miles from family and friends who have been a part of my life for the last 22 years. I was thinking about "home" (Louisville and Southern Indiana) today as the sky was dark and cloudy. It is the first day since I have been here that it has not been sunny out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of the things I dreaded in Hanover was the gloom that seemed to come in the sky and stick around most of the academic year. I felt like we had more gloomy days than sunny days in Hanover and for someone who loves to be outdoors, that was one downside to the place. Here it has been really hot so I haven't spent too much time outdoors, and when I do it is not birding or hiking-it is in the pool! But at the same time I feel that all of the sunshine has been a good change. The rain is much needed here as it is across the country so I do not complain about the gloomy day (or days to come) but I rejoice in the beauty that is around me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As I drive away from Austin or on the outskirts of Austin I find myself in awe of how beautiful the land is here. The hills and ridges are unlike any I have ever seen or experienced before. They may not be the Appalachian Mountains I love so much, but they still make me pretty happy. I see the hills and the animals and think about how wonderful this world can be, and then I read the news and see how awful this world can be. It is hard to imagine how anyone can be so hateful and destructive, it is hard to imagine how the beautiful landscape around us came into being, it is hard to imagine what has come of this world that we have to stand between these two feelings/ideas/insights of beauty and destruction, of love and hate, of peace and war.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In my reading of Calvin I came across a beautiful
insight. Calvin makes a claim that "our mind cannot apprehend God without
rendering
some honor to him, it will not suffice simply to hold that there is One
whom all ought to honor and adore, unless we are also persuaded that he
is the fountain of every good and that we must
seek nothing elsewhere than in him." I stopped reading and found myself caught in his statement, I was reading it over and over again. I stopped reading and simply let this statement bounce around in my little brain and I was reminded of how small I am in this world. And then I read what came to follow:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"I
take this to mean that not only does he sustain this universes (as he
once founded it) by his boundless might, regulate it by his wisdom,
preserve it by his goodness, and especially
rule mankind by his righteousness and judgment, bear with it in his
mercy, watch over it by his protection; but also that no drop will be
found either of wisdom and light, or of righteousness or power or
rectitude, or of genuine truth, which does not flow
from him, and of which he is not the cause.(<i>Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion I.2.2)"</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wow. I don't even want to go into the digestion of this small portion of reading I lifted from Calvin because I may never end this blog. But I wanted to share it. I wanted to share it because in light of the violence and intolerance going on in our world this brought me to a sense of peace. It did not make me feel like the world was okay, it did not "fix" the problems I have with humanity. BUT it did remind me that I am a child of a God who is full of love. A God I worship and adore, a God who oozes goodness, truth, righteousness, and wisdom.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> I was reminded that this world may be big but God is still here even when we doubt and question where God is in the midst of violence, hate, and chaos. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">God is here, God is still breathing and oozing good things into this creation, be on the lookout. Be reminded of the greatness of the God who created you. Be reminded that we are to seek this God above all else in the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Peace and All Good Things,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Krista </span></div>
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Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-55103830209531130692012-09-11T12:11:00.000-07:002012-09-11T12:11:27.357-07:001 Week down...I am in my second week here at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. So far I have experienced many things including seminarians playing kickball, chapel services, all of my classes, being sick, being homesick, and being stuck in Austin traffic.<br />
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It has been an adventure so far, but I have to say that one of my favorite experiences so far has been taking communion in chapel. For many taking communion by intinction is nothing new, however here at APTS it was new to me! It was a new experience because those serving the bread tear the bread and hand it to you proclaiming it to be the "Bread of Life." Some may read this and think what is so new and great? Well the reasoning behind the bread being given to you is that you are not working to earn it. You do nothing but stand there and receive this gift. It is just like grace!!<br />
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Maybe some of you have experienced this before, maybe not. I do know that each time I receive communion I will remember this and remember that it isn't that I "take" communion but I "receive" it and I will be intentional about the language I use to about communion as well.<br />
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As my seminary journey continues I am sure I will find nerdy things such as the way communion is received to get excited about. I am sure I will continue to have fun playing kickball with my colleagues, and I am sure that traffic will continue to be a challenge. I am also certain that I will continue to be more aware of the ways God presents the many riches of God's grace to me in various forms! As for being sick, well I hope that is not something that comes around very often but if it does I will take it one day at a time and I will be getting myself in to see an allergist!<br />
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I hope you are all reminded of grace each and everyday, and I hope it is made manifest to you in many ways including ways you never imagined.<br />
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Peace and all good things,<br />
Krista Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-76012805403376439732012-08-30T05:19:00.001-07:002012-08-30T05:19:49.995-07:00I am a Seminarian! It has been a while since I wrote a blog and shared my thoughts with the world, so I thought I would take time this morning and write about my adventure to Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.<br />
<br />I left on Thursday August 23 for what was suppose to be 8ish hours to Little Rock, Arkansas. 12 hours later, 3 of which were spent around Nashville, I arrived at my hotel and crashed. The next morning I checked out and walked out the doors to find my rear passenger tire to be flat. After using a can of fix a flat I found the nearest tire place to get a replacement. They informed me that they could not even look at my car until 5pm and sent me down the road where two nice gentlemen looked at it, told me I needed a new tire and sent me to another store because they did not have any in stock. FINALLY around noon my car had a new tire and I was on the road again. I found myself completely worn out after touring the Little Rock tire stores and decided I should stay outside Dallas on Friday evening instead of pushing through to Austin. Dallas was pretty uneventful as I pretty much crashed into my bed and slept until the next morning. Saturday I made the final 3 hour push to Austin and after 3 days of driving adventures I was in my new home!<br />
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I spent the weekend unpacking and organizing my stuff because I knew Orientation would leave me little time to do so. I also did my best to drive around Austin and find my way around-which I am getting pretty good at. I also attended a church in South Austin on Sunday-the sermon was great and the people were super nice-and had Tex-Mex for lunch (lots of that around here).<br />
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Wednesday began Orientation. 7:30am came way too early as I was entirely too anxious to sleep Tuesday evening. But I got myself out of bed (more like the Spirit pulled the covers off me and told me to get my butt up!) made a pot of coffee and headed to breakfast and the rest of the days events. It was great to meet classmates, professors, and other very helpful and lovely people around here. Everyone is so excited about journeying through this theological education together and I too am ready and excited for the journey.<br />
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In my quiet time this morning I thought about where I am right now, who God has called me to be this day, and I am excited. I am ready for new friends, new adventures, and continued learning as this new chapter in my life comes to life. I realize how beautiful it is to observe God at work in so many lives and then to remember that God is not just at work here at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, but God is at work in all of us, in this entire world, and that is something to be excited about! <br />
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I look forward to sharing this journey with everyone around me. I look forward to learning with my classmates, professors, and friends. And I look forward to being open to the movement of the Spirit, to being aware of God's work in me, in others, and in the world. I look forward to these next 3 years and the rest of this life God has called me to!<br />
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Peace be within you all,<br />
Krista<br />
<br />Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-43443297946022259702012-02-13T10:07:00.003-08:002012-02-13T10:07:45.669-08:00Sermon 12 February 2011<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> 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mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> I think this is pretty close to what I preached...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Text: Amos 5 and Matthew 7:24-29<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">During the fall semester myself and 5 other theological studies majors spent the semester defining, redefining, and even redefining theology for ourselves.<span style=""> </span>We had to articulate what exactly our goal for theology was, and then we had the joy of outlining a method for doing theology.<span style=""> </span>We read theologians from many time periods, all with different ideas and methods, and we ourselves agreed to disagree at times.<span style=""> </span>The one thing we could agree on was that we were tired of reading all sort of theologies that neglected to include a step where ones theology was applied to the way they live in the world.<span style=""> </span>After spending a semester writing pages and pages of theology based on justice and compassion, I received an opportunity to go to Nicaragua with 13 other Presbyterians to learn more about Fair Trade coffee, t-shirts, and art.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I have never left the country, the furthest I had traveled was to Texas and that was in October, so a part of me was terrified.<span style=""> </span>I knew I would see things I had never seen before, I knew I was going to hear about injustice in another country, I knew I was going to be face to face with poverty in a place that was unfamiliar to me, but at the same time I knew that I was going to see justice and the effects of people making decisions to purchase goods in a just way.<span style=""> </span>And so, I was excited.<span style=""> </span>Terrified and excited.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">As we arrived in Managua, Nicaragua and began to be acquainted with this new country, we were given a brief history, a tour of the capital, and we had some down time.<span style=""> </span>It was in this down time that I had remembered this text from Matthew, I remembered Jesus saying “everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">As I traveled to the countryside and stayed in a little house with a dirt floor,<span style=""> </span>as the mother of the house gave me her bed to sleep in and headed in to sleep with her two daughters, as the three women who had a small piece of land in this rural town with no running water fed me more than enough to eat three times a day, as I was seeing these people do hard physical labor for little pay, I kept being reminded of scripture.<span style=""> </span>This passage from Matthew, the passage from Amos, and many many more continued to run through my mind and continued to challenge me because as Jesus had said “everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">For many years I have heard the words of Christ, I have read them, studied them, fallen in love with them time and time again, and now I was in a foreign land learning what could happen if people took these words seriously.<span style=""> </span>If we take the teachings of Jesus seriously, to love our neighbors as ourselves, to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, to visit those in prison, if we cared for the sick, set the captives free, and loved the Lord our God with all of our hearts minds souls and strength, the world would look different.<span style=""> </span>If we did these things our lives, our faith, and our world would be a solid foundation, built on a rock.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">As I was studying this text from Matthew I noticed two things right away, and these things come from the Greek translation.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">ὁμοιόω (hom-oy-ohO)-to be made like-it is used to make a comparison- is translated simply as “will be like” </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">I have come to appreciate the little bit of Greek I have learned.<span style=""> </span>I have enjoyed spending time using what I have learned to study the original language while preparing for Sermons and when I found this nuance along with another I had to stop and let it sit.<span style=""> </span>I didn’t want to keep writing or reading, I just wanted to ponder for a moment, the beauty that was in this passage.<span style=""> </span>Instead of being like a wise person, we are made to be like, it is not that we are imitating or reflecting, but we are becoming.<span style=""> </span>What Jesus is getting at here is that the work of hearing and acting is a continual process, we are always reading, always hearing the scriptures, and it is our duty to go from this place and act on them.<span style=""> </span>It does no good for us to come to church, to read our Bible’s and to sing the hymns if we aren’t going to do something about it.<span style=""> </span>If we aren’t going to worry about our neighbors, if we aren’t going to take care of those who are down and out and need a hand, if we aren’t going to empower those who society has given up on, if we aren’t going to do something then why church are we here?<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><span style=""> </span>In this short passage Jesus is wrapping up a long sermon, I can feel in this story a plea to not just take his words and ponder them in our hearts, or simply repeat them, Jesus is saying if you really want to build a solid foundation to stand on for yourself, live these things out.<span style=""> </span>Forgive one another, take care of one another, and love one another.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><span style=""> </span>I have used my trip to Nicaragua as a parallel to this scripture for many reasons, it is fresh on my mind, I’m still processing a lot of it, and it was in Nicaragua that my mind was blown away to just a few ways I can live out my faith by being aware of the things I was purchasing.<span style=""> </span>I learned that by purchasing items at a fair trade value I was not just giving people a fair wage for their product, but I was supporting an entire community of people.<span style=""> </span>I was creating job security, opportunities for education, healthcare, and enough money to take care of their families.<span style=""> </span>I learned that being conscious of the fact that the world of commerce is full of injustice and that a few changes to my personal purchasing habits could make a difference, and that is what Jesus preaches.<span style=""> </span>Jesus doesn’t preach that we change the world in one swooping motion, reality is that doesn’t work, but what Jesus does know is that if each of us continue to learn and continue to hear the Word, and we put those two things together, the world can change.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><span style=""> </span>The second nuance in the Greek, comes at the very end of the passage.<span style=""> </span>The word ἐξουσία <span style=""> </span>is translated as </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“authority”…I did not recognize this word at first but I did recognize the prefix of Ex as meaning from or out of and ousia being essence or being.<span style=""> </span>As I noticed it is translated as authority, I began to be slightly disappointed with Greek, authority I have learned is the normal translation for exousia, however, as I pondered the thought of Jesus teaching from his being I couldn’t help but to smile and laugh a little on the inside.<span style=""> </span>My gut reaction was to say, Jesus taught out of his being, from his essence, who he was, and that would account for him having authority.<span style=""> </span>The people were not amazed at the fact that Jesus had these almighty words of wisdom, but Jesus himself had heard the scriptures and acted on them.<span style=""> </span>His ministry was full of action.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style=""> </span>In elementary school the WWJD bracelets were a hit.<span style=""> </span>Everyone had them, and they were a great tool for teaching kids to treat each other respectfully, but they went out of style quickly.<span style=""> </span>I haven’t seen them in years.<span style=""> </span>As I have grown a little older, gone through high school, and endured 3 ½ years of college I notice that the world has become concerned with itself.<span style=""> </span>How am I going to make it by this week?<span style=""> </span>What can I do to get ahead? It has become a me me me kind of world as people are not acting on what they know.<span style=""> </span>I wonder what the world would look like if we picked that mentality of WWJD back up again?<span style=""> </span>I wonder what would happen in our own communities if we taught the ways of Christ not with our words or some colorful wristbands but ex-ousia...out of our beings?<span style=""> </span>What things in your life can you change to empower those around you? To love your neighbor as yourself…that is the visible and invisible neighbor?<span style=""> </span>What can First Presbyterian Church in Scottsburg Indiana do to build a solid foundation, what are you doing? What can this Presbytery do? What can the Church universal do?<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Will you be made into a wise person? Will you put your wisdom into action?<span style=""> </span>Or will you build your house, your foundation of your being on the sand and let it wash away as the rains and the floods come pouring in?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I challenge you, take the hard road, don’t take the easy way out and make yourself a shack on the sand, but dig deep, put your foundation in a place that matters.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style=""> </span>There was one other lesson I learned from Nicaragua.<span style=""> </span>As we were driving around at the beginning of our trip there was a massive statue of Christ, and I turned to another member of the trip and said “LOOK I found Jesus, he’s in Nicaragua.”<span style=""> </span>We laughed and didn’t think anything else of it.<span style=""> </span>On our way back from traveling the countryside and staying in homestays, we passed the statue again, this time I thought to myself, “no really, I found Jesus in those who fed me, put a roof over my head, cared for me, and loved me even if I couldn’t communicate very well with them.”<span style=""> </span>The people I interacted with had a foundation of rock because they were hospitable to me.<span style=""> </span>They didn’t have much but they could still act on the words of faith they knew.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style=""> </span>Remember, you don’t have to change the world, you simply have to put wisdom in action, and change your life, in doing so you will see lives around you affected, changed, and challenged.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style=""> </span>Go and act on the words of Christ with all of your being. I pray that you do so for the sake of Jesus Christ and the world we live in.<span style=""> </span>In the name of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sustainer. Amen.</span></p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-21111424127637087202012-01-19T12:44:00.000-08:002012-01-19T12:46:05.084-08:00This I believeI had to write a This I believe statement for a class...<br /><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> 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0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Words, Beliefs, Action</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style=""> </span>I believe that faith and theology are obligated to result in making decisions that are rooted in justice.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style=""> </span>The world is full of injustice.<span style=""> </span>People exploit each other, those who work hard to produce the products the rich eat cannot put food on the table for their children at night, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.<span style=""> </span>The world continues to press forward; people make decisions in order to put themselves in a situation where they can advance in their business, social status, or fame.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style=""> </span>I have spent a lot of time listening to people who are constantly experiencing injustice in their lives.<span style=""> </span>Those who are abused, exploited, looked down on by the rest of the world, and those who are never given a chance to show who they are and what they can do.<span style=""> </span>I have spent time hearing their struggles, their hopes, their dreams, and I have seen them work hard to make those hopes and dreams come true.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style=""> </span>I recently went on a trip to Nicaragua with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).<span style=""> </span>On this trip we met coffee farmers who are part of a fair trade cooperative, artisans who work in a pottery coop, and men and women who work in a sewing cooperative.<span style=""> </span>All of the men and women I met in Nicaragua were part of what is known as fair trade, they work for wages that are “fair” and they produce goods that are better quality than what we receive when paying unfair prices.<span style=""> </span>These men and women live in a third world country where many of their neighbors are working in sweatshops or begging on the street, most people in Nicaragua live on less than $1 a day.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style=""> </span>Their poverty is a result of a faulty government and the exploitation of their people and resources over many years.<span style=""> </span>As a person of faith, one who purchases many of the goods I witnessed being produced, I never knew just how unjust the situation is for these people.<span style=""> </span>I as person of faith, one driven by the teachings of Jesus Christ have now seen the effects of both justice for people and injustice done to people.<span style=""> </span>I know what justice can do and I am obligated to share the stories I have so that others may be informed.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style=""> </span>Why is it that my faith drives me to believe I have this obligation? If I take seriously the teachings of Jesus I have to see that Jesus was one who exploited not people but injustice.<span style=""> </span>He stood up for those who were cast out by society and helped those who were being oppressed by even their own government.<span style=""> </span>If I am to be Christ like and faith driven, I too must be committed to just living.<span style=""> </span>My actions reflect my words, my words reflect my beliefs.</span></p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-72771429596504041852012-01-18T15:20:00.000-08:002012-01-18T16:26:57.762-08:00What does the Lord require of you?<div style="text-align: center;">Micah 6:8<br />What does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br />To seek justice...<br />Websters defines the word seek in many different ways,<br /><div class="scnt"><span class="ssens"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1:</span><strong> </strong>to resort to <strong>:</strong> go to </span></div><div class="sblk"><div class="scnt"><span class="ssens"> <em class="sn"></em><strong></strong> <span style="font-weight: bold;">2</span>:to go in search of <strong>or</strong> look for <span style="font-weight: bold;">or</span></span><span class="ssens"> to try to discover </span></div></div><div class="sblk"><div class="scnt"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3</span><span class="ssens"><strong>:</strong> to ask for<span class="vi"></span> </span></div></div><div class="sblk"><div class="scnt"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4</span><span class="ssens"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">:</strong> to try to acquire or gain <strong>or</strong> aim at<span class="vi"><em></em></span> </span></div></div><div class="snum"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5</span><span class="ssens"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">:</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>to make an attempt</span><br /><br />What does the Lord require? To resort to justice, to go to justice, to go in search of justice, to look for justice, to try to discover justice, to ask for justice, to acquire justice, to make an attempt at justice. What exactly is justice? Justice is defined as:<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="ssens">The principle or ideal of just dealing or right action: conformity to this principle or ideal<span style="font-weight: bold;">-</span><strong></strong> righteousness</span><br /><br />The breakdown of words could go on and on, but if we look at just dealing, right action, and righteousness and assume for a moment that these things all point towards living in a loving relation with all people and the earth around us, that we take care of one another and the earth, that we live as people who care about future generations then we can understand just why it is important to seek justice. Seeking justice is not for ourselves, it is for those who are experiencing injustice around every corner they turn. Those who are not making fair wages, those who are being exploited so others can lift themselves up, those who are cast aside and thought of as no good or useless in society. God doesn't give up on people and neither should we, instead we should be seeking justice. Looking to do right by those experiencing injustice and therefore walking in righteousness before God. <br /><br />What does the Lord require of me this day? To keep pressing on, to keep seeking justice and being informed, informing others, and challenging this world to seek to do what is right, to seek to do what is just, not only when it is convenient to do so...but in all circumstances.<br /><br />Peace.<br />Krista<br /></div></div></div>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-56380592723829746992012-01-17T12:51:00.001-08:002012-01-17T13:04:29.738-08:00Adjusting to being home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYSg_Z5Edqb1Oh7mT3FtlDwLHPMt3M0eLtcbhgWzqRfCsnzkgsoyxMgdZq4xHDYUf1LH9GRgCvSeD-X9WYj4Wj4LWfmAQHAN0iJ8FT8XFLWUUYKIwJXBYZCW8XgJR2XoCsQno8_j2-td0/s1600/Nicaragua+534.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYSg_Z5Edqb1Oh7mT3FtlDwLHPMt3M0eLtcbhgWzqRfCsnzkgsoyxMgdZq4xHDYUf1LH9GRgCvSeD-X9WYj4Wj4LWfmAQHAN0iJ8FT8XFLWUUYKIwJXBYZCW8XgJR2XoCsQno8_j2-td0/s400/Nicaragua+534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698707170995282978" border="0" /></a><br />I have been back "home" for 3 days now. I have done a bit of debriefing and a lot of sharing since I returned home. I am faced with a pile of reading and more emotions than my body can handle. I have slept a lot, cried a lot, and find myself with one foot planted in Nica and the other walking through life back here in Southern Indiana.<br /><br />And so I begin to process the experience. In our closing worship a member of the group read from Matthew 25:<span class="woj">31-46<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="woj">“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.</span> <span class="woj"> All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.</span> <span class="woj"> He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.</span> </div><p style="text-align: center;"> <span class="woj"> “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.</span> <span class="woj"> For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,</span> <span class="woj"> I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’</span> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span class="woj"> “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?</span> <span class="woj"> When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?</span> <span class="woj"> When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’</span> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span class="woj"> “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’</span> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span class="woj"> “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24051">42</sup> For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,</span> <span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24052">43</sup> I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’</span> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span class="woj"> “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’</span> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span class="woj"> “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’</span> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="woj"> “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”</span></div><p> </p><br /><br /><br />As she read the passage and reflected on it I began to think that as an American I am so accustomed to reading that passage in a way where I am the one doing for the least of these...however, in Nica I was the least of these. Sylvia, Alexandra, and Maria were feeding me, giving me shelter, giving me something to drink, they were loving me when I was in a very different place out of my comfort zone and at times wondering why in the world I was in Nicaragua. <br />Riding around in Managua I saw a huge statue of Jesus, and when I saw it I turned to another person in the group and said "Look, I found Jesus, he is in Nicaragua!" I was joking when I said it, but the more I reflect on my experiences in Nicaragua the more I realize I was face to face with Jesus every time a person welcomed me into their home or business. I saw Jesus in the way the people of Nicaragua were taking care of one another and even us strangers from a country that has done a lot of harm. <br />I saw in Nicaragua the outcome of Christians living as a people set apart, people who put others before themselves and who humbly serve as Christ served. <br />This experience was not just an eye opening experience to the world of Fair Trade, but it was an eye opening experience to what it means to live ones faith in a way that is loving and just and right in this world. It can be done, it is being done, we just have to look in places we least expect it and be open to receiving it. <br /><br /><br />Peace,<br />KPKristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-86560590084650042672012-01-16T16:56:00.000-08:002012-01-16T17:15:19.335-08:00Nicaragua Experience in photos...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8M_Cxas3W0-NN55MISVZNexyBM0FmB8D2-vAg5a5YQQ7QsofasmYX1HtKVbWr7Fm2JH7Gqqdh8t_tPVPVcQpbLaNMgzdbpZ8se2uKWywZkM7M_xGNRK_CTEJMceAjOBz6X_PGWBPyF47/s1600/Nicaragua+398.JPG"><span><span></span></span></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPidc3vhqolXnWTBHFPHoitRvQ-H-sq7kA22JLTkHjleeRFednPVGLJ0u3q17Zce1Usms1KdI7htjYt6BkxGddofyUDgj5Jecj7c1CY8ESmmvljpI50kdXILltxx0eyEt9zJ7NlrLBo344/s1600/Nicaragua+995.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPidc3vhqolXnWTBHFPHoitRvQ-H-sq7kA22JLTkHjleeRFednPVGLJ0u3q17Zce1Usms1KdI7htjYt6BkxGddofyUDgj5Jecj7c1CY8ESmmvljpI50kdXILltxx0eyEt9zJ7NlrLBo344/s400/Nicaragua+995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698401752594102802" border="0" /></a><br />Communion at our closing worship...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqXZhmmJIyI-eEYRLNi_dJylur_dU3PKEQCeegjnPtBvr29log877B1znJbaeoQKJo_fghbt1hTCh4K4MypeXpt0g7RuVaq7MiowxaBODlb0oYDnRE9A7KOAD40zsPTsQu0KsxEYVcMFP/s1600/Nicaragua+989.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqXZhmmJIyI-eEYRLNi_dJylur_dU3PKEQCeegjnPtBvr29log877B1znJbaeoQKJo_fghbt1hTCh4K4MypeXpt0g7RuVaq7MiowxaBODlb0oYDnRE9A7KOAD40zsPTsQu0KsxEYVcMFP/s400/Nicaragua+989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698401747955718722" border="0" /></a>The first use of my new communion set<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwqBpdtf96FmAob39Dj8Cs-3wHERY7JTeVT9rbW4LucJAzxESwaz2YTRWEhMEdRylmWpNHoWkKcWulrLv8zeWBvZT5yvFpKa_vdhc9igk64mw8c55ZKnnjM8k-crzco9MSU6GjbSyMEK9/s1600/Nicaragua+917.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwqBpdtf96FmAob39Dj8Cs-3wHERY7JTeVT9rbW4LucJAzxESwaz2YTRWEhMEdRylmWpNHoWkKcWulrLv8zeWBvZT5yvFpKa_vdhc9igk64mw8c55ZKnnjM8k-crzco9MSU6GjbSyMEK9/s400/Nicaragua+917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400945959390178" border="0" /></a>T-Shirts from the Sewing Cooperative<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrz_Q52TMyV7ApAlkkJ5bXrdf1MBHzHbcFeBUG-JRGaibyR6z31S892a3Gwajtecs3KMgHgenENjRbJJ8c425h9XFdwAvHb5gFhmKSrDZddINwS7kssm-PPYWpzTsdv_g_-p0XTv7dZQW/s1600/Nicaragua+862.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrz_Q52TMyV7ApAlkkJ5bXrdf1MBHzHbcFeBUG-JRGaibyR6z31S892a3Gwajtecs3KMgHgenENjRbJJ8c425h9XFdwAvHb5gFhmKSrDZddINwS7kssm-PPYWpzTsdv_g_-p0XTv7dZQW/s400/Nicaragua+862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400939672438642" border="0" /></a>This and the one below it are of the communion set I purchased at the pottery cooperative in Ducuali<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX_nVN-OeDL6U9Ftyuh5hpXU4ZY7ruxrPbwGXCOJWMjQpKdg15SN4CUBa0GkI7CAPieQMgpkrDYK6-CB8Ce49pfMULIwLLDwY2QWlK-3mee-LUEO01WT2zjZVEz3sLWTW2iraamckk0Ll/s1600/Nicaragua+861.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX_nVN-OeDL6U9Ftyuh5hpXU4ZY7ruxrPbwGXCOJWMjQpKdg15SN4CUBa0GkI7CAPieQMgpkrDYK6-CB8Ce49pfMULIwLLDwY2QWlK-3mee-LUEO01WT2zjZVEz3sLWTW2iraamckk0Ll/s400/Nicaragua+861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400937066321170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IgR0XocLw5znVfzS-meIGl51KclKpKoQEmWNIzmkG0fWJsxg-HY2z0z4xaD4fEYYi2A-uHyUjLjWlQrUCT33VC3I9WSxJSqUohXbfqjJLalpRu6AVfonRTIBfgVM0y4HocWW2uymOVCA/s1600/Nicaragua+806.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IgR0XocLw5znVfzS-meIGl51KclKpKoQEmWNIzmkG0fWJsxg-HY2z0z4xaD4fEYYi2A-uHyUjLjWlQrUCT33VC3I9WSxJSqUohXbfqjJLalpRu6AVfonRTIBfgVM0y4HocWW2uymOVCA/s400/Nicaragua+806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400921330561602" border="0" /></a>The pottery from the cooperative<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxtyPcaurv5KCOC1NgAfLvYoYJCMHq3oZw48pH2r5Du0VcHYtsTT2PTb31Y7WIg0_F0J3jy1Von6U0jRkRNoflkTD3YH3Q6O_CNj-k0kdDnJ-_8uQBqFdVG6qDIu3s4Jw5Bh5XzRfKc9j/s1600/Nicaragua+797.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxtyPcaurv5KCOC1NgAfLvYoYJCMHq3oZw48pH2r5Du0VcHYtsTT2PTb31Y7WIg0_F0J3jy1Von6U0jRkRNoflkTD3YH3Q6O_CNj-k0kdDnJ-_8uQBqFdVG6qDIu3s4Jw5Bh5XzRfKc9j/s400/Nicaragua+797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400916423491074" border="0" /></a>beautiful work the women do<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3qzS62qy6qnc_4oohW2QnxmwdcQBe1l_YO1LsWuzIm3Zgra1poIPVLOdUqDb20BtFK6MQuMUvq0vza7F-Oq_n-3rGFCuXT7hv6q9jX3GP-rOo37Jhnx8XpTiAF2zA7q2XyQaQjAXUAKa/s1600/Nicaragua+790.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3qzS62qy6qnc_4oohW2QnxmwdcQBe1l_YO1LsWuzIm3Zgra1poIPVLOdUqDb20BtFK6MQuMUvq0vza7F-Oq_n-3rGFCuXT7hv6q9jX3GP-rOo37Jhnx8XpTiAF2zA7q2XyQaQjAXUAKa/s400/Nicaragua+790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400528481692610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmGIpCGEPpEIw7Pu54-NHaYtzOrbe6r-RLLvCCFQ0ul62s5M5SdKpWXndoZ9nJBc_G5Im3gP_vA0KHeFwEQeiNoC7cfT_pvO5YmRaIBQ_9DiOnw61Abdit4jzfbBq7R4t0gG9_V5hpq1D/s1600/Nicaragua+728.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmGIpCGEPpEIw7Pu54-NHaYtzOrbe6r-RLLvCCFQ0ul62s5M5SdKpWXndoZ9nJBc_G5Im3gP_vA0KHeFwEQeiNoC7cfT_pvO5YmRaIBQ_9DiOnw61Abdit4jzfbBq7R4t0gG9_V5hpq1D/s400/Nicaragua+728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400485343466946" border="0" /></a>Gallery of Heroes and Martyrs<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINZmkThvMd7hFU6r3jwTaRlP5CqFjmXEQXqqElGKzMhgw3fGSi69aoKSEkDooxWE8-sYSL4qOMbp8MjvJ20kFFicNZcY25tFjN9NkzIZQSoRnaUeDnoDIDcLY9iNdWMOJjCnYKcAjZKQ_/s1600/Nicaragua+726.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINZmkThvMd7hFU6r3jwTaRlP5CqFjmXEQXqqElGKzMhgw3fGSi69aoKSEkDooxWE8-sYSL4qOMbp8MjvJ20kFFicNZcY25tFjN9NkzIZQSoRnaUeDnoDIDcLY9iNdWMOJjCnYKcAjZKQ_/s400/Nicaragua+726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400470036046322" border="0" /></a>A church in Esteli<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4F4pQi5tZzLlZBLn54vcxFZ7vW1T2nxIX2K5izkVAocR3JVEh9ZlJyHaQz56xCBTkhNreJ8HoPYmSR_ycVB34KszwcrI0UlzMeySCVpJIfsZCZzTI-n4xauk6iswtC6GQ0u8THW7xqs7/s1600/Nicaragua+614.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4F4pQi5tZzLlZBLn54vcxFZ7vW1T2nxIX2K5izkVAocR3JVEh9ZlJyHaQz56xCBTkhNreJ8HoPYmSR_ycVB34KszwcrI0UlzMeySCVpJIfsZCZzTI-n4xauk6iswtC6GQ0u8THW7xqs7/s400/Nicaragua+614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400467167921650" border="0" /></a>Coffee beans drying<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn52tVSgaudRF0hYweAj6BJxtlN5v2q3pLdd7ZeIgKuvZ9LF7o4cE9K2Kd2dBYjljBG2G5AHzAjnUOEyidaymQ5IEnmitwDX2d6rwpj-TcjnWVodh8enynuYreT3gIv0_uXFDWhktzjtrA/s1600/Nicaragua+416.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn52tVSgaudRF0hYweAj6BJxtlN5v2q3pLdd7ZeIgKuvZ9LF7o4cE9K2Kd2dBYjljBG2G5AHzAjnUOEyidaymQ5IEnmitwDX2d6rwpj-TcjnWVodh8enynuYreT3gIv0_uXFDWhktzjtrA/s400/Nicaragua+416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400462427567426" border="0" /></a>Chili peppers being grown...Tabasco<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ieGTAcRYJ08FDVJokX3KJPBGi5W3TyqlmO2HxpivI_P4AfDo7P-prDRAHNGIEr7SWKFWYqdx7wFuQir53hd1YF6jXd9yzsdRpTWS_6fOMEZi2P-B8hlbIPob-VtZVIcJ5QptIlQXfLWr/s1600/Nicaragua+358.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ieGTAcRYJ08FDVJokX3KJPBGi5W3TyqlmO2HxpivI_P4AfDo7P-prDRAHNGIEr7SWKFWYqdx7wFuQir53hd1YF6jXd9yzsdRpTWS_6fOMEZi2P-B8hlbIPob-VtZVIcJ5QptIlQXfLWr/s400/Nicaragua+358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400084598951858" border="0" /></a>The first step of the coffee process is picking these cherries off the tree<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3r_H68USOjma30V5JGp_R6GnbgyBbdKrH8bPfA8YMQj2i9VFWlzE6GNEBSjbKZCAub-yEMfTWaPi2qdo21eCAMOXN8RHlTSFnr3GapKTRrVSrdLTXGaRfp-uod0GMOnzhASesPtDuklW/s1600/Nicaragua+398.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3r_H68USOjma30V5JGp_R6GnbgyBbdKrH8bPfA8YMQj2i9VFWlzE6GNEBSjbKZCAub-yEMfTWaPi2qdo21eCAMOXN8RHlTSFnr3GapKTRrVSrdLTXGaRfp-uod0GMOnzhASesPtDuklW/s400/Nicaragua+398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400074137524066" border="0" /></a>my hands after picking the coffee for a few hours<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfR8h640m-i9SbdjPw0FWKBl4jE5uSKkAGYwF07Gufgp8NtxdBOKs2ftevPJiMMo6qAqsM2ha1E3nQkmEI9rlZ127gEsEZ42PBA2KHRXfoMGILBRiDwjDGQN8SZUd5M8SDP84R36BbIAd/s1600/Nicaragua+360.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfR8h640m-i9SbdjPw0FWKBl4jE5uSKkAGYwF07Gufgp8NtxdBOKs2ftevPJiMMo6qAqsM2ha1E3nQkmEI9rlZ127gEsEZ42PBA2KHRXfoMGILBRiDwjDGQN8SZUd5M8SDP84R36BbIAd/s400/Nicaragua+360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400066493722866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrFv6IqX-Eyh9ujJAKmGhc3yvwqhV8wjGRAUzaxeZ8yUbXpDTegRW9dk5MZEGbfZC6Lbf6pf4hubiP4djma1wTjaAfrYheCI86NDphn1E7s5az3SONZXI8tBXy4tSTLplIq1KmUQM_DI_/s1600/Nicaragua+359.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrFv6IqX-Eyh9ujJAKmGhc3yvwqhV8wjGRAUzaxeZ8yUbXpDTegRW9dk5MZEGbfZC6Lbf6pf4hubiP4djma1wTjaAfrYheCI86NDphn1E7s5az3SONZXI8tBXy4tSTLplIq1KmUQM_DI_/s400/Nicaragua+359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400052654675026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3Z_xafvGtjpI4YDs0K1HtIOUmIPE-eb26nqTfQYvY0lSdGTknAVbc0iL2mpzJhlZkJRrhLaPFqXZUoB5L2XMWxHUlXGb1vu_yoYNxOVSCX66803orcH1954lDJ9UwEZL1F46_Dy4KWLq/s1600/Nicaragua+358.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3Z_xafvGtjpI4YDs0K1HtIOUmIPE-eb26nqTfQYvY0lSdGTknAVbc0iL2mpzJhlZkJRrhLaPFqXZUoB5L2XMWxHUlXGb1vu_yoYNxOVSCX66803orcH1954lDJ9UwEZL1F46_Dy4KWLq/s400/Nicaragua+358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698400050269660146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafkPmi3OxzUVgI-broKrJOlSqMU7jKlNjGP76NYuynjYaiTkcd5gBL_P24jbXJCAad7NhsDkiKflOzeA3Ca4RxRgL82ehHj2uXG6ocpbZyA3nqQI_uSJfRIjrHuSWXegDka9svRaRqGL4/s1600/Nicaragua+355.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafkPmi3OxzUVgI-broKrJOlSqMU7jKlNjGP76NYuynjYaiTkcd5gBL_P24jbXJCAad7NhsDkiKflOzeA3Ca4RxRgL82ehHj2uXG6ocpbZyA3nqQI_uSJfRIjrHuSWXegDka9svRaRqGL4/s400/Nicaragua+355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698399415917135762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuVJpzlY-SEzSs70nrhcQPY3kYxsAk7eReZ6VLpLzwB_susEQ6f3bW_shcdYpaT9QuZUP6OF30xNP8LLM-CjeF8Syy-x68dTpvIF7cADVPQdgJ7ZokvUux_snOJtjRFoisBi_2Owm5EfA/s1600/Nicaragua+352.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuVJpzlY-SEzSs70nrhcQPY3kYxsAk7eReZ6VLpLzwB_susEQ6f3bW_shcdYpaT9QuZUP6OF30xNP8LLM-CjeF8Syy-x68dTpvIF7cADVPQdgJ7ZokvUux_snOJtjRFoisBi_2Owm5EfA/s400/Nicaragua+352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698399412074536306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XDGkGIhGAAcfg9UyxkMRt5qErCgFTfhgUxY8MkzgyE8TbLgmeZxAEpIj_VIghUepBBPzdfYekbGFD6QJNPEsGBTLIHTAI_2u6BeJHuiU7MIisumjU5FbKur9YYn-MgaNzC4mE30NJO0c/s1600/Nicaragua+348.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XDGkGIhGAAcfg9UyxkMRt5qErCgFTfhgUxY8MkzgyE8TbLgmeZxAEpIj_VIghUepBBPzdfYekbGFD6QJNPEsGBTLIHTAI_2u6BeJHuiU7MIisumjU5FbKur9YYn-MgaNzC4mE30NJO0c/s400/Nicaragua+348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698399404483749970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtiolPB6zvgxnLU_Mg8KSdthGDU4zwZDHBYoVqqMG3kecwOfdvOBqRr-BcTfZi8vkukFYleP5pXHqUQlM4oFtH2KDoKOWFy0X1_OtWtJDhjTsZzsuZR9_B1wkMisTzsP_vZ186B0eJXto/s1600/Nicaragua+333.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtiolPB6zvgxnLU_Mg8KSdthGDU4zwZDHBYoVqqMG3kecwOfdvOBqRr-BcTfZi8vkukFYleP5pXHqUQlM4oFtH2KDoKOWFy0X1_OtWtJDhjTsZzsuZR9_B1wkMisTzsP_vZ186B0eJXto/s400/Nicaragua+333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698399393128857186" border="0" /></a>The pulp from the coffee bean being used as an organic fertilizer<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPiBhFaM6TcVANsUo9YN7XVBGd0VMsXU2bM7W-1oHSGDC5wH9mqsuTAqVXX-EkLOHPMunrrR8l5E4sXeJIYbWWPCR7U5BLD0bUqSA1Q1VOL21XycvIqHYTB62iXe6dZEg32pbk5d6N64U/s1600/Nicaragua+284.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPiBhFaM6TcVANsUo9YN7XVBGd0VMsXU2bM7W-1oHSGDC5wH9mqsuTAqVXX-EkLOHPMunrrR8l5E4sXeJIYbWWPCR7U5BLD0bUqSA1Q1VOL21XycvIqHYTB62iXe6dZEg32pbk5d6N64U/s400/Nicaragua+284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698399390979320322" border="0" /></a>The beautiful scenery<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOo_-ama6R0NkZizKgX69RSCxAmy134rCAx_gMrNYwdvx4afm8pRl3o3HDWq2tjEV73ORkaAUtGGcai9iVoNVa0CbNMc0zYd1EnKxDAkj4PvJ9jp05OyIAjB8O4x8Eb2wKQRZmH3MdLUyl/s1600/Nicaragua+271.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOo_-ama6R0NkZizKgX69RSCxAmy134rCAx_gMrNYwdvx4afm8pRl3o3HDWq2tjEV73ORkaAUtGGcai9iVoNVa0CbNMc0zYd1EnKxDAkj4PvJ9jp05OyIAjB8O4x8Eb2wKQRZmH3MdLUyl/s400/Nicaragua+271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698398930961511314" border="0" /></a>A house on the road in Boaco<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNKlsrZK7pd9UWY1LHr3RZuMhJnLnwWe2nCcpVqiJqQ7mNldDZ0OBSRW3hAwPFKnyd1e_ja2UNqsxmRyTAmigeos_m2t4u1_5uFhX_XA_BLhIakL8iY3ziYRmtQy4S2S13C7x_erVOF6f/s1600/Nicaragua+220.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNKlsrZK7pd9UWY1LHr3RZuMhJnLnwWe2nCcpVqiJqQ7mNldDZ0OBSRW3hAwPFKnyd1e_ja2UNqsxmRyTAmigeos_m2t4u1_5uFhX_XA_BLhIakL8iY3ziYRmtQy4S2S13C7x_erVOF6f/s400/Nicaragua+220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698398924180113634" border="0" /></a>In Boaco<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwss60AH52kZjt_s9JZowVLeylTv4WxWfNhDqV609OItFF1Tyh3DIBKcSxMXLuzdqcLLfbQivjaRC6tU-XjWKitKQiBARcEkHvAcP4D3pxMsRjNQ0h2M4riS1NgWLyY-Z-6MzQD7MtsvXY/s1600/Nicaragua+201.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwss60AH52kZjt_s9JZowVLeylTv4WxWfNhDqV609OItFF1Tyh3DIBKcSxMXLuzdqcLLfbQivjaRC6tU-XjWKitKQiBARcEkHvAcP4D3pxMsRjNQ0h2M4riS1NgWLyY-Z-6MzQD7MtsvXY/s400/Nicaragua+201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698398906992837682" border="0" /></a>Look at the size of those carrots!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnqWnYFGd9ARi1RBt__gnU0-S-Tsx5viwnTUKb32YtqDrUJz_a-QscHzaNOIyROvMlXAFFQ4A9uD0aR8GtQ1-uOhsz4oStnUPKt6BZ63CdMzJ_aJB1M0h7tEO5sGgvOyr4nHmWkTSpPjD/s1600/Nicaragua+191.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnqWnYFGd9ARi1RBt__gnU0-S-Tsx5viwnTUKb32YtqDrUJz_a-QscHzaNOIyROvMlXAFFQ4A9uD0aR8GtQ1-uOhsz4oStnUPKt6BZ63CdMzJ_aJB1M0h7tEO5sGgvOyr4nHmWkTSpPjD/s400/Nicaragua+191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698398903146925122" border="0" /></a>A market outside of a Free Trade Zone (NOT the same as Fair Trade)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8sr6w8TBlGQ3oTvzNh3Obto1N2-GIX2cO74BFFecI_rkruXn__uuIhXYonqGbNZyKEXHjbC_rX13UMBaFv8dam2iZjDNLERaAyDOzGGVptJ97g_UUnUWYeHpJA2NhXPeTUijG43_vpdC/s1600/Nicaragua+127.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8sr6w8TBlGQ3oTvzNh3Obto1N2-GIX2cO74BFFecI_rkruXn__uuIhXYonqGbNZyKEXHjbC_rX13UMBaFv8dam2iZjDNLERaAyDOzGGVptJ97g_UUnUWYeHpJA2NhXPeTUijG43_vpdC/s400/Nicaragua+127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698398899251155538" border="0" /></a>Trash burning on the street in ManaguaKristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-79267745846448625072012-01-15T19:18:00.000-08:002012-01-15T19:36:30.282-08:00Nica 2012Adjusting from Nica time to normal US fast paced be on time society is a bit challenging. I realized that this morning when my alarm went off and I turned it off and went back to sleep, missing church for the first time in ages. I spent the week in community with people I could barely communicate with. I spent a week living on "Nica time" what we Americans would call consistently being late to everything. I spent the week being served by people we view as poor, people who make in a year what I make in a month. And now I am home, home in the US trying to readjust. Trying to process my experience, trying to get back to living and doing so in a way that brings justice to all people. <br /><br />I realize the impact my decisions have on the lives of people who have had a rough life, those who live in poverty, those who want to live and live well for themselves and their children. I have been a supporter of fair trade goods for a long time now, and this week has shown me how much of an impact this way of just living can have on a community. I can make a difference in the life of children and families in Nicaragua and I can influence my communities to do the same.<br /><br />It is not just a gift that I was able to have this experience, but it is an obligation to me as well, an obligation to share the story of those I came into contact and relationship with in the past week. I have an obligation to continue sharing the stories of Christ in relation to the people who provide luxury items for us (coffee, chocolate, clothing, art). I have an obligation to the people I have come to love in Nicaragua and the rest of the world around me, to share the love of Christ in the most tangible way...by seeking and doing justice.<br />Those are my thoughts so far...more to come as I continue to process...<br />Peace be within you,<br />KristaKristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-68107899636666594902011-09-01T16:01:00.000-07:002011-09-01T16:24:28.669-07:00A Few Days a Camp PYOCA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZqD0__oCye58MHS8cLR3T0iJCOzHZ786RS6kwWCXrCQovJnum3SZPLN2wwpCXtbGd1DjUtTc7wNbzd2uHOSa8YOaNCzUn54TKDTZs_Thngnlx8M855wZaZtyxtuL_B3KUURHjUxAsmAF/s1600/Picture0041.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZqD0__oCye58MHS8cLR3T0iJCOzHZ786RS6kwWCXrCQovJnum3SZPLN2wwpCXtbGd1DjUtTc7wNbzd2uHOSa8YOaNCzUn54TKDTZs_Thngnlx8M855wZaZtyxtuL_B3KUURHjUxAsmAF/s200/Picture0041.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647533751720858770" /></a>
<br /><p>Most if not all of my friends know two things about me. 1) I'm weird. 2) I'm a nerd.</p><p>Last week I was busy stressing about being a senior (maybe a blog on that later) and working 2 jobs, I felt the stress weighing on me and knew I needed to get away. Not too long after this discovery that I was stressed and stretched thin I got really sick and had to go to the hospital. After some antibiotics and steroids I was feeling better. Before I got sick I was looking for places to go, to get away, to relax, to escape. Someone recommended I contact the local Presbyterian Camp, and so I did. I offered to do any grunt work they could use and they have! </p><p>I am weird in that I did not want to simply "get away" and sit for a few days. I wanted to do something, in particular some service work, and I wanted to do it somewhere I knew it could be used. The nerd in me that loves all things Presbyterian has really enjoyed talking with the staff and other volunteers here. I've had a chance to meet some folks, stick my head into a cluster meeting and say hi to familiar <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Presby</span> brothers and sisters, and to make new relationships with folks I had met a time or two or never at all.</p><p>It has been very refreshing to get away, to get out and work by the lake, to look out the window and see nature all around. To be pretty unplugged for the most part. But I think most importantly I have been at peace.</p><p>During the day we have worked hard digging sand, shoveling gravel, digging trenches, running electrical line through pipes, laying out <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pvc</span> pipes, climbing ladders, cleaning cabins, helping out in the kitchen, and who knows what other stuff we have done. It has been awesome (I'm weird remember). It has given me a chance to use my muscles (ones that haven't been used in a long time) to share my gifts, to work hard, and to enjoy just being for a few days. </p><p>Tonight I am sitting in the Lodge, looking out over the lake, I will probably spend some time reading and praying and just sitting and enjoying the stillness of this place before I head to bed early. Hard work takes the energy straight from you! I will wake up, have a few achy muscles and will finish running electric to the pumps (a project we started today). It sounded like we would have some sand to move as well, and I look forward to that as well. After this, it is back to Hanover. Back to sermon prep, back to school work, back to balancing myself and not stretching myself too thin. </p><p>We have had some good laughs this week. I have met some great people and learned some very useful things about building a septic field...whether or not I'll use those skills again...we shall see.</p><p>Peace,</p><p>KP</p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-62993133892251601442011-07-24T17:27:00.000-07:002011-07-24T18:16:35.760-07:00Words-Healing or Hurting?<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYI6Spq833wG3o9sylf10GHGR2uZ_knkSeYaw2EgIRRrAE9J_V5jTlURYWveBva4M4KYuw2JGE3WRwwScpuqnzAnBfahYyuTvXAbMQeCC14JTOAvklxWZRTEZgxDd0dUfQSEXBwBsTWqWR/s1600/sticksandstones.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 98px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYI6Spq833wG3o9sylf10GHGR2uZ_knkSeYaw2EgIRRrAE9J_V5jTlURYWveBva4M4KYuw2JGE3WRwwScpuqnzAnBfahYyuTvXAbMQeCC14JTOAvklxWZRTEZgxDd0dUfQSEXBwBsTWqWR/s200/sticksandstones.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633083582994738594" /></a></p><p>Words Have Power</p><p>A couple of days ago my facebook status read as follows: "Words have power, God used words to create the world, Jesus used words to heal people, to cast out demons, and to teach us how to live with one another. Our words can have these sorts of positive power or they can be used to break people. To cause pain, to put others down. How will you use your words?"</p><p>I was reflecting on something that had taken place in my own life (and will not talk about that here). As I sat on the computer, hurt, tired, frustrated, and wondering where I go and what I do next I thought...we too often forget how powerful our words can be. We fail to realize that the things we say to other people are not always just words that go in one ear and out the other. I am the type of person who loves to talk with people. I take in what they are saying and it sticks with me throughout the day, week, and even for years. I am constantly thinking about conversations, what they said, what I said, what I should have said, how I should have phrased something. </p><p>It is not by accident that I am cautious and careful with my words. I know that my words can and do have power. I know that I can say something I see as small or insignificant that strikes a cord with a friend that can send them into a panic or into deep sorrow. I know that I can also say something that lifts their spirit and gives them a breath of hope. It seems to me that people do not take the idea that words hold power as seriously as we should. Growing up we learn sayings like "sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me" or "I'm rubber and your glue, whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you." I fear these cute little saying have created this false and harmful idea that words do not have power. While in theory it is nice to have children think that people can say whatever they want but in the end it doesn't matter, the reality is many children go home at night after being picked on at school and have parents who verbally abuse them. </p><p>We have to be more aware of the words we use and how we use them. Winston Churchill once said "By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach." Words can hurt others but when we choose to refrain from speaking harmful things to others no one gets hurt. That is not to say that you should not speak the truth in love, but we must do so with caution, with love, with respect.</p><p>I leave you all with this from scripture,</p><p>Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.-Colossians 4:6</p><p><br /></p><p>What wise council we find in this passage. To speak with graciousness, preserving our words so that we may know how to answer everyone-my bet is that we answer in love. We answer with power that builds up our brothers and sisters, that we refuse to stand on ground that breaks each other down, and instead focus on how we can positively impact the world around us. Speaking the truth in love is not sugar coating reality, it is taking into account that words do have power and choosing to use them wisely.</p><p>I am committed to living well with others and building them up in word and deed...and I hope I will be held accountable to that...I am also committed to holding others accountable to the same.</p><p>Peace,</p><p>KP</p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-71580122239268482522011-07-18T10:51:00.000-07:002011-07-18T10:59:34.304-07:00Preaching Camp Sermon #1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEoz3CxlWG40Z17IJegWJkPs4OkuV5ne4QbLJoGAoL1PUT0RFnDdARXkL3UZDOvGJCtttl-Ryz-8gXU5UGpnZX8KYQ6wT3_inBuDVH4jQ0LNAZpRLmrTcwS4B_fYiz4GTHzwdx-nZJCeA/s1600/037.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEoz3CxlWG40Z17IJegWJkPs4OkuV5ne4QbLJoGAoL1PUT0RFnDdARXkL3UZDOvGJCtttl-Ryz-8gXU5UGpnZX8KYQ6wT3_inBuDVH4jQ0LNAZpRLmrTcwS4B_fYiz4GTHzwdx-nZJCeA/s200/037.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630753511730791826" /></a><br /> <p class="MsoNormal">Preaching camp has begun and the 8 minute sermons 4 of the next 5 days will all be on the Sermon on the Mount. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Matthew 7:13-14</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life and there are few who find it.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">In the world as we know it the wide gates and easy roads are numerous.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many of us in this room are familiar with these wide and easy roads. The roads that mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters have taken. The roads that lead to artificial happiness, short term fixes, and a long life of masking pain and hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>These roads are quick fixes and too often they seem very appealing, even to the eyes of someone traveling through the narrow gate, and on the hard road.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sometimes they are especially appealing to those who are journeying and feel alone. Who feel abandoned because everyone else is traveling on the easy roads and through the wide gates.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">I grew up right here in the south end of Louisville, my high school is less than 10 minutes from here and my immediate family all live right here off Dixie Highway.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My brothers have chosen easy roads and wide gates into drinking, drugs, and settling for the easy way out. Neither of them continued their education, one of them did not even graduate high school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Most of my graduating class is right along side them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Settling for getting by, for giving in, most of them when asked say they do not have a choice. They had to get married, they had to start a family, they had to settle for a job, they do not have time for friends, they do not have time for serving others, they do not have time for church, they have to take care of themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The road is easy that way, that is when we look out for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The gate is wide when you are not carrying someone else through it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">This passage is near the end of Jesus’ sermon. By this point those disciples who had gone up the mountain and had listened to him had heard many teachings about living with one another. Lessons on not judging, or worrying, or how to pray, how to treat one another, about oaths and divorce, retaliation, and love.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>These same lessons we are studying now and as I read them I realize we are called to take the road that is counter-cultural.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The road is hard and the gate is narrow because we can’t travel it alone. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As Christians we are called to bear with one another. Being a Christian does not work when one lives on their own and when we are working for reconciliation between us and God and each other we have to get dirty. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">My first year at Hanover I decided to go with a group of upperclassmen on a night hike.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was a full moon and clear skies and there was a group of seven of us.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One of the seniors said I know the trail we will be fine, and so we headed off down the bluff and into the creek bed, there was one flashlight that we had just in case we needed it but we never got a chance to use it because I lost it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As we hiked down the creek bed two members of the group informed us they had donated blood that day and were feeling week. Only a couple of us had water and so we shared what little we had left as we were a good hour and a half into the hike.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As we continued on the path we ran out of water and the two who had generously given their blood became weaker.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Finally I spoke up and asked if we were close to the final ascent of the trail? Our fearless leader said, as a matter of fact I can’t find it and we should have been heading up by now.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Eventually we had to make a decision to start climbing up the bluff to get back on campus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As we climbed the two who had donated blood became weaker until we had to carry them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was dark, we were climbing up steep hills, and we were all pitching in to get these two up the hill and to safety.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We started the hike around 11:00pm and finally made it to campus at 3:00am. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The road was not easy and the path was quite narrow. We had to work together with one another so that all of us could safely ascend to the top, so that we could have life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">As we journey through life we are called to love our enemies, to turn the other cheek, to refrain from judging our brothers and sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We are told not to be angry with others, and to treat others the way that we want to be treated.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>These are narrow gates and hard roads because they are counter cultural in that we have to put others before ourselves. We cannot walk alone and do what is asked of us.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">The road is hard when we have to stand up for our brothers and sisters in the coal mines instead of demanding that our electric bills be lower.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">The road is hard when we have to choose to give up the luxury of a chocolate treat while taking a stand against slavery.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">The gate is narrow when are called out of our comfort zones to go and preach, to go and serve in communities where no one wants else dares to go.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">The gate is narrow when our families and friends turn their backs and we must journey on moving into a new place, a new call, a new life.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">The road is hard when domestic violence and drugs are running a community, your community into the ground and you must stand up, when you must reach out to youth, and when you must stand against popular culture in this time and this place.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">There are many roads we have to choose from. The ones we are called to take are hard. They are steep, they are rocky, and they are rarely traveled but they lead to life. Not just for you but for humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">In Deuteronomy 30 we find these words: See I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity (and it continues later) I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying him and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span style=" line-height:200%;font-size:12.0pt;">Choose life, choose the road less traveled. Choose the hard road with narrow gates. Reconcile yourself to God and one another. Choose to live in a world that is counter cultural because it can make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The road may be hard and under traveled but God in Christ has called us to travel for the sake of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So that our descendants may live, so that this world will be a better and more loving place from generation to generation. And may it be so for the sake of Christ. </span></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-43113645492759071602011-05-16T19:58:00.000-07:002011-05-16T20:35:18.473-07:00Life and living. Death and dying.<p>As I sit here with just a couple of weeks remaining in the semester, I sit living and dying. Celebrating life and in the reality that death comes.</p><p>Life can be like a riddle, and as I sit in a time of transition for myself I celebrate the old and the new. The good and the bad meet on the road and make me who I am at this point in time. I cannot change the past and I cannot completely anticipate what the future holds for me, so I make a choice, to live and to be. This past weekend we celebrated the life of a wonderful human being. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Aastik</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pokhrel</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Aastik</span> was a senior my first year at Hanover and our paths did not cross much but I remember thinking "wow what a wonderful person to just be around." Last year my friend <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mera</span> introduced me to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Aastik</span> again, and in a short conversation I realized that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Aastik</span> was more than just a wonderful person for me to be around, he was a wonderful person for the world to be around. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Aastik</span> had a heart unlike any I had seen. His smile could brighten the room, his sense of humor could bring a laugh at any time, and his love for the world gave everyone hope.</p><p>In remembering and celebrating the life of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Aastik</span>, I thought about where I am in my life. Choosing life, choosing to move forward, choosing to be the person God has called me to be and yet dying to the old self, dying to the person the world has created out of me, dying to the expectations of my family, and dying to the expectations of being a product of the south end of Louisville. Life over death, living over dying. It seems like such a simple choice and one that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Aastik</span> taught all of us a little something about. Choosing life, choosing to live and to live in the promises of God is not easy. It is hard work, but it is work that makes this world a little brighter, smiles a little bigger, and hearts fill up with love. Living means confronting the things we must die to in order to live fully. Confronting injustice, confronting those who do not love, loving those who feel unloved, providing for those who have nothing, making something of ourselves when the world says we are nothing, and picking ourselves up when we fall down. Living. Dying. The two go hand in hand. </p><p>What I found remarkable this weekend was that even in his death Aastik was living. Because what he stood for and what he lived for gave life and continues to give life. So many people were touched by his smile, by his laugh, by his gentle being that his living brings about the best death, the death that calls us to leave behind this world and live into people who are not living for themselves, but who are living for the benefit of others. </p><p>As I dust myself off, as I move forward and choose to live, I will always remember Aastik's smile and laugh. I will remember the friends whose lives he has touched, the community who dearly loves and misses him, and the lessons he taught through his actions. I will remember that the dying going on inside me and around me is not just a necessary evil, but it is something that is propelling life, not just for me but for the world. </p><p>If there is one thing in life that never gets old, it is saying goodbye to people long before I should have to. And so, as I celebrate Aastik and the life he has given me, so too do I celebrate Aaron and Kalyn and Lindsey and Max and Emily. Some were younger than others, but each has shaped my life, each taught me a lesson about love and hard work, about being who I am and not who others want me to be. It doesn't make their deaths right, or easy, or okay...nothing ever will...but I must choose to live, to live as the person God has called me to be. To live in joy and to live knowing I am loved. I must choose to die, to die to the world and its standards. To set my own standards of justice, love, and hope...to live into those things and to never look back. To never regret missed opportunities but to cherish every last moment I have with those I love and those who love me and challenge me. </p><p>Living. Dying. Life. Death. </p><p><br /></p><p>Peace,</p><p>KP</p><p><br /></p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372597276838966826.post-59731978249897959522011-03-23T15:54:00.000-07:002011-03-23T15:57:56.435-07:00My Impact Statement<p>I was asked to write a statement about how the vandalism to the chapel impacted me, I added some about the impact on the community as a whole, but this is what I have submitted.</p><p><br /></p><p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I am part of the chapel community or as I like to call it the chapel family.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have been a part of this community since I stepped foot on campus my first year and I have come to love and be loved by those who call the chapel home.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The chapel for me was and is a safe place to go. It has been a refuge in times of heartache and a place where I can simply be in the presence of God without fear or worry.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Saturday morning I received many messages from my brothers and sisters in the chapel community.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was sent pictures, I had people driving to my house and I eventually to campus to be those who were deeply hurt by what they found Saturday morning. Our house, the chapel, is an open space. It is a space where one can go and be who they are without worry of judgment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In our house we have a table where we gather to share a simple meal, sharing the bread and passing the cup serving one another.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To find our table desecrated was heartbreaking, angering, and sorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">In our house, we have many pews, our form of a chair.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In these pews I have held friends, been held by friends, and often times sat alone having arguments with myself and God.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The questions left on our chairs Friday evening hurt many members of my family.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They caused pain, they caused us to feel violated, they caused me to think about the time I have spent in silent reflection sitting in those seats.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In our house we have one of the most simple and beautiful stained glass windows where we can sit and see the sun shine through and penetrate a dark place in our home and often times in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To find black crosses, upside down beside an image that brings light into the darkest places of my own faith journey made me angry.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It upset me that darkness seemed to have a hold of our house.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thankfully I remembered that darkness does not overcome the light.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The fear and worry I had came from a place of not knowing why the chapel, a home for many, was desecrated.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What had my family done to bring this about? What could we have done to prevent it? Are we safe in our own home. These questions are not just mine, but have been echoed by my brothers and sisters over the last few days.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the end I am thankful that if it had to happen, it happened to a community that stands on love.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For I fear other groups, communities, or families on campus may have acted out of revenge of some sort.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I am still hurt when I think back to what we found on Saturday morning, but I am not angry, I am not vengeful. I have hope because love of neighbor has won. I have faith that the chapel is a sacred and safe space regardless of what took place Friday evening.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am proud that my family of brothers and sisters has come together in support for one another in a very uncertain time for us. But I do wonder if anyone- <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>besides our family- noticed the pain? Did a thought cross the mind of the person who entered our home and violated our space of how it would affect us?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">In the end our feelings of being violated and having our home vandalized effected each of us differently, for me it was a feeling of violation and as if my home were no longer welcoming.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For some the space still feels that way. But we stand together as a community and a family ready to move on and continue being love to this campus.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in" align="center">Respectfully Submitted,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in" align="center">Krista</p><p></p>Kristahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06444784467235141247noreply@blogger.com0