The spiritual life is first of all a life. It is not merely something to be known and studied. It is to be lived. Thomas Merton
"Alecia, how is it that my faith life feels non-existent? I don't experience or feel God in the ways you describe. What's wrong with me?" This question is posed to me on a regular basis. My answer is fairly consistent. As a church -- local and the larger one-- we have done a good job inviting people. We want our friends and family to be connected to God and to the church community that we love. We diligently get "them" and ourselves to church, but then what? We need to become disciples. I don't know abou you, but I want to live -- really live out my calling. Call me crazy, but that seems like a journey of a lifetime.
There is a glaring need within churches to grapple with Jesus' words to "make disciples." We walk through the threshhold and never move into the deeper relationship with the Beloved, the Holy One. Just how we make that move has perplexed a lot of folks that love God, but experience little beyond it in their daily lives.
In the next two months, I want to look at practical Christianity that deepens us inwardly, while calling us to mission. It is a journey we will take together in worship. If you join the small group, "Change the World" we will see similar themes as we seek to be more like Jesus.
See you Sunday
On the journey,
Alecia
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Insightful Questions
On Sunday, July 3, we took a break from the current sermon series and had a question and answer time in lieu of the message. We did not get to all of the questions posed. Today I want to look at the following question:
How do we stay positive about Jesus when we see all that goes against his teachings going on around us?
What a great question. Undoubtedly we have to take our cue from Jesus. He entered the world in a time of war and famine. Slavery, prostitution, classism, sexism and racial cleansing were issues in his time. I see Jesus as portrayed in the Gospels as doing several key things:
* Time to pray -- Prayer was as essential for Jesus as breathing. It kept him focused and centered on living out the Kingdom of God on earth.
*Time in worship-- Throughout the Gospels, we see worship is key for Jesus to live out his personal mission.
*Time in a small group--Jesus chose 12 and ultimately 3 to share key moments. He had a small group. We see the three present during the particularly challenging times.
*Proactive Response -- Jesus decided to live out his mission regardless of a world that seemed out of control.
We know Jesus agonized and prayed for those who followed him. Read John 17 to get a good understanding of how Jesus felt. We know he wept at the death of his friend and over the city of Jerusalem as well.
In a world filled with harshness and violence, we would do well to utilize these same principles. When I get discouraged, I read the stories of Jesus in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. I have to remind myself that I am invovled in a greater story than simply my own.
On the journey,
Alecia
How do we stay positive about Jesus when we see all that goes against his teachings going on around us?
What a great question. Undoubtedly we have to take our cue from Jesus. He entered the world in a time of war and famine. Slavery, prostitution, classism, sexism and racial cleansing were issues in his time. I see Jesus as portrayed in the Gospels as doing several key things:
* Time to pray -- Prayer was as essential for Jesus as breathing. It kept him focused and centered on living out the Kingdom of God on earth.
*Time in worship-- Throughout the Gospels, we see worship is key for Jesus to live out his personal mission.
*Time in a small group--Jesus chose 12 and ultimately 3 to share key moments. He had a small group. We see the three present during the particularly challenging times.
*Proactive Response -- Jesus decided to live out his mission regardless of a world that seemed out of control.
We know Jesus agonized and prayed for those who followed him. Read John 17 to get a good understanding of how Jesus felt. We know he wept at the death of his friend and over the city of Jerusalem as well.
In a world filled with harshness and violence, we would do well to utilize these same principles. When I get discouraged, I read the stories of Jesus in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. I have to remind myself that I am invovled in a greater story than simply my own.
On the journey,
Alecia
Monday, June 20, 2011
Are We Clear?
I was reading Selections from Change the World by Mike Slaughter this morning. He speaks to the fact that the mandate for Jesus' followers is clear. He points to the Luke 4: 18-19 passage:
Slaughter writes, "The gospel is good news for the poor. If it is not working to benefit the poor and oppressed, then it is not the gospel." As I pondered this during a time of meditation, I reflected on how much more I need to shift my world view in order to encompass the whole of the scripture. Wherever you are this week, I hope you take time to stop and reflect on scripture. God still speaks powerfully through the written Word by the Spirit's leading.
On the journey,
Alecia
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
Slaughter writes, "The gospel is good news for the poor. If it is not working to benefit the poor and oppressed, then it is not the gospel." As I pondered this during a time of meditation, I reflected on how much more I need to shift my world view in order to encompass the whole of the scripture. Wherever you are this week, I hope you take time to stop and reflect on scripture. God still speaks powerfully through the written Word by the Spirit's leading.
On the journey,
Alecia
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Six Traits of a Healthy Family
We are beginning a new series: Family Re: Union. On Sunday we talked about the six traits of a healthy family. After reading through the list, spend time discussing with your family -- be it your spouse, children, parents, aunts, etc-- as to how well you live out these biblical traits. It was eye opening for our family.
1. Healthy families practice faith at home.
2. Healthy families demonstrate massive amounts of love.
3. Healthy families are intentional in creating family memories.
4. Healthy families celebrate the uniqueness of each individual.
5. Healthy families set boundaries for each other.
6. Healthy families have YOU.
Rate your responses as to how you are doing in each of the areas. The really cool thing is that you can get great results from simply doing any one of the areas!
Blessings.
On the journey,
Alecia
1. Healthy families practice faith at home.
2. Healthy families demonstrate massive amounts of love.
3. Healthy families are intentional in creating family memories.
4. Healthy families celebrate the uniqueness of each individual.
5. Healthy families set boundaries for each other.
6. Healthy families have YOU.
Rate your responses as to how you are doing in each of the areas. The really cool thing is that you can get great results from simply doing any one of the areas!
Blessings.
On the journey,
Alecia
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Time Well Spent
This coming weekend is Annual Conference for United Methodists across the state of Iowa. I hope you take time this week to pray for our time together, specifically:
* That as a conference we seek out God's Holy Spirit for discernment on issues,
* That we pray for the leadership of the conference, including Bishop Trimble,
* and, That we maintain Christian integrity when in disagreement.
Annual Conference is an important time for United Methodists to gather, to discern, to worship and pray together. I will be gone from June 4-June 7.
On the journey,
Alecia
* That as a conference we seek out God's Holy Spirit for discernment on issues,
* That we pray for the leadership of the conference, including Bishop Trimble,
* and, That we maintain Christian integrity when in disagreement.
Annual Conference is an important time for United Methodists to gather, to discern, to worship and pray together. I will be gone from June 4-June 7.
On the journey,
Alecia
Monday, May 23, 2011
Twisters
The photos of a devastated Joplin, Missouri are difficult to view. Please pray for for those impacted by the storms. It is hard to imagine how the emergency response teams are able to respond -- with the lack of power, cell coverage and lack of dedicated roads and streets.
There is a new team forming at church -- Disaster Preparedness. Like all of the UM churches in Iowa, we are working on a plan. Initially it will involve the church proper. After it is in place, then we will work with the city so we can serve as an asset if the unthinkable happens.
As news reports spread of a tornado approaching Oxford and another Kent Park, it helped to speed up my desire to get those plans in place. Each of the major teams will answer questions for a worst case scenario, such as:
1. Where will this ministry meet? Think worship, Creation Kids, Food and Clothing pantry, church office. You get the idea.
2. How will you communicate to your clientele -- congegation, clients, children?
3. Where do you keep your records and inventory list, including an off-site location?
There are a lot of things to consider. Various teams,including the Trustees, have information to gather in order for us to have a comprehensive plan. If you have interest in joining this team, please contact me. Four of us make up the core group at this time: Christine Langridge (nurse), Elaine Hernandez (nurse), Peggy Tillman (worked on a Disaster Preparedness plan at a previous employment) and me.
Pray for those whose lives have been altered. Pray for churches as they minister to areas in need.
On the journey,
Alecia
There is a new team forming at church -- Disaster Preparedness. Like all of the UM churches in Iowa, we are working on a plan. Initially it will involve the church proper. After it is in place, then we will work with the city so we can serve as an asset if the unthinkable happens.
As news reports spread of a tornado approaching Oxford and another Kent Park, it helped to speed up my desire to get those plans in place. Each of the major teams will answer questions for a worst case scenario, such as:
1. Where will this ministry meet? Think worship, Creation Kids, Food and Clothing pantry, church office. You get the idea.
2. How will you communicate to your clientele -- congegation, clients, children?
3. Where do you keep your records and inventory list, including an off-site location?
There are a lot of things to consider. Various teams,including the Trustees, have information to gather in order for us to have a comprehensive plan. If you have interest in joining this team, please contact me. Four of us make up the core group at this time: Christine Langridge (nurse), Elaine Hernandez (nurse), Peggy Tillman (worked on a Disaster Preparedness plan at a previous employment) and me.
Pray for those whose lives have been altered. Pray for churches as they minister to areas in need.
On the journey,
Alecia
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
A Christian Response
As most Americans, I breathed in relief after the mission and subsequent death of Bin Laden. I found this to be a helpful article as I pondered the events of this week. Jill Sanders had the article on her Facebook page.
http://blog.sojo.net/2011/05/02/how-should-we-respond-to-the-death-of-osama-bin-laden/
Peace to you this week,
Alecia
http://blog.sojo.net/2011/05/02/how-should-we-respond-to-the-death-of-osama-bin-laden/
Peace to you this week,
Alecia
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