How cool to belong to a church that makes Three Hours to Make a Difference a priority. Over 90 participants from three churches. It was wonderful to see the churches working together, with teams comprised of members from First United Methodist, Grace Community and St. Thomas More. Jesus calls us to be the body of Christ. It seems to me I saw Jesus working throughout the city this week-end!
On the journey,
Alecia
Monday, October 17, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Toxic Relationships
It appears that Sunday's sermon is stirring up conversations about toxic relationships. For those of you not in worship, we are continuing in our sermon series in Matthew 10, where Jesus calls his disciples into a relationship and then sends them out on mission. The primary passages were: Matthew 10:11-15, and 10:40-42. When a person is made right before God through Jesus Christ, he/she is called a righteous person. In the text Jesus talks about righteous people and worthy people. Like righteous folks, worthy people are hospitable, open, respectful and view the world as larger than themselves. Worthy people simply do not have the relationship with God. Jesus calls us to be in partnership with and in mission to worthy individuals. Check out verses 40-42 to see how God responds to the worthy person. Jesus does give the warning about staying away from toxic people.
Toxic individuals hinder our relationship with God. If we are around negative friends, then we tend to become negative. If we grew up in a house filled with shame and secrets, we keep parts of our lives hidden from God's healing. If we never heard how much God loves us, then our identity is found in whatever idol presents itself-- work, kids, house, relationships, promotion.
Accordingly this passage seeks to pull from within us those areas which are toxic. When do I laugh at someone elses expense? When do I judge someone else, only to discover on closer examination that very characteristic within me? How often do I blame others because I simply can't cope with another failure?
Matthew's gospel is not for the faint of heart. Remember... this is the Gospel of Jesus. There is good news. I believe John the Baptist said it best: Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Repent. Confess the areas where toxicity resides in you. Let God's forgiveness and grace heal the broken heart.
On a side note. I got into a conversation about how this works in terms of political humor. The question was, "At what point do I become toxic in my humor?" A timely question. In the last election I felt very convicted in this area. I love a good political cartoon. They are concise and speak volumes through art. As I lifted the question to God I heard the following: Stay away from personal attacks against an individual. All people are my (God's) creation. Imagine if you were in that person's shoes. How would you feel if the personal attack was against you and your children heard it? Let that be your guide.
For me that has served as a guide in two ways. First a commitment to not participate or pass on personal attacks--funny or otherwise. Also I heard a call to speak up when someone is targeting a politician in such ways. I have to admit this has not always been very easy for me. I have had to work harder at understanding the issues rather than the soundbites.
On the journey,
Alecia
Toxic individuals hinder our relationship with God. If we are around negative friends, then we tend to become negative. If we grew up in a house filled with shame and secrets, we keep parts of our lives hidden from God's healing. If we never heard how much God loves us, then our identity is found in whatever idol presents itself-- work, kids, house, relationships, promotion.
Accordingly this passage seeks to pull from within us those areas which are toxic. When do I laugh at someone elses expense? When do I judge someone else, only to discover on closer examination that very characteristic within me? How often do I blame others because I simply can't cope with another failure?
Matthew's gospel is not for the faint of heart. Remember... this is the Gospel of Jesus. There is good news. I believe John the Baptist said it best: Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Repent. Confess the areas where toxicity resides in you. Let God's forgiveness and grace heal the broken heart.
On a side note. I got into a conversation about how this works in terms of political humor. The question was, "At what point do I become toxic in my humor?" A timely question. In the last election I felt very convicted in this area. I love a good political cartoon. They are concise and speak volumes through art. As I lifted the question to God I heard the following: Stay away from personal attacks against an individual. All people are my (God's) creation. Imagine if you were in that person's shoes. How would you feel if the personal attack was against you and your children heard it? Let that be your guide.
For me that has served as a guide in two ways. First a commitment to not participate or pass on personal attacks--funny or otherwise. Also I heard a call to speak up when someone is targeting a politician in such ways. I have to admit this has not always been very easy for me. I have had to work harder at understanding the issues rather than the soundbites.
On the journey,
Alecia
Monday, October 3, 2011
Which One First?
If our mission is found first in our relationship with Jesus, then how do we respond to the pervasive consumer culture? This culture of consumptions undermines our mission to live in such a way that the Kingdom of God is near. Our need for more-- more stuff, more money, more whatever-- eclipses that central relationship. How much personal time is spent in order to keep the present standard of living? We can't live spiritually and emotionally the way we would desire because of our need to work to make the payments.
In the sermon on Sunday, we talked about three action steps which help counter the consumeristic mindset we have adopted. Which action step is important for you to work with first:
* Cultivate a relationship with God. This would involve an actual relationship not simply knowledge of God.
* Spend time with people you love. This includes our families most certainly. It also includes developing a close-knit group of people that you are in a spiritual small group with regularly.
* Do things God calls you to do. Don't wait for Ministry Council to bless it. Pay attention to the people and situations that need your assistance. Take a spiritual gifts class to help better identify your passions.
I hope you spend time with one of the action steps this coming week. These three steps help us to live more fully as we engage life spiritually. If you are serious in moving deeper with God, this is a good way to start.
On the journey,
Alecia
In the sermon on Sunday, we talked about three action steps which help counter the consumeristic mindset we have adopted. Which action step is important for you to work with first:
* Cultivate a relationship with God. This would involve an actual relationship not simply knowledge of God.
* Spend time with people you love. This includes our families most certainly. It also includes developing a close-knit group of people that you are in a spiritual small group with regularly.
* Do things God calls you to do. Don't wait for Ministry Council to bless it. Pay attention to the people and situations that need your assistance. Take a spiritual gifts class to help better identify your passions.
I hope you spend time with one of the action steps this coming week. These three steps help us to live more fully as we engage life spiritually. If you are serious in moving deeper with God, this is a good way to start.
On the journey,
Alecia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
