“Leaning Forward” (World Communion Sunday)

Philippians 3:4b-14

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

In 2010, Sheryl Sandberg wrote a book called Lean In that addresses the ways in which women hold themselves back from being successful simply because they are women and have come to believe the rhetoric that there are some things women can't do.  The book encourages women to change their attitudes, change the dialogue and "lean in" and do the unexpected, making it expected instead.

In this letter to the Philippians, Paul is following a similar line of thought, in a way. He is saying that the people of Philippi need not have humanly limitations forced upon themselves, but as people who believe in Christ Jesus, they are able to press on toward a heavenly goal.  He is encouraging them to lean forward toward what is (or can be) ahead for them as Christians. He is suggesting that any failures or limitations of the past are gone. That resurrection from the dead will come for them through a whole new way of leaning forward to the goal of following Christ.

What Paul is suggesting here is that our faith in Christ is the beginning of our resurrection story. That whatever we have fallen into that has separated us from Christ in the past can be a part of the dust of our past. And whatever we have to face in front of us will be worth the effort because we are now living as people clothed in new garments. As people who follow the Way of Jesus, who see the message of love and goodness he offers.

The wonderful thing about reading the words "Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal   . . ." this week is that it falls on World Communion Sunday. A Sunday in which we recognize the entire Christian community is gathered around the Table of Grace. That we are sharing the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the cup with our sisters and brothers around the globe. That we are actually, yes, all in this together. That there is nothing we can't handle if we give it to God and share it with one another.

So come to the Communion Table this week and lean forward. Lean into the love and grace of the Way of Christ.  And then lean forward into the world around you and share your story, your passion, your love of God with the world.

Comments? Email me or comment below.

"The fruits of the Spirit are joy, gentleness and goodness."

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Philippians 2:1-13

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

We are so fortunate for so many reasons. Many of us have health, most of us have financial resources that give us all we need, and more. And even those of us who struggle have the support of one another in our church family and our extended connections to keep us going and keep our heads above water.  So, it is often hard, in the midst of such blessed good fortune, to feel the pain of persecution and hardship.  

The early Christian church struggled to stay alive in the midst of persecution. Paul himself had been a strong persecutor of Christian people. He knew from both sides of the fence what that persecution meant and could mean. So, when Paul is speaking to the Philippians  in this week's text, his words take on a special import.  Being united with Christ wasn't an easy thing to do, but he encourages them to be of the same love, same spirit and mind as Christ.  He says it will make his joy complete.  The joy Paul has receive in uniting his heart with Christ has literally changed his worldview.

How could we model the behavior Paul suggests, "do nothing out of self ambition... rather in humility value others above yourselves"; how can we be humble, caring, compassionate people... people who share a sense of gentleness and goodness?  Can that transform the world? I think it can.

You see, we often think that we must be out there loud and vocal, flashy and shiny, to transform things. But Paul suggests here that our desire to exhibit humility like Christ will change lives. And the three Fruits of the Spirit this week are "gentleness, goodness and joy."  Imagine how much better the world would be if we were always exhibiting gentleness and goodness, not only to each other but also to ourselves, After all, the commandment "love your neighbor as yourself" requires no less than that. Treat yourself gently and with goodness.  Feel good about what you can do for the world. Talk softly and be kind.  In the midst of gentleness and goodness.... there we find joy.  Unspeakable joy.

I'm jumping ahead a bit, but let's consider the nativity story.  In the midst of the chaos and harshness of having no place to stay and being tossed in among the animals, Jesus is born. In all the trials and labors and pain of a birth that happens in an unpredictable place among unpredictable witnesses, you'd think this story would be troubling. But what we choose to notice in this story is the mother "pondering things in her heart," the lowly shepherds bowing in awe and wonder, and a baby gently offering goodness and joy, even now.

Gentleness. Goodness. Joy. How are these present in your life? How have they been offered to you?  Email me or comment below. 

"The fruits of the Spirit are self-control and faithfulness"

Galatians 5:22-23

Exodus 16:2-15

This week's fruits of the Spirit are self-control and faithfulness. In what ways do we exercise self-control and in what ways do we lack self-control? How do we exhibit faithfulness in our lives and how do we lack faithfulness?

The Israelites roaming around in the desert were tired and hungry and seeking some type of relief. They were ready for something good to happen. They were yelling loud and clear  "Are we THERE YET?" No matter how many times they were told that God would provide, they failed to believe that God would actually be faithful to them.

It is such a common story, isn't it?  We say we believe that God cares for us. We believe in the idea of faithfulness and try to live in ways that show we are capable and faithful people. But the minute things do not go our way, we cry out for something, anything, to make us feel better.  The manna we seek may not even be possible, but we want it anyway.

I see an interesting intersection between faithfulness and self-control.  Don't you?  In some circumstances, we develop a lack of self control and an unwillingness to see that following a steady and faithful path, though not glamorous, may lead to great reward.    The virtue of faithfulness, the steady day-in-and-day-out faithfulness of trusting God and ourselves, believing in God and ourselves might actually get us somewhere. Being faithful to God, to our inner pull to live our dreams, could help us develop a level of self-control and assurance that we have never known before.  It could lead us to amazing peace and contentment.

I like reading and hearing stories about people who have overcome difficult odds and unpredictable circumstances. It is inspiring to read tales or to hear stories about people whose steadfast faithfulness to a path has led them to achieve great things.

I imagine those were qualities also very present in Jesus as he walked the proverbial "lonesome journey" to the cross.  His faithfulness to follow God, to be a faithful servant, to live a life of self-control and careful, reasoned speech is part of what makes Jesus, the man, such an admired historical figure.  And those same qualities are what led Jesus, the man, to become a Savior for his people. Christ is alive today in our lives because of the steadfast faithfulness and self-control of his journey.

Thoughts?  Email me or comment below.

The fruits of the Spirit are kindness and patience

Galatians 5:22-23  the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. 

Matthew 18:21-35

This week we are worshiping outside following our Saturday night campout at the church.  Join us for the whole slate of Sat evening and Sun morning activities, even if you don't plan to sleep overnight at the church.

Here's the scoop on the weekend activities:
All church campout Sept 13 – 14, 2014. Festivities start at 4 pm. 
Saturday night: 
                   4pm – Campout activities, 
                   5pm - Potato Bar potluck, games, scavenger hunt, skits, fire, songs, s’mores. Sunday: 
                   8am – Breakfast, 
                   9am- Sunday School, 
                  10:20am – Worship service outside. 
Please come for all or part of the fun and activities. If you any questions, please contact Barb or Rachelle Bridgestock or Dixie Piland. Looking forward to seeing everyone!


As a part of our campout worship service on Sunday morning, we will have a couple of voices from the congregation speaking to us about faith journeys in their lives. We will also pause to remember the flood annniversary. One year since our area was torn in half and devastated by a raging flood that we are still working to rebuild from. Many of us were lucky, but we've witnessed firsthand the struggles of our community and our friends.

So, Sunday is a lot of different things. It is a time to pause for remembering the flood anniversary. And a time for considering the way kindness and patience have worked hand-in-hand to create goodwill and relief for those who were devastated. It is about reminding ourselves to let the kindness of friends and of strangers be a part of our journeys to health and healing.  Reminding ourselves of the way we can be kind and patient with each other, with nature, with the world. Reminding ourselves of the redemption we can find in forgiveness and extending unconditional love to one another.  This is where we find ourselves resting this week as we join together for worship in the great outdoors.

WE hope to see you there.  Peace be with you.

Thoughts? Email me or comment below.

The fruit of the Spirit is love and peace.

... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

Romans 13:8-14

Owe no one anything, except to love one another.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Love does not wrong to a  neighbor.
Let us live honorably as in the day.
All of the above are lines from Romans 13:8-14.

And of course, from love comes the peace which passes all understanding. When Paul is writing to the Galatians in Chapter 5 about the fruit of the Spirit, he is contrasting it with what the fruit is not.  Being dishonest and self-absorbed and the like, he says, are not fruit from the Spirit.  And we all KNOW this already. I mean in some ways, its a DUH statement, this list of the fruits of the Spirit.

And yet, we do not actually do very well at living into this list.  We see it printed on bumper stickers or on nice calligraphy prints framed and hanging on walls. We read it. We know what we are supposed to do.. we know what the fruit is, but we fail to be God's people.

How do we love and show signs of peace to one another? How do we begin to live into all the fruit of the Spirit?  September will be a month to consider that. All month long we will look at different 'fruits' mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 and expanded in other scriptural texts.  What does it mean to work daily on being a living example of the Fruit of the Spirit.   Take some time to really think about that in the days ahead.

 How have you shown love or peace to someone today?  Could you share it here?  How has love or peace been shown to you?  Let me know by emailing me or commenting below.

Peace be with you.

Some other words to ponder (9/3/14):
2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

"What would not every lover of God and his neighbour do, what would he not suffer, to remedy this sore evil, to remover contention from the children of God, to restore or preserve peace among them? What but a good concience would he think too dear to part with, in order to promote this valuable end? And suppose we cannot "make wars to cease in all the world," suppose we cannot reconcile all the children of God to each other, however let us do what we can, let us contribute, if it be but two mites."  --John Wesley