"To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World"
Rev. RPM made a good point today, "what exactly does that mean?" It isn't us that makes disciples, it is the Holy Spirit that works through us to make more disciples.
I began writing extensively about religion and Christianity probably over a year ago. I have always been avidly interested in the complexity of the human drama and condition. I had been at odds with what life was throwing at me. I couldn't understand how, being the pretty decent person that I am, could get such bad luck. However, as of last August, I feel as though I have a greater understanding and acceptance of the confusion that I sometimes confront. And it is because I have had a Spiritual Awakening. The first time Rev. Stephanie heard me read scripture in church she sent an e-mail to our Sr. Pastor which he forwarded to me. "Does Angie know she has a calling?" I think it has taken some time and actually working within the church that has made me actually realize that Stephanie actually knew what she was talking about. But as humans... we love to doubt. We are so eager to turn away from what is more than likely the truth.
So, there is the reason I haven't been writing. Too involved with the organizational aspects of church life. Yesterday the recorder didn't work so sharing the sermon isn't possible. You get MY reflection instead about the sermon series that Rev. RPM began on Sunday: "Abundant Living: Drugs, Sex & "Rock 'n Roll." On Sunday, August 14th, Patrick talked about "The Drug Problem."
Here in the United States, we often hear the words, "America has a Drug Problem." And what do we associate Drugs with? Violence, criminal activity, loss, sadness, fear. All negative associations. We commonly associate the Drug Problem with illegal Drugs.
But! God ultimately has created goodness, He has created everything on this planet to be used for good things. Most drugs produced are made from plants, and what isn't made from plants is made by human intellect. God created us, so therefore we only create good things... right? Well, God also created us to have free-will. But if God makes only good things, how do we turn our hearts and our minds from that good? How have we been able to twist that goodness into something harmful?
In John 10: 7-10 tells us, "So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
The thief comes to distort what the God has made Good. The thief as RPM put it, "whether it be the devil, satan, an evil force, etc" that thief is not a creator, so therefore he/she/it has to distort the human view of what is good, and teach us how to use that goodness to bring about harm. God creates, the thief destroys. So the thief has distorted and shown good humans what evil can be made out of God's good creation. We have taken God's creation to make something that can cause pain in our lives. Our lives are full of stressors that on many occassions we cannot endure. We turn to substances that alleviate the pain, mask the burdens. In short,they make our lives tolerable, but not indefinitely. Our lives are tolerable until the substance becomes the stressor and we look for more ways to cover the added stress. We fall into a cycle of dependence on something to just get us through the day. What we fail to see, is the further harm these substances create. This dependency can often lead to deadly consequences. In this way, the thief has claimed us. He/she/it deceives us into taking God's good creation and morphing it into a destructive source. Thief takes advantage of our free-will and deceives us we in the end, turn our backs on God's good creation.
By relying on drugs, sex, food (we can become addicted and misuse many of God's creations) we turn from the life and teachings of Christ. There are many titles we give Jesus, Rabbi, Teacher... Healer. Jesus healed the sick, and on the SABBATH too. And why? To show us that we are to be a healing presence to one another. If Jesus teaches us anything, it is to Love One Another. Jesus didn't ask for an Insurance Card, He simply loved us, cared for us, healed us. So what about the good drugs that cure and heal?
When we are sick, what do we ask the doctor to do for us? Give us....drugs. If we have a headache, we take... drugs. Our lives are longer and healthier because of? ... drugs. Drugs have been developed to keep our blood pressure down, control diabetes, help regulate the chemicals in our brains to help keep us balanced. But what has the thief done? He's asked for the insurance card. When many of us need medication, we are often unable to get it because we don't have the right prescription card. How often are people turned away because they can't afford a doctor? How many receive poor health care because we don't have the right insurance qualifications? Rev. RPM made a good point, in the past many hospitals in our country have been established by Church Denominations, and why? Because as disciples of Jesus, we are called to heal each other. However, our hospitals have lost to the thief. We as humans have succumbed to the thief, we have allowed ourselves to believe that somebody else should take care of the sick. As Christians, we do not heal each other anymore as Christ taught us to do.
So, yes... "We have a Drug Problem."
However, there is hope and it is written in Revelation 22: 1-5, "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; 4they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever."
God will once again show us that all of His creation has been made for good. "The leaves of the tree will be for the healing of the nations." One day we will be able to heal the AIDS victims in Africa, one day all addicts will find healing and recovery, and one day we will all open our arms for the healing of humanity. And where does all of this start? Within each of us. What can we do to provide healing for somebody in our lives?
We are to love one another, so let's begin within ourselves to provide healing to the rest of the world. It takes one tiny effort of reaching out to just one other soul who may be suffering in mind, body or spirit. As the old commercial goes, "Reach Out and Touch Someone!" Who knows, you could save a life!
So, there is the reason I haven't been writing. Too involved with the organizational aspects of church life. Yesterday the recorder didn't work so sharing the sermon isn't possible. You get MY reflection instead about the sermon series that Rev. RPM began on Sunday: "Abundant Living: Drugs, Sex & "Rock 'n Roll." On Sunday, August 14th, Patrick talked about "The Drug Problem."
Here in the United States, we often hear the words, "America has a Drug Problem." And what do we associate Drugs with? Violence, criminal activity, loss, sadness, fear. All negative associations. We commonly associate the Drug Problem with illegal Drugs.
But! God ultimately has created goodness, He has created everything on this planet to be used for good things. Most drugs produced are made from plants, and what isn't made from plants is made by human intellect. God created us, so therefore we only create good things... right? Well, God also created us to have free-will. But if God makes only good things, how do we turn our hearts and our minds from that good? How have we been able to twist that goodness into something harmful?
In John 10: 7-10 tells us, "So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
The thief comes to distort what the God has made Good. The thief as RPM put it, "whether it be the devil, satan, an evil force, etc" that thief is not a creator, so therefore he/she/it has to distort the human view of what is good, and teach us how to use that goodness to bring about harm. God creates, the thief destroys. So the thief has distorted and shown good humans what evil can be made out of God's good creation. We have taken God's creation to make something that can cause pain in our lives. Our lives are full of stressors that on many occassions we cannot endure. We turn to substances that alleviate the pain, mask the burdens. In short,they make our lives tolerable, but not indefinitely. Our lives are tolerable until the substance becomes the stressor and we look for more ways to cover the added stress. We fall into a cycle of dependence on something to just get us through the day. What we fail to see, is the further harm these substances create. This dependency can often lead to deadly consequences. In this way, the thief has claimed us. He/she/it deceives us into taking God's good creation and morphing it into a destructive source. Thief takes advantage of our free-will and deceives us we in the end, turn our backs on God's good creation.
By relying on drugs, sex, food (we can become addicted and misuse many of God's creations) we turn from the life and teachings of Christ. There are many titles we give Jesus, Rabbi, Teacher... Healer. Jesus healed the sick, and on the SABBATH too. And why? To show us that we are to be a healing presence to one another. If Jesus teaches us anything, it is to Love One Another. Jesus didn't ask for an Insurance Card, He simply loved us, cared for us, healed us. So what about the good drugs that cure and heal?
When we are sick, what do we ask the doctor to do for us? Give us....drugs. If we have a headache, we take... drugs. Our lives are longer and healthier because of? ... drugs. Drugs have been developed to keep our blood pressure down, control diabetes, help regulate the chemicals in our brains to help keep us balanced. But what has the thief done? He's asked for the insurance card. When many of us need medication, we are often unable to get it because we don't have the right prescription card. How often are people turned away because they can't afford a doctor? How many receive poor health care because we don't have the right insurance qualifications? Rev. RPM made a good point, in the past many hospitals in our country have been established by Church Denominations, and why? Because as disciples of Jesus, we are called to heal each other. However, our hospitals have lost to the thief. We as humans have succumbed to the thief, we have allowed ourselves to believe that somebody else should take care of the sick. As Christians, we do not heal each other anymore as Christ taught us to do.
So, yes... "We have a Drug Problem."
However, there is hope and it is written in Revelation 22: 1-5, "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; 4they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever."
God will once again show us that all of His creation has been made for good. "The leaves of the tree will be for the healing of the nations." One day we will be able to heal the AIDS victims in Africa, one day all addicts will find healing and recovery, and one day we will all open our arms for the healing of humanity. And where does all of this start? Within each of us. What can we do to provide healing for somebody in our lives?
We are to love one another, so let's begin within ourselves to provide healing to the rest of the world. It takes one tiny effort of reaching out to just one other soul who may be suffering in mind, body or spirit. As the old commercial goes, "Reach Out and Touch Someone!" Who knows, you could save a life!
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