John 13:33-35 - Jesus said, "Just as I have loved you,, you also should love one another." The context is the last supper - we know what happens next. But should it inform how we read this commandment? Are we really supposed to die for each other? And even if we are, can we set that aside to think about the more common, everyday things we can do to love each other.
It is suggested that the NRSV translation of "you also should love one another" would be better translated "so that you can love one another" How might that alter our understanding of this passage?
In any case, how is it we love one another?
What do we do?
And what do we do if we do not want to?
Is it ever harmful to love another?
Much to think about ...
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Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Fishing, Peter & Jesus
John 21:1-14
The disciples, having gone back to fishing for fish, suddenly encounter Jesus again. And there are several opportunities for response:
- Put your nets out on the other side of the boat.
- It's the Lord!
- Come and eat!
What would you have done?
I think Jesus issues those same kinds of invitations today.
What do we do now?
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The disciples, having gone back to fishing for fish, suddenly encounter Jesus again. And there are several opportunities for response:
- Put your nets out on the other side of the boat.
- It's the Lord!
- Come and eat!
What would you have done?
I think Jesus issues those same kinds of invitations today.
What do we do now?
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- click the box next to "Comment as:" and select "Anonymous"
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Thursday, April 8, 2010
Life in Jesus' Name
John 20:19-31
This week, we will be reading the story of Jesus' appearance to the disciples (minus Thomas), then again when Thomas is present. There is lots to be said about doubt and faith, but I suspect most of it has been said. What catches my attention this year, is the very last line of the passage "... and that through believing you may have life in his [Jesus'] name."
What does life in Jesus' name look like?
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This week, we will be reading the story of Jesus' appearance to the disciples (minus Thomas), then again when Thomas is present. There is lots to be said about doubt and faith, but I suspect most of it has been said. What catches my attention this year, is the very last line of the passage "... and that through believing you may have life in his [Jesus'] name."
What does life in Jesus' name look like?
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Thursday, February 25, 2010
A Long Obedience ... The Practice of Work
"Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering." (Romans 12:1 - The Message)
Paul suggests that all the work we do ought to be an offering to God; not just our Christian service, but all of our work. In my mind, this makes all of our work into ministry. Not just our mission work - and not just those easily identifiable "ministry-type" vocations like teaching and nursing - but all of our work. I hear him including the work we do for pay in the public workplace, the work we do as volunteers in any arena, and the work we do in private for family and friends.
Do you think about your work this way?
In what way is your work ministry?
In what way is your work service to God?
In what way is your work service to others?
What difference does it make to you to begin to think about work this way?
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Paul suggests that all the work we do ought to be an offering to God; not just our Christian service, but all of our work. In my mind, this makes all of our work into ministry. Not just our mission work - and not just those easily identifiable "ministry-type" vocations like teaching and nursing - but all of our work. I hear him including the work we do for pay in the public workplace, the work we do as volunteers in any arena, and the work we do in private for family and friends.
Do you think about your work this way?
In what way is your work ministry?
In what way is your work service to God?
In what way is your work service to others?
What difference does it make to you to begin to think about work this way?
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Saturday, February 6, 2010
And finally ... not without grace!
So - this is the last piece of this conversation about belonging ...
We belong to God - to each other - all together ... but not without grace!
This is hard to separate from the piece about love -
If we love one another, should that not overcome all the sruggles of being in community? But I think we know from experience, it might not.
It also takes grace - God's grace!
What do you think?
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We belong to God - to each other - all together ... but not without grace!
This is hard to separate from the piece about love -
If we love one another, should that not overcome all the sruggles of being in community? But I think we know from experience, it might not.
It also takes grace - God's grace!
What do you think?
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Thursday, January 28, 2010
Belonging ... but not without love
We belong to God - and to each other - all together!
But not at any price.
Not without love and justice and grace
Especially not without love.
"What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." (1 Corinthians 13:1)
Paul goes on - or if we had all knowledge, or if we gave up our very lives - if we do not do these things with love, they are not worth anything. I hear a primary commandment for our lives together - to love one another. It's not new - it's what we already know. But do we live it? And how?
And what if there is one among us who is not (or at least seems not to be) living in love? Does that mean they cannot belong?
What do you think?
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But not at any price.
Not without love and justice and grace
Especially not without love.
"What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." (1 Corinthians 13:1)
Paul goes on - or if we had all knowledge, or if we gave up our very lives - if we do not do these things with love, they are not worth anything. I hear a primary commandment for our lives together - to love one another. It's not new - it's what we already know. But do we live it? And how?
And what if there is one among us who is not (or at least seems not to be) living in love? Does that mean they cannot belong?
What do you think?
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- click on "comments" and type in your notes,
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Belonging ... Part II
So, if we all belong to God,
then what is our relationship to each other?
Does this mean we belong to each other also?
Or maybe with each other?
And what does it mean for us to belong to/with each other?
Through anything?
In any circumstances?
With no limits?
"Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this. ... We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ."
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer in "Life Together")
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then what is our relationship to each other?
Does this mean we belong to each other also?
Or maybe with each other?
And what does it mean for us to belong to/with each other?
Through anything?
In any circumstances?
With no limits?
"Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this. ... We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ."
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer in "Life Together")
To post your own comment:
- click on "comments" and type in your notes,
- include your name at the bottom
- click the box next to "Comment as:" and select "Anonymous"
- then click on "Post Comment"
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