January 2007 – issue 1, volume 1

Daily Accepted, Transformed, and Compelled by God's Love

Editor's rant

Have you ever considered Genesis when God gave Man the breath of life, that it was not a one time event? Genesis is long ago and far away, but is God? The Bible consistently teaches that God is the source of life. Death is the consequence of sin. Separation from the source of life leads to death. Sin separates man from God. Yet, life continues today in spite of rampant sin. This is the mercy and grace of God giving the world an opportunity to know life and its Source. I do not know how God operates nature, but I do know that God is a personal and involved being. I find it interesting to think that God did not wind me up at birth and set me on my way, but rather every breath I take is evidence of His interest and involvement with me. I am alive at this moment not because God gave me life but because God gives me life, moment by moment.

Some of you may respond to my thoughts with “well, duh” which is great. Appreciate the insights God gives you. Others however may need to let this set for a while. My intent in sharing some of my thoughts is not to teach. Rather, I hope to stir thought and sharing. I hope that the more our minds are filled with thoughts of God, the more we will fulfill the command to seek God first. The Bible makes clear that there are some things we are to know and some things we must wait to learn. We need to be careful about speculation, especially if it leads to dissension. We may speculate about the new earth and Heaven, but going beyond what is clearly stated in the Bible is not worth an argument. Are the streets of gold yellow, white or clear? I don't know. Does the Bible say? If not, then trust God to take care of it and do not argue. Is God personally involved with every breath I have? I actually think He is, but I can not prove it Biblically in spite of verses that may point that way.

Hopefully I have stirred some thinking. I am the newsletter editor. Invariably my thoughts will impact the newsletter. But I hope your contributions will also impact the overall message as this newsletter is meant to improve communication and community within our church.

Getting Real

When my daughter was about four, she was fascinated by all the different roles people have. She’d ask her babysitter (pretty much daily) -“You’re Sam’s Mom and Thomas’ Mom but Zack’s Grandma?” “Yes.” “And your mom is Sam’s Grandma but your mom? And you’re Rod’s wife, too?” “Yes.” She’d ask my mom, “You’re my Grandma but Mom’s mom?” “Yes.” She’d ask me, “You’re my mom and you’re an engineer?” “Yes.” The one she seemed to find the most amazing – “You’re a boss and you have a boss?” “Yes, and my boss has a boss, too.”

She really got me to thinking about all the different roles we play – caregiver, professional, volunteer, sister, friend, comedian, victim, project, and on and on. Unfortunately, too often, we play those roles and it feels like the real “me” gets lost. Who has time to be their self when everyone wants a piece of you? Only what they want doesn’t always seem to be you, but the service that you provide or the niche you fill in their life. If you happen to do or say something that doesn’t fit with the box they’ve put you in, look out! Some of us are blessed with a few friends or family that we can really be ourselves with but most of the time we stay in our assigned boxes.

There is one situation where we can be completely real and completely ourselves - when we pray. In fact, I would argue that if we’re not completely ourselves, we’re not really praying. Jesus tells us, “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matt 6:6,7) When you think about it, it doesn’t make sense for us to pretend with God. He knows it all anyway. As David says in Ps 139:1-4 “O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” KJV

Here’s the amazing part – He loves us ANYWAY. Even though He knows all the stuff we usually keep tucked away. As Paul says, “But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.” Romans 5:8, Amplified. Or as John says, “See what [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God!” I John 3:1a, Amplified When we are truly ourselves, truly real in prayer, it isn't always pretty. “And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw and knelt down and prayed, Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done. And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in spirit. And being in an agony [of mind], He prayed [all the] more earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground.” Luke 22:41-43 Amplified. God is incredibly patient with people being angry, doubting, sad, afraid or whatever in prayer. (If you need a reminder, re-read Psalms)

I’ve found that by having a safe place to be truly myself and still be loved and accepted, I can start to be real in the rest of my life. It’s pretty scary (and sometimes baffling to those around me) but also incredibly healing. That’s what we’re trying to do in the Prayer and Contemplation Sabbath School. We’re practicing being real with God and with each other. We spend time in silent prayer and also in prayer together for those things we’re comfortable sharing. If you’d like to try it – we meet in the South Sabbath School room behind the baptistry. Come join us at 9:30 am Sabbath mornings. MS

Contact the editor:

Let me know if editing is desired or publication as is.