Sunday Summary: Misunderstood? God never gives us more than...

Cody began Sunday's message in the style of David Letterman with a top ten countdown.

Top Ten Christian Clichés:

10) A bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't.
9) You can't out give God.
8) People meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.
7) God said it. I believe it. That settles it.
6) Where God guides, God provides.
5) If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it.
4) Everything happens for a reason.
3) God needed another angel.
2) When God closes a door, he opens a window.
1) God never gives you more than you can handle.

We've probably all heard these phrases more than we've cared to in the course of our lives. And it's likely that we may have used a few of them ourselves. But the time has come to put these overused Christian clichés on the shelf.

Why, you ask? Well, for one, very few of them have any direct relation to scripture (which often comes as a surprise to many). For two, they're often used in hurtful and manipulative ways, or because we simply don't know what else to say.

Let's set the record straight. God is not the source of all good and bad things that happen. We were given free will. That cliché kind of thinking -- blind acceptance -- hinders questions and conversation, which we hold in high regard at the Gathering. God isn't a puppet master or a strategic player, moving pieces around a chess board.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion or interpretation of theology. I'll say again that we respect and appreciate different viewpoints.

The idea that God would do these sometimes terrible things to us -- that's disheartening. God is love... it doesn't make sense. Let's face it, sometimes, life really sucks. And God sometimes feels so far away. What then? Where do we turn for comfort and support?

In a word: community. 

Rely on the community of hope. When life seems impossible, turn to community. They will help carry the burden and ease the weight on those who can't bear it.

And as "the community" here at the Gathering, we must be God's hands. We must let God's love show in us and among us. I'll leave you with a quote from a 15th century nun, Teresa of Avila, that still speaks volumes to this day:

Christ Has No Body

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world,

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

 Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger

Sunday Summary: Misunderstood? For I know the plans I have for you.

Plans? What plans? Our topic last Sunday was on Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV), which is often taken out of context:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Cody explained that a lot of people take this to mean that the Lord has plans for them... when in reality, it was a direct message to the Israelites, who had been driven into exile. Here's how it reads with the inclusion of the verses that come before and after:

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

It carries a different meaning when you know the context now, doesn't it? We've probably all seen this scripture printed in graduation cards and had it quoted to us when we're experiencing difficult times or trying to figure out what to do with our lives. It's doled out almost like a prescription: "Take Jeremiah 29:11 and call me in the morning..." as if were a cure-all for any spiritual ailment.

Cody said this passage was something he'd seen a lot in his youth, from church camp to his college years, and at that time, it was a motivational force in his life — something to make him figure out where he was going. He thought, "God has plans for my life. Great, but how do I know if I'm on the right path?" We've probably all wondered that on a near-daily basis... and in those times, it can be comforting to know that God has a plan for our lives. It affirms out faith and drives us to do better.

But, as Cody explained, it's just bad theology when used out of context. Do we really believe that everything that happens is God's will, or that God is behind every disaster, every crime, every evil on the face of the earth? I'm not convinced that every tragedy or accident can be blamed on God's "mysterious ways." Life is simply not scripted. We have all been given free will. What we do — and moreover, what we fail to do — actually does matter... in my opinion anyway.

Which brings up another point: everybody's theology is their own. And diversity is okay (as long as it's not mean or hurtful). No two people believe the exact same thing or have the exact same dogma. At the Gathering, we value the opportunity to delve deep into these questions and be able explore hard topics. We try to do so with a fresh and open perspective.

Back to the topic at hand, when read in it's original context, Jeremiah 29 does still have value in our spiritual lives. Even though it was written for a specific group of people over 2,600 years ago, we can learn something about the nature of God from it. Lesson: God keeps promises. God made good on a commitment to the Israelites — to bring them out of exile, and return to them to their nation to prosper. God was faithful and answered their prayers.

The Bible teaches us lessons, even without our own, personal perspective on it... and it does so, even if the message isn't directed specifically toward us. God speaks to certain people at certain times for certain reasons. As Cody said, "God has been re-purposing since long before Martha Stewart got started with it." 

Perhaps not everything in this life is mapped out, but by looking to God along the journey, we can find love, redemption, and hope. God takes crappy, difficult situations and often makes good come out of them.

Update @ 5:20pm, 2/12/14:
Late this afternoon, I got word that my step-dad's brother passed away. He was 52 years old and had heart surgery about a year ago. He hadn't been able to quit smoking after doctors told him he needed to, and recently came down with pneumonia. When I spoke with my mom, she asked for prayers for the family and said, "I have to believe this is a chance for a not-so-close family to be together. Maybe some healing can take place." She gets it... she totally gets it.

 Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger

Jerusalem, Israel – The "Wailing Wall" was built by Herod the Great as the retaining wall of the Temple Mount complex. The plaza was created as an area for prayer when Israel captured the Old City in 1967. At times tens of thousands of people gather here for prayer.

Sunday Summary: Misunderstood? Love is Patient.

Love is patient. Love is kind... 

oh, you know... you've heard it at every wedding you've ever been to. 

In fact, on Sunday, when Cody said, "Raise your hand if this verse was read at your wedding," nearly all the married folk raised their hands. 

It's 1 Corinthians 13 (Common English) and it's often taken out of context. Here it is, in its entirety:

If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing. If I give away everything that I have and hand over my own body to feel good about what I’ve done but I don’t have love, I receive no benefit whatsoever.
Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. As for prophecies, they will be brought to an end. As for tongues, they will stop. As for knowledge, it will be brought to an end. We know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, what is partial will be brought to an end. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, reason like a child, think like a child. But now that I have become a man, I’ve put an end to childish things. Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known. Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.

Nothing was further from Paul’s mind than weddings when he wrote this letter to the Corinthians, who had become obsessed with spiritual gifts or "the abilities of God as expressed through humans," like speaking in tongues, prophesying, impossible knowledge, or martyrdom.

They had become selfish and were using their gifts for manipulation and greed. They were shallow, slanderous, and gossipy. Envious and boastful, empty and vain. In this letter, Paul was telling the Corinthians to behave themselves — to stop making the gifts more significant than they were, and to stop acting as though one gift or one person was more important than another. The Corinthians were using their gifts without love, and acting like children — fighting and hitting each other with their toys. Paul was reprimanding them for their poor behavior.

Love may be the hardest thing in the world to define, but 1 Corinthians 13 shows the importance Paul placed on it. A person may be very gifted in a lot ways, but if they use their gifts in a selfish or harmful manner, the gifts are worthless. There's an old adage that says to "use your powers for good instead of evil." I don't know the origin, but it sounds like something from a Star Wars movie. Nevertheless, it's good advice.

Cody told us about an experience he had as a student/clergy at Dakota Wesleyan University. George McGovern, U.S. Representative/Senator, presidential nominee, and author/historian grew up and lived in Mitchell, South Dakota, just blocks from the college. He was also an alum.

On the occasion of his 60th wedding anniversary to Eleanor Stegeberg McGovern, they had a vow renewal ceremony at the Dakota Wesleyan Chapel. It was attended by a small crowd of students and faculty, who sat on the edge of their seats, witnessing this momentous occasion. It was a simple ceremony and included this scripture from 1 Corinthians 13. 

Their 60 year commitment to each other likely hadn't been an easy one... what with political runs, the Vietnam War, the passing of their daughter, and a presidential bid (and no doubt many other personal and family issues that plague all relationships)... but the couple was devoted to their faith and to each other. On that day in 2003, they made that promise again — to love, honor and obey. Love was lived out in their lives in ways beyond understanding. 

God IS love. God, our creator, is unconditional love and is deeply infused in our lives. We can be made perfect in love. We can use it as a guide for our lives. We can live up to it and work for it. It's not always easy, but it's always worth it. Seek love and practice love, because love never fails. 

And if you want to use this verse for your wedding — if it speaks to you  — go right ahead... even if it's original context isn't a perfect fit. 

 Go. Be. Do.

 Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger

Sunday Summary: Finding the Sacred in the Secular - Part 2

At last Sunday's service, we got to hear some popular music that inspired us to find the sacred in the secular. One particular song stood out; U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. Here are some of the lyrics:

"I believe when the kingdom comes, then all the colors will bleed into one. But yes, I'm still running. You broke the bonds, you loosened the chains, you carried the cross of my shame. You know I believed it. But I still haven't found what I'm looking for..."

As you can see, the line between sacred and secular is blurred. Some call this Bono's Ecclesiastes song. Maybe it is simply a song about the search for intimacy... and why so many can relate. In the song, he describes the joys and pains of his relationship (possibly with Jesus, though that's not implicitly stated); his lyrics keep coming back to love. "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" suggests that, even if we have found our path, doesn't mean we have all the answers. It's all about the journey... and sometimes, we'll spend our whole life looking.

Our reading was from the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Luke 15:1-10 (The Living Bible)

Dishonest tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus’ sermons; but this caused complaints from the Jewish religious leaders and the experts on Jewish law because he was associating with such despicable people—even eating with them!

So Jesus used this illustration: “If you had a hundred sheep and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. When you arrived you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found."

“Well, in the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who haven’t strayed away!"

Or take another illustration: "A woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it? And then won’t she call in her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her? In the same way there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner repents.”

Many of us can probably relate to being a lost sheep. Perhaps we know what we believe, but go back and forth, questioning and doubting our faith. A great majority of us probably live in that imperfect scenario.

Cody shared with us stories of growing up in rural ND, where his neighbors had sheep. "Sheep are dumb... Really dumb" he said. "And worse than that, they're persistent." They spend most of their time wandering around, looking for food, water, or shelter -- which the farmer has already provided for them... but they want to find it on their own. They have a very strong instinct to seek out food and will put themselves in danger to get to it... even if an easy meal is right in front of them.

As Christians, we may find ourselves wandering from the flock. We think our way is the right way, or that our opinions are superior. Sometimes we're not satisfied with what's in front of us and seek more. God, the one who brings us back home, understands this and rejoices when the lost are found. God is not content for us to be "lost sheep" and celebrates our return.

 Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger