Sunday Summary: Unbound - Raising Lazarus from the Dead

As part of our theme of walking with Jesus this Lenten season, our story comes from John 11:1-45 (The Living Bible). Here's a quick summary of the parable of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead:

Do you remember Mary, the woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her hair? Well, her brother Lazarus became ill. So, she and her sister, Martha, sent a message to Jesus asking for a miracle.

The disciples warned against the journey, as Jesus has recently been threatened by Jewish leaders in the area. Instead of rushing off to help his friend, Jesus stayed where he was for several days before traveling to him. He told the disciples, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sake, I am glad I wasn't there, for this will give you another opportunity to believe in me. Come, let’s go to him.” 

Upon arriving in Bethany, they were told that Lazarus had been in his tomb for four days. Mary, surrounded by Jewish leaders, stayed grieving at the house. But Martha went to meet Jesus and said, “Sir, if you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died. And even now it’s not too late, for I know that God will bring my brother back to life again.”

Jesus told her, “I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again."

Lazarus' tomb was nothing more than a cave with a heavy stone rolled across the entrance. Jesus, the sisters and the Jewish leaders, along with the disciples all went to the tomb and rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, of course, but I said it because of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me." Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”

And Lazarus came out—bound in grave clothes. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” And when the Jewish leaders saw this, they finally believed.

In his sermon, Cody talked about past trips to Peru for mission work. There's a monastery there, in the city of Lima, that's a "must-see" called the Convento de San Francisco. Beneath the church lie ancient catacombs, Lima's first graveyard. It is estimated to contain 70,000 burials. Bones line up along narrow hallways underneath the church, and one area contains several large and deep holes, filled with bones and skulls arranged above each other in circular patterns.

When you visit, you can tour the catacombs—which Cody admits is a bit of an eerie adventure. It's dark, musty, and cramped as you wind your way through the tunnels... but every so often, you come across a grate in the ceiling that opens up to the cathedral above. And you can see all the way up to the Spanish Baroque lattice dome—a grand sight, especially from the catacombs.

Perhaps the tomb of Lazarus and the catacombs of Convento de San Francisco are a metaphor for our difficult, everyday lives. It's dank and dark, and oppressive and hard. It's like living in a basement graveyard or a hole in a wall—with a limited and depressing view of what life is. In this scripture, Jesus calls Lazarus by name to "come out!" from the tomb.

Maybe we all need to come out—from under oppression, from a negative mindset, from our self-imposed tombs. Come out and be alive. Be unbound. Be set free! Maybe we need to think above death, outside the box of our coffins. The view upward is limitless.

Go. Be. Do.

Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger

Sunday Summary: Living Water - The Woman at the Well

The parable of the Woman at the Well is the longest one-on-one conversation with Jesus in recorded history — reason enough to give the woman from Samaria a fresh look. We don't know her name or age, but her story is important. Our scripture reading was from John 4:5-30 (The Message).

Let's set the scene...
It was noon on a hot day. Jesus, tired from traveling, stopped to rest at Jacob's well outside the town of Sychar. This was a bold move in and of itself, as Jews avoided Samaria at all costs. (They were often beaten and robbed for crossing over the border.)

When a woman appeared with a watering bucket in hand, Jesus made a simple request: "Will you give me a drink?"

It may seem like a small request, but back in the day, Jews weren't supposed to talk to Samaritans (they were enemies) and men weren't allowed to talk to women without their husbands present. Also, rabbis wouldn't be caught dead speaking to a shady lady, such as this woman (who had been married 5 times and was living with a man who wasn't her husband).

Jesus was willing to throw out the rules, but the woman at the well wasn't. "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman," she reminded him. "How can you ask me for a drink?" She focused on the law; Jesus focused on grace.

It was an incredibly scandalous and radical move. How would this relate to a story in our world today? Imagine the President of the United States traveling in his limo through the streets of Detroit. He stops in the seediest neighborhood and gets out to speak with a prostitute and asks her for a drink. How's that for radical?!? 

Jesus had a remarkable conversation with this woman. She had been an outsider and not an upstanding citizen in the eyes of her community, and here, the Messiah was asking her for a drink of water. When she questioned his actions, Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.” The woman said, “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this ‘living water’? 

She didn't understand that he was speaking, not of earthly water, but of salvation. That happens a lot in scripture. Jesus is talking about things way up here (imagine my hand stretched up as high as I can reach), while we're all living down here... on earth.

This story is God doing a new thing. Jesus, the prophet of Samaritans and Jews alike, is telling her that it doesn't matter where they worship or what their differences are... they're all equal in the eyes of God. Jesus brings himself down to her level, to offer her salvation, and break the social barrier.

The woman recognizes his greatness and rushes back to town to tell everyone she knows what she has just seen. Before long, more Samaritans return to the well to meet the him. This woman, now his disciple, brings the people to Jesus. How's that for women in leadership?

What does this parable teach us? 
For one, it teaches us to be inclusive and welcoming to ALL people... even our enemies, even people that are outsiders, and yes, even people of "ill repute." Maybe we should even be especially welcoming toward these people, as Jesus was. It's so easy to want to overlook them or push them to the edges of society and judge them for their mistakes. So, here's your reminder, don't judge someone just because they sin differently than you. God's kingdom is open to all.

And secondly, this is a call to action in our world today. It's a call to come to the well, and drink of it... and to offer it — the "living water" — to our brothers and sisters, here on earth. Let us be Jacob's Well.

Go. Be. Do.

Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger

Sunday Summary: New Beginnings - Sarah's Story

A couple of weeks ago, Cody approached Chad (my husband) and I and asked if we would use the sermon time on March 15 to share our stories of why we walked away from the church for a while, and how we came back. Formulating my story was a challenge, but it was helpful to me, and I was grateful for the chance to share it.

I grew up in a Methodist Church. As a child, God was my friend. Later, God was my Savior and healer, helping me to get out of all the messes I managed to get myself into (and there were many, but that’s another story). 

Some kids are into sports, some are into video games – I was into church. It was my favorite place to be. I enjoyed being together with others and worshiping, or just discussing God and how His love made life beautiful. 

So from the time I was little, I wanted to be in ministry. I remember wanting to be a pastor as a little kid, but a trusted adult once told me that girls really shouldn't be pastors (which I totally bought back then – can you believe that?). I was also a bit intimidated by the examples I had seen – all the pastors I had ever met were pretty awesome people, and I wasn't sure I could meet that mark. So I played around with other career ideas, but nothing ever fit like ministry did. It was just where I belonged, and God has given me many beautiful and affirming experiences over the years to assure me that I’m heading in the right direction.

I went to the University of North Dakota (go Sioux!) and earned my degree in religion. My plan was to continue immediately into seminary from there. UND has a really great program and really helped me grow, but being what it is, it really took all my preconceived notions and everything I had taken for granted to be true about God and the Bible and tore them apart.

I quickly found out that the Bible can be – and is – interpreted in many different ways. Of course, most people think their interpretation is the right one. As the semesters went by, I started to wonder: if everything I had ever known wasn't as solid as I thought it was, what exactly was the truth? 

And I started to think: maybe I don’t know exactly what this whole Christianity thing is anymore.

And maybe I don’t really know who God is anymore.

While all of this was going on, a good friend of mine came out of the closet to me, and to support her, I went with her to meetings of the Ten Percent Society (which is a club on campus for LGBTQ individuals and their allies). While there, I made a lot of great friends. I also heard a lot of horror stories – and witnessed some myself – where a lot of Christians were just downright mean and hateful if they found out someone wasn't straight. One girl was told there was still hope for her as long as she repented and became straight, and one church even asked a committed couple to sit in separate pews so as not to be “tempted” by each other. 

These were not isolated incidents in one church – the more I saw and heard, I realized this stuff was happening all over.

I was also attending meetings of a small campus Christian group. These were good people, and they were often a great encouragement to me in my faith. But one particular meeting, someone brought up the “problem” of homosexuality and its prevalence on campus, which was followed by a “brainstorming” session as to how to solve the problem. I couldn't believe it. 

But not knowing what to say, I was a coward, and I sat and said nothing. 

And you know what? I’m ashamed to admit this, but, I found myself hiding the fact that I was in TPS from my Christian friends, and hiding that I was a Christian from my TPS friends. 

That was when I gave up. Between not even knowing what “the truth” was anymore, and seeing the hurt that God’s people were causing, I threw away my seminary applications, and called it quits.

While all this was going on, I met and fell in love with Chad and we were married, and then we had our precious daughter, and life just moved on. I was hurt, and didn't want a lot to do with the church, but I started going again when our baby was a year old because I wanted her to grow up in the church like I had.

It didn't happen overnight, but over time, God healed me. And eventually I figured out two major things:

1)   I didn’t have to have all the answers. I will probably never have all the answers. And questions and doubts are not bad. At the risk of sounding cliché, I realized that faith was a journey, not a destination.

2)   Churches are made of people, and people can be mean and hurtful, because people are broken. But God is not broken. And there are loving and accepting people and churches out there. I think the Gathering is a great example.

So, don’t shy away from God or the Bible or faith because you don’t have all the answers. You don’t have to understand the book of Revelation to reach out and be the love of God to someone. 

Just remember Luke 10:27 – love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, love your neighbor as you love yourself. 

God will take care of the rest.

 Written by Sarah Beth Green, guest blogger

Sunday Summary: Misunderstood? Do I need to be "Born Again?"

When I saw this listed as an upcoming discussion in the bulletin, I knew it would determine my future with the Gathering. You see, this phrase, "born again" is very loaded and has a lot of negative connotations for me. It probably evokes strong emotions for many of you as well, whether good or bad.

Here's my story: 
I grew up in the Lutheran Church. My dad was a pastor. He died suddenly when I was 9 years old.

I never remember hearing this phrase "born again" in our church as a child. I'm pretty sure we didn't talk about it. After my father's death, we moved back to our hometown and found a new church.

In middle school, I had a few friends whose families started attending a different new church in town. Services were held each Sunday at the roller skating rink. I'm not sure what their denomination or affiliation was, but they did weird things there... really weird things that we never did in our church --- old or new.

People raised their hands and swayed while singing. Many spoke in tongues during the service. They preached (almost exclusively) from the Book of Revelation and spoke of end times.... And they claimed to be "saved" and "born again." They also insisted that anyone who wasn't born again, wasn't getting into heaven.

All my life, I had been told that you just need to believe in God, treat others as Jesus did, and know that your sins are forgiven by Christ's death on the cross, if you ask for his grace. What was this being "born again" stuff?

I didn't like it one bit. I still don't. A quick Google search just now brought up some info from that church's website:

"Those who have not accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will suffer eternal separation from the Godhead.  The devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life, shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. This is the second death, the lake of fire."

 - Reference: Revelations 19:20; Revelations 20:10-15

Other testimonials fill the pages:
"I made a personal commitment to Christ 27 years ago. I have studied the Bible the past 27 years and have had many experiences to practice the Word and prove God's faithfulness to fulfill His promises." 

"[We] invite you to come and find out that God desires to give you the kingdom!"

Yeah... I don't even know what to say about that. I feel like there should be an asterisk at the end of these statements with the disclaimer, "some exclusions apply."

At the time, some of this "gospel" they were spouting sounded pretty questionable, or at least worth doing research to verify whether it actually came from the bible. Even at the tender age of 12, I was a skeptic.

I didn't know the word "cult" at the time, but I could see how certain personalities got swept up in the concept. This authoritarian figure, like a preacher (though with no formal seminary training), was telling the congregation and anyone else who would listen, that "true Christianity" and the path to heaven was available only to God's chosen people --- those who repented and were saved, and were born again from the womb of Christ. All others, even people who identified as Christians but had not be been born again, would surely perish in Hell-fire. Any misstep or questioning, and your sinner's soul would burn for all of eternity.

It seemed too exclusive. Too judgmental. Too definite. Like, "You're telling me that only you and the people that think EXACTLY like you, are going to heaven? No one else?" It didn't jive with my concept of God, even then in my still-forming adolescent brain. The thought that my dad --- a man of God, who had spent his life spreading the gospel and showing Jesus' love to others --- hadn't gone to heaven because he had not been "born again." It makes me angry to this day to think about it. If that was "true Christianity," I wanted no part of it.

For a good part of the last 15 years, I have intentionally avoided church, attending only at Christmas and Easter, and only then to appease my mother. I've explored other religions and atheism. Though I've always retained a belief in God and felt a spiritual connection, I really disliked organized religion... Until I found the Gathering.

I'll admit, I was hesitant initially... but knowing that it was a place that was open to questions and doubts, believers and non-believers, ALL people, regardless of race, color, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or familial status --- I thought it was worth exploring. And I'm glad I did.

So, back to Sunday's sermon on being "born again." Our scripture reading came from John 3:1-16 (NIV), which in part, reads:

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Cody explained in his sermon that this has become somewhat the center of western Christianity. To those who have a had an experience of "rebirth in Christ," it is an affirmation and an uplifting part of your story... but he cautioned that it doesn't automatically mean that you are faithful or without sin.

He asked if we had any interesting stories from our own birth... and let me tell you, there were some good ones! But we don't spend our entire lives talking about our birth. In fact, that's probably not something we talk about at all, unless a friend or family member is having a baby. It's simply not a part of our daily lives to discuss how we came into this world. Though it may be when our lives began, our lives don't revolve around that moment.

So why should our Christian lives revolve around being "born again?"

In short, they shouldn't. It's not the end all, be all of our lives as Christians. And the pressure for some to have the experience of being "born again" is sometimes enough to make us rearrange our story or fabricate some grand rebirth tale.

The story of Nicodemus, as told in John 3, is often taken out of context, and without consideration for what was, even at the time, a misunderstanding. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, which probably most closely relates to the profession of a lawyer today. He was a literal-thinker, a "rule guy," if you will, and saw the world in black and white. His fellow Pharisees were very suspect of this Jesus-guy that was stirring the pot in their city. Jesus was a rule-breaker, a dissident, a non-conformist. And they didn't like him one bit.

Nicodemus was curious though, and came to Jesus under the cover of darkness. He asked what he needed to do to become part of the family of God. Jesus answered that he needed to be born again. Nicodemus, being the concrete thinker that he was, took this literally.

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

 He was confused by the language and interpreted it as a riddle. The Hebrew word which Jesus likely used "anōthen" has multiple meanings: anew; from above; again... which may have lead to the confusion. 

Today, we look at it from a different perspective. Don't get hung up on rules and regulations. Jesus says that all God's people are welcome to the kingdom of heaven. Your physical birth, lineage, or bloodline isn't a factor. And your spiritual birth isn't the main point of the story either. God's family is open to all. 

Each day can be a rebirth in Christ. Each day can be filled with new life and new hope. Each day is given to us from above, and has potential for us to receive God's love into our lives. If you have a "moment of awe" or of God's presence or a "born again" experience, take it as a reminder of God's love and an affirmation of your faith. 

You may have many of these experiences or moments in your life. Put them to work. Use them to do housekeeping of your personal and spiritual affairs. Ask what's keeping you from love, faithfulness, or kindness in  your life. Use these moments as an opportunity for a fresh start and reminder of God's unconditional love for you. That wind you feel blowing? That's the spirit of God. Let it breathe new life into you.

Go. Be. Do.

 Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger


UPDATE:
I just came across this article, The Problem With a Rigid View of God and it says so many things I couldn't put into words on the page. Definitely worth the quick read:

None of us are experts when it comes to God ... So it is best to operate from humility; from a stance of “I could be wrong…”

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

Sunday Summary: Finding the Sacred in the Secular - Part 1

Sunday's music was particularly enjoyable for Bob Dylan fans, as the guys started worship with "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."

Cody's message this week was about finding the sacred in our everyday, secular lives. He asked this thought-provoking question:

Have you ever had a moment of sheer wonder and awe?
A spiritual revelation...
A profound and deeply moving sense of clarity...
A realization that the world is bigger than you ever imagined...
A mystical experience of comfort or inspiration...
A flash of overwhelming emotion in the face of something supernatural...  

Maybe it's a moment of solitude in nature, watching a sunset, holding your newborn baby for the first time, attending a U2 concert, watching a campfire burn late into the night... Everything in life can be sacred; it’s really a matter of perspective.

Sometimes it's about finding the holy in the midst of the mundane, ordinary life. These experiences aren't always overtly religious, but a facet of our everyday lives that isn't always seen. Earth is full of the weight of God's significance and, everyday, we are drenched in God's presence, even when we're not specifically looking for it.

Even people who don't know God can live the way God intended... it's hardwired into us. Some researchers speculate that we are born with a deep need to be transformed by God. According to the "God gene hypothesis," we have a physiological arrangement that produces the sensations associated, by some, with mystic experiences, including the presence of God or others, or more specifically spirituality as a state of mind.

Our scripture was from Acts 17:22-29 (The Message). The apostle, Paul, stood in the open space at the high court in Athens and laid it out for them:

“It is plain to see that you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, to the god nobody knows. I’m here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you’re dealing with."

And then he explained, “The God who made the world and everything in it, this master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. We live and move in him, can’t get away from him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We’re the God-created.’ 

It can be argued that sacred and secular are one in the same. Everything in and of our lives is from God, and it speaks to us sometimes when we least expect it. Stand in awe of God, and claim the majesty of this world as that of the creator. If it is beautiful and indescribable, claim it as God's. Claim the holy. With awe, comes appreciation.

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”

― W.B. Yeats

With that, here is some "awe" for you....

Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger

Sunday Summary: Who really is God?

This week's scripture comes to us from Isaiah 66:12-13 (ERV):

This is what the Lord says: Look, I will give Jerusalem peace that will flow in like a river. Wealth from all the nations will come flowing into her like a flood. And like little babies, you will drink that ‘milk.’ I will hold you in my arms, and bounce you on my knees. I will comfort you like a mother comforting her child. You will be comforted in Jerusalem.

What might God look like? When you imagine God, do you think of a bearded, old, white man? Does he bear an uncanny resemblance to Santa Claus, minus the red velvet suit? Hold that thought.

Cody shared a story from his youth. He grew up on a farm in a small, ND community, where his parents raised cattle. One of the daily chores was checking on the herd, and it was a task he looked forward to, as it was a chance to ride the 3-wheeler with his dad. 

One spring, during calving season, the 3-wheeler quit out in the field and his dad had to pull start it to get it running again. They jumped off and dad started tinkering. Meanwhile, young Cody was looking around at the nearby cattle and spotted "Old Blue," a particularly ornery, old cow who had recently given birth to a calf. She wasn't typically the friendly sort, and on this day, she seemed notably agitated by their presence. His father quickly got the machine running and grabbed young Cody, tossing him onto the 3-wheeler in one fell swoop.

Upon returning home, he asked his dad about the event. Dad explained that she was protecting her child, and might have charged them to defend her calf from their (perceived) harm. 

Lesson learned: There is no greater warrior than a mother protecting her child. (N.K. Jemisin)

All bets are off when it comes to mothers defending their young, animals and humans alike. It's a hard-wired instinct; a universal truth.

Speaking from his experience and that of others, Cody talked about global feeding ministries, and that "if you give the food to the women, the village will be fed." The women nurture and care for the village, by feeding the children first and distributing the food fairly. If given to the men first, they often try to play politics.

The Bible describes God in many ways, often using masculine language. God is presented as a law-giver, a warrior, a judge. But God is also described as compassionate and nurturing. It is a book written by human beings, attempting to interpret and understand God.

It is worth considering that God likely transcends our understanding, our perception, our language, and our physical realm. Our attempts to characterize God always fall short. God is more than masculine or feminine descriptions, beyond the concept of male and female, and yet includes some of those traits we see in ourselves. God is bigger than that, though, and simply can't be put in a box. To quote Shakespeare's Hamlet,

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger

:: IN THE COMING WEEKS :: Your Questions Answered Explored11.24 What's the Deal with Denominations? 

Sunday Summary: Why Should I Believe in Heaven and Hell?

Once again, we have a topic that could cover a year's worth of sermons, so this week's discussion was a 'scratch on the surface' of the concept of heaven and hell.

Everyone has their own imagery of heaven. Close your eyes and picture it. What do you see? Big, puffy clouds; winged-angels in flowing, white robes with glowing, gold halos; saints plucking harp strings?

Now, picture hell. Do you imagine a huge lake of fire, surrounded by jagged, black rock formations; ominous, pitchfork-wielding creatures lurking in the shadows; the screams of burning, tortured souls?

Would you be surprised to know that those descriptions don't appear in the Bible? Cody talked about how in Jesus’ teachings, heaven is not a destination but rather a reality of God’s kingdom or being in God’s presence. In the end (whatever that is, or might look like!) God, the creator of heaven and earth will remake both and join them together.

Heaven isn't physical place in the universe. Any concept of meeting Saint Peter at the pearly gates is simply not biblical. Heaven is a place in God... in God’s presence. It is sometimes described as a hidden dimension of our ordinary place.

As for hell, it is an actual place. Cody shared that the word translated as “hell” in the teachings of Jesus, is “Gehenna,” which was the smoldering trash heap outside the southwest gate of the old city of Jerusalem. When Jesus spoke of hell, he was literally referring to the town dump. N.T. Wright has said that Jesus’ talk of Hell was political; Jesus was teaching that violent rebellion against Rome to establish God’s kingdom would end badly: Rome would turn Jerusalem into an extension of its own smoldering garbage pile.

So, do I need to "get saved?" In short, yeah. But it’s not just about getting to heaven when you die. The word salvation means “rescue” – rescued from what? Some say from our nasty, wicked bodies and this nasty, wicked world. But that’s just not supported by the Bible, even if it is what the majority of Christians in the western world believe. Salvation is not just about the saving of a soul. Salvation is about the redemption of the body, and along with it, bringing about God’s new heaven and new earth! Thus, salvation is an ongoing thing — a transformation!

Jesus loves us. He died and was raised from the dead to bring an to end to death and sins. And, that's what salvation is about. No one is excluded from God’s invitation. It is open to all people, without exception. No matter who you are... no matter what sins you have committed, you can receive forgiveness and God’s transforming grace.

Our scripture from Sunday comes from Colossians 3:12-17. This version is from "The Message":

"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."

Basically, let the love of Jesus shine through your life. Walk in His footsteps. Show compassion and kindness. Be humble. Keep calm. Forgive those who have wronged you. Be thankful. Praise God. And know that your salvation is a gift that needn't be earned. Put your trust in Him. That's it.

Of course, this all brings up many more questions and thoughts. Sunday's Q & A session was interesting and thought-provoking. Feel free to share your thoughts or questions in the comments below.

Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger

:: IN THE COMING WEEKS :: Your Questions Answered Explored
11.17 Who really is God?
11.24 What's the Deal with Denominations?

Sunday Summary: What is the Point of Prayer?

You may have seen the movie "Talladega Nights," with Will Ferrell. Remember the prayer scene? Ricky Bobby prays to “baby Jesus” and gives thanks to God for Taco Bell and Powerade.

(Here's a video link, to refresh your memory: Talladega Nights: Prayer Scene)

There are many different ways to pray. But maybe you're wondering:

• "Is there a right way to pray?"
• "Does prayer actually do anything?"
• "Is God even listening?" 

Let's address that first question about the "right way." Scripture from Matthew 6:5-6 gives us some cues:

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

 Matthew goes on to say in verse 8:

"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Then, he presents us with the Lord's prayer, telling us "Pray like this." But does that mean the Lord's Prayer is the right way or the best way to pray? Here's an interesting article about the meaning and purpose of the Lord's Prayer: What Is the Purpose of the Lord's Prayer?. Basically, the author explains that it's not so much a prayer in and of itself, as it is a skeleton, which believers are to expand upon with their own words. It is not a substitute for your own prayers but a guide for them.

Next question, about whether prayers actually do anything. Keeping in mind that the theme for these discussions is 'Your Questions Answered Explored,' in his sermon, Cody presented a quote from Tom Wright, an Anglican bishop and a leading New Testament scholar.

An excerpt from his book, "New Testament Prayer for Everyone:"

"Prayer is one of life’s great mysteries. Most people pray at least sometimes; some people, in many very different religious traditions, pray a great deal. At its lowest, prayer is shouting into a void on the off chance there may be someone out there listening. At its highest, prayer merges into love, as the presence of God becomes so real that we pass beyond words and into a sense of his reality, generosity, delight and grace. For most Christians --- most of the time --- it takes place somewhere in between those two extremes. To be frank, for many people it is not just a mystery but a puzzle. They know they ought to do it, but they aren't quite sure how."

We may not understand the full impact of prayer, but there are probably times when all of us have used it. Maybe it's when we get bad news or are really struggling in life. Cody explained that, perhaps in those times, prayer is God's way of calling us back to him. We need the prayer more than God does in those dark moments. Will we always get what we ask for? Probably not. But then again, we don't see the 'big picture.' We don't know God's plan for our life. Perhaps sometimes unanswered prayers are blessings in disguise.

In the sermon, Cody said that there have been times when he has seen prayer have a deep and lasting impact --- in his own life, in his ministry, in the lives of others. He recalls these almost surreal moments of holiness and blessing and connectedness to God and the significance they have had in his journey. 

A great book on the topic is "Help Thanks Wow; Three Essential Prayers," by author Anne Lamott. In the book, she admits that for many years she recoiled at the idea of prayer. She believed people who prayed were “ignorant.” Prayer was no better than “voodoo.” But after years of searching, she became a Christian – and a pray-er.  In her book, "she defines prayer as "communication from the heart to that which surpasses understanding." She talks about having an attitude of gratitude and the joy that it can bring to life.

At the end of the day, prayer is about connecting with God. And honestly, you might have to do it more than once to get the full benefit. To address the final question from above, "Is God even listening?," Cody encouraged us on Sunday to take some quiet time, without distractions, to just be still and reflect... and to listen ourselves. Perhaps the answers will come.

Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger

:: IN THE COMING WEEKS :: Your Questions Answered Explored
11.10 Why Should I Believe in Heaven & Hell?
11.17 Who really is God?
11.24 What's the Deal with Denominations?

Sunday Summary: Science, Politics, & Muslims

SCIENCE:
In 1632, Galileo was ordered to Rome to stand trial. He was accused of heresy for claiming that the Sun was the center of the universe and that the Earth revolved around it. This opinion was contrary to the Christian religious doctrine of the day, and he was required to retract his statements and repudiate his findings. Galileo was sentenced to house arrest for the remainder of his life. His "Dialogue" was banned, and any future works were forbidden from publication.

But here we are, 381 years later, and Galileo's findings are undisputed and scientifically proven as fact.

There's a perception among some Christians that science (like evolution) shouldn't be believed or taught, for fear that it may disprove or debunk their beliefs. Cody used this anecdote on Sunday:

Treating the Bible as a scientific text is like...

"Trying to use a paint brush to drive screws into a wall."

It doesn't work. The Bible can be interpreted, not as a scientific text book, but as a story of God's people. Does science raise questions? Absolutely, but let those questions strengthen and affirm your faith, instead of destroy it.

Think of it like this: Henry Ford developed and manufactured the first automobile that was widely available to the American middle-class. His design and production methods revolutionized transportation and industry the world over. But does that mean Ford built every single automobile that rolled off the assembly line at the plant? No, but he (and his ideas) probably had an influence in the concept and manufacturing of the vehicles for many generations to come.

In the same way, perhaps it can be believed that God set the world into motion and that his fingerprints are all over the history of the Earth. Faith aims to teach us what our existence means. Science aims to help explain our universe.

POLITICS:
Scripture sometimes gives us reason to want to be politically active. Maybe we read a particularly moving passage and feel a call to make a difference and seek justice in the world. But, the political arena can get dirty at times. There is often "mud slinging" from both sides of the aisle. But this passage from Ephesians 4:29-32 addresses this:

"Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted. Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you."

You'll often hear one party or the other take a lesson from scripture and distort it to fit their agenda. However, using faith to promote hate misses the mark... by a long shot. Work for justice should be full of grace and love. Be peacemakers. Remember that your citizenship of the "Kingdom of God" takes precedence over your citizenship of any nation on Earth.

MUSLIMS (and other world religions):
Growing up in small town North Dakota, Cody explained he didn't experience much in the way of ethnic, cultural, or religious diversity. Many of us can probably relate. But, in attending college, traveling, meeting new people, and exploring world religions, he came to wonder "Why is there such strong hate among different religions when many have so much in common?"

Example: Islam considers Jesus Christ a prophet or a messenger of God, who was sent to guide the children of Israel with a new scripture (the Gospel).

Example: Mary (Jesus' mother) is a strongly revered figure who appears frequently in the Qur'an, and is considered one most righteous women in the Islamic tradition.

We may not agree with every part of another religion, but we should respect their moral code. Look, not for the differences, but the similarities and try to relate to each other with grace and open hearts. Engage in conversation. Learn from the good in each other... and don't assume you know God's plan for others.

WHEW! That was enough for three sermons! Ha!

Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger

:: IN THE COMING WEEKS ::
10.27 All Means All
11.3  Your Questions Answered Explored

Stay tuned for more updates!

Sunday Summary : Being unChristian

Earlier this week (10.13), as part of our "Why Differently" theme, Cody talked about "Being unChristian." He gave us some staggering statistics from the book, "unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters" by David Kinnaman.

Of adults surveyed who described themselves as "outside the Christian Faith..."

• 91% felt Christians were anti-homosexual
• 87% felt Christians were judgemental
• 85% felt Christians were hypocrytical
• 75% felt Christians were too political
• 70% felt Christians were insensitive

What do you think when you see those statistics? Are they unsettling, angering, humbling? Our own experiences have shown us that Christians can be very unChristian sometimes, and people on the outside of the church see it that way, too.

Cody used a passage from Matthew 23:13 from The Message to illustrate. Addressing the Pharisees (The Pharisees or Scribes were not the priests, but rather people who were considered very pious and strict keepers of the Law of Moses. They constantly adjusted the law to fit the changing world according to their traditions and own desires.), Jesus said:

“I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God’s kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won’t let anyone else in either."

Even in Jesus' day, people (scholars and respected leaders, even) tried to bend the word of God to fit their views and desires.

The world, then and now, rarely sees Christians who embody service, compassion, humility, forgiveness, patience, kindness, peace, joy, goodness, and love. At the Gathering, we're building a community based on the teachings of Jesus Christ --- trying to grow and foster unconditional love and acceptance like Jesus'.  

Have we failed to represent the grace of God? Have we been bad examples of Jesus' people? Absolutely. We have all failed to be Jesus-like in more ways than one. We all fall short. But we are trying... and we hope to change the perception that Christians are judgmental, insensitive hypocrites, through our words and actions.

Written by Kay Weiss, guest blogger

:: IN THE COMING WEEKS ::
10.20 Science, Politics, & Muslims
10.27 All Means All

Stay tuned for more updates!