Friday, July 09 2010 20:18 | Written by Heather Malobisky | |
Living
OUT Loud in our Worship in our Work and in our Witness… What
have you done to Live OUT Loud?
Psalm 33:22 (New International Version)
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
John 3:16 (New International Version)
For God so loved the world that [God] gave [God’s] one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 13:34-35 (The Message)
Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love
one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples – when
they see the love you have for each other.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (New International Version)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of
wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects,
always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophesies,
they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge,
it will pass away … And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest
of these is love.
Each
month the Discipleship Ministry presents a short reflection related to the current ministry
focus. This reflection gives you an opportunity to think about and share what you have
done or plan to do in the next month to be OUT Loud as a living example of Jesus with skin
on.
As
it says in 1 Corinthians, “Love rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always
trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” God’s love for
each and every one of us never fails, never wavers and can never be broken. We can share
that message of love with everyone around us through our actions, words and prayers.
Love is such a core part of being a living example of Jesus with skin on. This quarter
the focus is on the Service ministry and loving OUT Loud. Love can be shown in some very
simple ways: having patience for the individuals driving on the road around you, a smile
and hello to the people you walk by, adding supplies to the Haven House school tools drive,
spending time with a neighbor who is alone, reconnecting with a friend or acquaintance
you haven’t spoken to in a long time, saying a prayer for those around you, the list
goes on and on.
So what are you going to do this month to spread the message of Love to everyone you meet?
What
will you do to Love OUT Loud in your actions, words and prayers this month?
Write
it down and feel free to share your OUT Loud moment by dropping this page into the collection
basket or going to www.StJohnsMCC.org and
clicking on the virtual Living OUT Loud wall under Main Menu on the left. We will post
these OUT Loud moments in the Friendship Hall and on line and want to hear from you every
month!
Tuesday, June 08 2010 13:41 | Written by Heather Malobisky | |
June Living OUT Loud in our Worship in our Work and in our Witness… What have you done to Live OUT Loud?
Psalm 36:5-10 (The Message)
God’s love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, His verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks.
How exquisite your love, O God! How eager we are to run under your wings, To eat our fill at the banquet you spread as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water. You’re a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light.
Keep on loving your friends; do your work in welcoming hearts.
Acts 10:34-36 (The Message)
Peter fairly exploded with the good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from – if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel – that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again – well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.”
Each month the Discipleship Ministry presents a short reflection related to the current ministry focus. This reflection gives you an opportunity to think about and share what you have done or plan to do in the next month to be OUT Loud as a living example of Jesus with skin on.
Have you ever felt lost within your own life like you were alone as you go through your days? Psalms reminds us that God loves us exquisitely and nothing, absolutely nothing, gets lost by God. You can never slip through the cracks or be overlooked by God.
In Acts, Peter finally gets it – God’s love and God’s truth is for everyone. “God plays no favorites!” If you want God … the door is open. God has never stopped wanting or loving you.
What an amazing message for every one of us. What an amazing message we can spread to those who are currently feeling lost and left out. God loves each and every one of his people, and we are all God’s people.
What will you do to be OUT Loud in fellowship with each other and God; how will you help spread the news that God’s door is open to all?
Write it down and feel free to share your OUT Loud moment by dropping this page into the collection basket or going to www.StJohnsMCC.org and clicking on the virtual Living OUT Loud wall under Main Menu on the left. We will post these OUT Loud moments in the Friendship Hall and on line and want to hear from you every month!
Wednesday, April 28 2010 17:23 | Written by Sandra Whittington | |
May Living OUT Loud in our Worship in our Work and in our Witness… What have you done to Live OUT Loud?
Luke 15:1-7 (The Message)
By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.” Their grumbling triggered this story.
“Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it – there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.”
Romans 8:38-39 (The Message)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Each month the Discipleship Ministry presents a short reflection related to the current ministry focus. This reflection gives you an opportunity to think about and share what you have done or plan to do in the next month to be OUT Loud as a living example of Jesus with skin on.
Have you ever felt like you were a part of the “doubtful reputation” crowd, not welcomed, or the lost sheep? I think we all, at one time in our lives, have found ourselves a part of the least, last, and lost. Jesus, time and again, fellowshipped with those who were not a part of the “click” according to the church. Treating them like old friends, inviting them into fellowship, and eating meals with them. I imagine it was quite the party to be at, as Jesus told his stories of forgiveness, inclusion, and everlasting life while the “chosen” stood by questioning and grumbling. We are faced everyday with the choice to celebrate the love of our God, the finding of another lost soul, or to stand on the edges of bias judgment questioning someone’s “right” to be a part of God’s realm. It is in our hospitable acts of kindness toward our neighbor we will find laughter, fellowship, love and the true meaning of total salvation. There is more joy in heaven when one sinner’s life is rescued than over the good people in no need of rescue. God has blessed us all with a “life raft”… I guess one needs to decide if you keep it for yourself or use it for those still in the waters of the least, last and lost.
What will you do to be OUT Loud in fellowship with each other and God; how will you be part of the party celebrating the love of God?
Write it down and feel free to share your OUT Loud moment by dropping this page into the collection basket or going to www.StJohnsMCC.org and clicking on the virtual Living OUT Loud wall under Main Menu on the left. We will post these OUT Loud moments in the Friendship Hall and on line and want to hear from you every month!
Wednesday, April 28 2010 13:26 | Written by Jim Manchester | |
It was the last time that the Festival for the NC AIDS Walk+Ride happened on the grounds of the historic State Capitol building at the heart of Raleigh. The 1- and 3-mile walks were concluding and the hundreds of walkers were making their way to the Closing Ceremony on the Capitol steps. The air felt thick with excitement and joyous for all that had been accomplished that first Saturday in May. Along with many of my companions, I waved at the people and cars who seemed all bunched up at the intersection of Edenton and Wilmington streets.
Suddenly, a weak but insistent toot came from the horn of an older model compact car as it tried to speed up and through the intersection. A young man leaned out the open window of that car and yelled, “Thanks to YOU people, I’m going to be late for work!” as he sped off down the street.
For a moment, the crowd paused … shocked by the realization that our well-meaning efforts had caused such frustration in that young man’s routine. For some, his words sucked the joy right out of the air.
I must confess that my first, very human reaction was to think something like, ‘Well, perhaps YOU should have left for work a bit earlier today.’ Soon, however, that sarcastic mental response was transformed into feeling sad for the young man’s plight.
Of course there ARE going to be people who don’t get the news that Raleigh’s Finest will block off many of the major through-streets in the middle of downtown Raleigh so the Walkers, Riders, and drivers can be well protected on the First Saturday of every May. There ARE going to be people who are new to our city and don’t know the first thing about finding alternate routes through our sometimes bewildering grid of side streets. There ARE going to be people who have had “stuff” delay their preparations for work, and some may face harsh and very real penalties for arriving late one more time.
I imagined the anxiety and fear building up inside this young man as he crept behind the last of the Walkers at what must have seemed to him to be a snail’s pace. He was going to feel the wrath of his boss one more time, and he didn’t like it.
While I will not minimize the real sense of terror he must have felt that Saturday afternoon, we can’t imagine the feelings that those people who are living with HIV and AIDS feel everyday. To them, EVERY day is another day of uncertainty about what will happen to them … another day of pain … another day of fear. For them, it won’t be another lecture from a stern boss and be over.
It amazes me how people continue to survive – and survive quite well, thank you – while living with the Virus. Often times, though, the only lifelines that any of them get is from caring doctors, nurses, and medical staffs, and the only support they get is from people from the Alliance of AIDS Services - Carolina who care about them. Their families and friends have vanished.
Even with all the advances that have been made in the treatment of the Virus, there are still many, many people who succumb to it every week.
There are many ways you can make a difference right now. This website hosts an HIV/AIDS eQuilt. You’ll find it listed in the Main Menu on the left. It provides an opportunity to publicly honor those people we love who are living with or have died because of the Virus. I invite you to stitch a piece in our eQuilt. If the person you wish to honor would be horrified to have personal attention called to his or her connection to the Virus, please offer only his or her first name and perhaps an initial.
Thursday, April 01 2010 12:03 | Written by Heather Malobisky | |
April Living OUT Loud in our Worship in our Work and in our Witness… What have you done to Live OUT Loud?
Acts 15:4, 8-9 (The Message)
When they got to Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas were graciously received by the whole church, including the apostles and leaders. They reported on their recent journey and how God had used them to open things up to outsiders….
“And God, who can’t be fooled by any pretense on our part but always knows a person’s thoughts, gave them the Holy Spirit exactly as he gave him to us. He treated the outsiders exactly as he treated us, beginning at the very center of who they were and working from that center outward, cleaning up their lives as they trusted and believed in him.”
1 Peter 1:22-23 (The Message)
Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your life depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life.
1 Peter 1:8-9 (The Message)
You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him – with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.
Each month the Discipleship Ministry presents a short reflection related to the current ministry focus. This reflection gives you an opportunity to think about and share what you have done or plan to do in the next month to be OUT Loud as a living example of Jesus with skin on.
Fellowship, connections and relationships with others are vital to the life of any person and particularly important to the members of the body of Christ. In Acts, you can see that the members of the early church had a strong fellowship amongst themselves however they struggled with how to welcome “outsiders”: Those who were not Jewish and converted to Christianity but the Gentiles, pagans and others who believed in Jesus Christ. The members of the early church struggled with how to welcome these individuals until Peter pointed out that God isn’t fooled by pretense. God treated the outsiders the same.
We live amongst such a diverse group of people. Sometimes it is easy to get lost in pretense, expectation, social norms and preconceived notions and prejudices. Instead we should be striving to be like God. Drop the pretenses and realize that God loves everyone no matter how low or high, rich or poor, educated or not; there is no such thing as being an outsider to God. Trust God “with laughter and singing” and welcome all to the fellowship.
What will you do to be OUT Loud in fellowship with each other and God; how will you help an “outsider” feel welcomed and loved?
Write it down and feel free to share your OUT Loud moment by dropping this page into the collection basket or going to www.StJohnsMCC.org and clicking on the virtual Living OUT Loud wall under Main Menu on the left. We will post these OUT Loud moments in the Friendship Hall and on line and want to hear from you every month!
Wednesday, March 24 2010 14:01 | Written by Jim Manchester | |
Challenging destructive spiritual core beliefs is like going to the dentist to get a tooth fixed.
There was a man who heard an extra pop inside his mouth as he chewed on a piece of his favorite hard candy. He didn’t feel any different and there wasn’t any pain, but it startled him a bit.
As the weeks went by, a tooth on that side of his jaw began to feel a little sensitive. Ice cream was a challenge. So was coffee. A few months later, that slight ache got worse and worse until he had a full blown toothache. Still, he thought he could handle the pain with a few aspirin and an occasional application of Orajel.
Soon, that ache began to throb. It throbbed a LOT. It throbbed so much that it kept him awake at night, which made him more and more cranky during the day. It was robbing him of his peace, happiness, and productivity.
The man hated seeing the dentist. He was always afraid the dentist would try to use a jackhammer on him.
But the pain really was unbearable, so even though he knew that it was going to be painful to go to his dentist, he made an emergency appointment. Luckily, his dentist had an opening that very morning at 11:00. Rather than being reckless, the dentist actually cared a lot about the man’s pain and fear, so he treated him well.
The dentist poked and prodded and looked at the offending tooth from all directions and finally announced that the tooth had been split in two. If the man had come in much earlier, the tooth might have been saved, but at this point, it would have to go.
“Do it!” said the man. “I can’t stand the pain another day!”
So the dentist and his assistant deadened the man’s jaw and carefully extracted the broken, dead tooth before lunchtime.
It hurt terribly once the anesthetic wore off that afternoon and evening, but by nighttime, the pain wasn’t so bad anymore. He finally got some rest. Within a few days, the pain was completely gone – replaced by a tingling feeling that the man knew as the result of his jaw beginning to heal.
Within a few weeks, even that tingling was gone. His jaw felt fine, and he was ready to replace the gap in his teeth with a bridge.
He couldn’t help but wonder why he had made himself endure the pain for so long.
Are you ready to challenge the self-destructive belief that God doesn’t love you anymore? That God couldn’t possibly love someone like you? It may hurt just a bit as you let go of the old, dead dogma that someone fed you long ago, but the new tingling you soon will feel as you heal will be worth it.
Pretty soon, you’ll be ready for a new bridge – a bridge to an empowered, happy, and fulfilling life that comes from realizing that God really DOES love YOU just the way you are.
You can make an appointment with God for this Sunday. Don’t worry. You’ll have help through it all. The Dentist has LOTS of assistants.
Thursday, March 04 2010 17:51 | Written by Heather Malobisky | |
Living OUT Loud in our Worship, in our Work, and in our Witness… What have you done to Live OUT Loud?
Matthew 6:27-34 (The Message)
“Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion – do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers – most of which are never even seen – don’t you think [God’ll] attend to you, take pride in you, do [God’s] best for you? What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way [God] works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how [God] works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Each month, the Discipleship Ministry presents a short reflection related to the current ministry focus. This reflection gives you an opportunity to think about and share what you have done or plan to do in the next month to be OUT Loud as a living example of Jesus with skin on.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed like everything that could go wrong was going wrong? Your hair is out of control, your favorite shirt is stained, your boss just put a huge project on your shoulders, the car needs repaired, the bills are piling up and that is just your personal life. Watching the news adds to the worries and stress. Sometimes it is easy to get lost in the everyday concerns, stresses and worries. We can get so consumed with worrying about “What if?” that we forget that God is right here with us. There is nothing on Earth that God can’t handle.
Jesus tells us something amazing, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
This month focus on what God is trying to give you. Spend some time worshiping God, giving thanks to God for every moment and as Jesus told us, “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.” What is God doing right now for you and those around you? Remember God is with you, God takes pride in you and God will attend to you.
What will you do to worship God OUT Loud? -- How will you relax and respond to God’s giving?
Write it down and feel free to share your OUT Loud moment by dropping this page into the collection basket or going to www.StJohnsMCC.org and clicking on the virtual Living OUT Loud wall under Main Menu on the left. We will post these OUT Loud moments in the Friendship Hall and on line and want to hear from you every month!
Monday, February 01 2010 23:49 | Written by Heather Malobisky | |
Living OUT Loud in our Worship, in our Work, and in our Witness… What have you done to Live OUT Loud?
Exodus 15:1 (The Message)
1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to God, giving voice together, I’m singing my heart out to God – what a victory! He pitched horse and rider into the sea. God is my strength, God is my song, and, yes! God is my salvation. This is the kind of God I have and I’m telling the world! This is the God of my father – I’m spreading the news far and wide!
Isaiah 12:5 (The Message)
5 “Sing praise-songs to God. He’s done it all! Let the whole earth know what he’s done! Raise the roof! Sing your hearts out, O Zion! The Greatest lives among you: The Holy of Israel.”
Romans 5:9 (The Message)
9 Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we’re at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!
Each month, the Discipleship Ministry presents a short reflection related to the current ministry focus. This reflection gives you an opportunity to think about and share what you have done or plan to do in the next month to be OUT Loud as a living example of Jesus with skin on.
When we attend a church service, we have the opportunity to sing. Have you ever found yourself mumbling along to the song, afraid you might get the words wrong or be off key, or, in other words, might be embarrassed? Have you ever found you are evading or mumbling when someone asks you about your church or beliefs for the same reasons? Now that you have received this amazing friendship with God you should be raising the roof instead of keeping quiet.
When you move through your life each day, you have an opportunity to spread the good news. Every one of us is loved by God. Every one of us is worthy. This is no time to be quiet in our knowledge of God’s love, acceptance, peace, and salvation. Take some time this month to spread the news of our loving God far and wide. Let the whole earth know what he has done for you!
God is your strength, song, and salvation, and if you are spreading his good news, you will always sound on key.
What will you do to worship God OUT Loud – singing and shouting praises – this month?
Write it down and feel free to share your OUT Loud moment by dropping this page into the collection basket or going to the virtual Living OUT Loud Wall under the Main Menu on the left. We will post these OUT Loud moments in the Friendship Hall and on line and want to hear from you every month!
Thursday, January 07 2010 00:51 | Written by Heather Malobisky | |
Living OUT Loud in our Worship, in our Work, and in our Witness… What have you done to Live OUT Loud?
2 Samuel 6:14-16 & 20-22 (The Message)
14-16 David, ceremonially dressed in priest’s linen, danced with great abandon before GOD. The whole country was with him as he accompanied the Chest of GOD with shouts and trumpet blasts. But as the Chest of GOD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, happened to be looking out a window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before GOD, her heart filled with scorn.
20-22 David returned home to bless his family. Michal, Saul’s daughter, came out to greet him: “How wonderfully the king has distinguished himself today – exposing himself to the eyes of the servants’ maids like some burlesque street dancer!” David replied to Michal, “In GOD’s presence I’ll dance all I want! He chose me over your father and the rest of our family and made me prince over GOD’s people, over Israel. Oh yes, I’ll dance to God’s glory – more recklessly even than this. And as far as I’m concerned … I’ll gladly look like a fool … but among these maids you are so worried about, I’ll be honored to no end.”
Each month, the Discipleship Ministry presents a short reflection related to the current ministry focus. This reflection gives you an opportunity to think about and share what you have done or plan to do in the next month to be OUT Loud as a living example of Jesus with skin on.
David gives us a great example of worshiping OUT Loud. David “danced with great abandon before God.” When he was scorned for doing so he stated, “Oh yes, I’ll dance to God’s glory – more recklessly even than this. And as far as I’m concerned … I’ll gladly look like a fool….”
Have you ever been a fool for Christ? Sometimes being Jesus with skin on means we may look “foolish” to some. But those “foolish” moments can be life changing to others. Singing God’s praises, doing a little dance, walking around with a smile, taking a moment to say thank you, offering a hand to someone who has fallen or a dollar to someone in need, looking someone in the eye and saying, “I just want you to know that God loves you and you are worthy,” can literally alter the life of another in a positive way.
What will you do to worship God OUT Loud and with great abandon this month?
Write it down and feel free to share your OUT LOUD moment by dropping this page into the collection basket. We will post the OUT LOUD moments in the Friendship Hall.
Tuesday, December 29 2009 16:39 | Written by St. John's MCC | |
There is a story from the Jewish Hassidic tradition that I would like to share with you. Rabbi Zusya, a pious and revered sage, was lying on his deathbed, weeping. His students stood by him perplexed.
“Rabbi, why do you weep?” one of them ventured to ask, “Surely if anyone is assured a place in the kingdom of heaven, it is you!”
The sage turned his head toward his beloved students and began to speak softly: “If, my children, when I stand before the heavenly court, I am asked ‘Zusya, why were you not a Moses?’ I shall have no hesitation in affirming, ‘I was not born a Moses.’”
“If they ask me, ‘Why, then, were you not an Elijah?” I shall speak with confidence, ‘Neither am I Elijah.’”
“I weep, friends, because there is only one question that I fear to be asked; ‘Why were you not a Zusya?’”
– From The Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore by Alan Cohen (p. 74) contributed by Cindy Norton
Wednesday, November 11 2009 21:09 | Written by Gerald Lamm | |
Tearing Down Walls by Gerald Lamm
Ephesians 2:14-16
While reading Ephesians 2:14-16, I had to stop and think about the walls that separate us from the way God wants us to be.
“For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.” (Life Application Study Bible – NLT)
I spent much time contemplating these verses. Suddenly, it hit me what was being said here, and I tried to think of a way that I could apply this to my own life. Each of us, whether we want to admit it or not, have built walls around ourselves. I began to think about the walls in my life. I began to imagine myself standing in the middle of a big box. On the outside of all four walls, there were five people that represented my love, fear, anger, and hatred.
Monday, June 29 2009 16:56 | Written by St. John's MCC | |
The following was presented by Rev. Wanda Floyd at both services on Sunday, June 28th. This excerpt was taken from Joel Osteen's book, Your Best Life Now. (2004)
I declare. . . that you are blessed with God's supernatural wisdom, and you have clear direction in your life.
I declare. . . that you are blessed with creativity, with courage, with ability, and with abundance.
I declare. . . that you are blessed with a strong will and with self control and self discipline.
I declare. . . that you are blessed with a great family, with good friends, with good health, and with faith, favor and fulfillment.
I declare. . . that you are blessed with success, with supernatural strength, with promotion, and with divine protection.
I declare. . . that you are blessed with an obedient heart and with a positive outlook on life.
I declare. . . that any curse that has ever been spoken over you, any negative evil word that has ever come against you, is broken right now.
I declare. . . that you are blessed in the city, and the country. You are blessed when you go in. You are blessed when you come out.
I declare. . . that everything you put your hands to do is going to prosper and succeed.
Friday, April 10 2009 12:48 | Written by Rev. Nancy Wilson, MCC Moderator | |
The Cross April 10, 2009 Rev. Nancy Wilson, MCC Moderator
Someone wrote to me a while ago, upset with MCC because we do not preach enough about “the cross.”
I knew what he meant by that, and I know why that charge may be true!
I spent some time thinking about it the last few months. And, I thought about asking about 25 MCCer’s, from various theological and cultural perspectives, to write about the cross. I still think that is a great idea, and I would love to see the creativity and wonderful, contextual thinking that would provide. In fact, Jim Mitulski did just that in a Region 1 Spiritual offering a week ago, that I deeply appreciated ... Click here to read the entire piece.
But, life took a turn this Lent, and my partner Paula had acute renal failure (she is now on her way to complete healing). Having a partner suffering acutely, while you can do nothing to stop it, is a cross of its own.
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Of course there ARE going to be people who don’t get the news that Raleigh’s Finest will block off many of the major through-streets in the middle of downtown Raleigh so the Walkers, Riders, and drivers can be well protected on the First Saturday of every May. There ARE going to be people who are new to our city and don’t know the first thing about finding alternate routes through our sometimes bewildering grid of side streets. There ARE going to be people who have had “stuff” delay their preparations for work, and some may face harsh and very real penalties for arriving late one more time.
There was a man who heard an extra pop inside his mouth as he chewed on a piece of his favorite hard candy. He didn’t feel any different and there wasn’t any pain, but it startled him a bit.
As the weeks went by, a tooth on that side of his jaw began to feel a little sensitive. Ice cream was a challenge. So was coffee. A few months later, that slight ache got worse and worse until he had a full blown toothache. Still, he thought he could handle the pain with a few aspirin and an occasional application of Orajel.
Soon, that ache began to throb. It throbbed a LOT. It throbbed so much that it kept him awake at night, which made him more and more cranky during the day. It was robbing him of his peace, happiness, and productivity.
The man hated seeing the dentist. He was always afraid the dentist would try to use a jackhammer on him.
Luckily, his dentist had an opening that very morning at 11:00. Rather than being reckless, the dentist actually cared a lot about the man’s pain and fear, so he treated him well.
If the man had come in much earlier, the tooth might have been saved, but at this point, it would have to go.
Within a few weeks, even that tingling was gone. His jaw felt fine, and he was ready to replace the gap in his teeth with a bridge.
Someone wrote to me a while ago, upset with MCC because we do not preach enough about “the cross.”
