"We Don' Talk about Religion nor Politics"

When I was growing up, I was told by some that "We don't talk about Religion nor Politics."  The advice was given me to insure that I would avoid personality and agenda clashes and "be friends" with everyone. Another saying was, "Can't we all just get along?" These were spoken by well intended folks who desired for relationships to be amiable and easy. Yet, breaking ceilings and barriers rarely is amiable or easy.

So, over the years, I avoided these discussions in the name of peace. I soon discovered that religion is about doing things religiously and politics is about how a group of people utilize power to make decisions--neither of which I am a fan. I figured out the thing about religion--I am about a relationship with God not religion so I tend to upset religious structures to make room for new people, new ideas, and new stuff. But for the politics thing, I studied the issues to find that many of the decision made by existing power structures that affect daily life are rooted in some kind of moral understanding which in essecnce is "right" and "wrong." Cross-cultural experience helped me to understand that "right" is not "right" everywhere and neither is "wrong." Realizing that where you come from, how you were raised, and bottom line what you believe informs your politics helped me to put the politics thing in perspective. Here is what I learned:


When faith meets politics the existing "power" is transformed.   

Question: How do we do our part to transform the existing power structures?

      When we stand in the Holy Spirit ready to publicly practice our faith.

      When we realize that our personal salvation means little without personal responsibility to others.

      When we make the shift from favoring those with power and begin speaking truth to power.

And, this is why I vote--to speak truth to power, to take responsibility, and to publically practice my faith.

What do you think?

Family

I want to just express my sincere thanks to God who with infinite wisdom gave me the privilege of being in the family I am in. I know that everyone may not experience the depth of love that I do in my family so my heart goes out right now to those who are lacking. Yet, I do know that great earthly family or not, God gives us a spiritual family that shines for the glory of God in the time of need. Each one of us can shine the light into someone's darkness every day. I pray to shine like my family shines as a beacon of God's grace to me. I pray that you shine like the Son! Be someone's spiritual family today.

A WORD FOR YOU TODAY ...Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:2-3

Weds Night Bible Study Assignment Due August 31, 2011

We've studied Jonah, and my oh my how God blessed us to learn more than we ever have in those short 4 Chapters! God pursues us and uses us sometimes even though we don't want to be used! Although we ca be stubborn and disobedient, God's is full of grace! God shows so much grace towards us and grants us blessing on top of blessing and we don't deserve it at all. Perhaps that is one of the functions of grace--unmerited favor or pardon. WOW.

Last week, you reflected on the messages you received from God through the study in Jonah. Here's what you said:

*Don't Let Emotions Keep You Out of the Will of God
*We Are Not in Control, God IS
*God is Not Going to Give Up on Us
*God Gives Second Chances
*We Have Our Idea of Right, God Has His
*Let Yourself Be Used By God
*Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice
*Follow the Path of God


So, the assignment was to write down five practical applications pertaining to what we've learned about. I look forward to hearing how you are planning on living out what you've learned or been reminded of through our time in God's Word.

Keep loving and learning,

Pastor Rebecca

What Does the LORD require of You?

Excerpt from July 2011 Newsletter

Greetings Faith Family,

What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love kindness/mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8. In July, we had been studying Micah Chapter 6 verses 1-8 We got a glimpse of the importance of the following in order to discern God’s next steps for us as a church and as a individual:

1. Listening to God Both the Good Stuff and God’s Complaints

2. Remembering What God Has Done, So We Don’t Forget What God Can Do

3. Acting Justly Especially Opening Doors for Those With No Voice

4. Practicing the love of Mercy/Kindness Starting at Home, Church, Community

5. Practicing a Humble Journey/Walk with God

We have discovered that we need to improve our listening skills, improve our remembering skills, examine our actions of advocating for justice, practicing kindness, and living out God’s will not our own. It has been fruitful for us because each of these areas are true steps for accurate spiritual discernment as a church and as individuals. If you or I, our church, or other groups really want to understand how to know what God requires, Micah 6:8 can help us with getting the answers we seek. The hard part is actually doing these 5 steps. Are you willing as a person? Are we willing as a church? How shall we hold each other accountable? Yeah, I know that accountability IS the hard part, it requires humility huh?

Keep loving and learning,

Pastor Rebecca

The Divine Pursuit

Hello everyone, we'll be studying Jonah for the next several weeks:

The Divine Pursuit

Have you ever felt stuck …between God and a hard place? Have you ever known what God wanted you to do, but refused to do it? Have you run from Him, physically, emotionally or mentally? Do you wonder why obedience is hard, resistance is real, and the idea of being transformed by God doesn’t come easy? Take heart. You’ve got a friend in Jonah.

Discover God’s pursuit of you and his purpose for your life in this six-week study of Jonah, The Divine Pursuit.

Author and counselor Nicole Unice invites you to identify the true Nineveh places of your heart: those unexpected (and sometimes unwanted) people and circumstances God calls you to love. In the process, you’ll follow the story of a struggling prophet while recognizing and overcoming your own resistance to change.

Perfect for individual or group study, this workbook includes:

• A short, daily guided study through the book of Jonah that goes deep but doesn’t take all day
• An available leader guide with creative and thought-provoking questions and exercises.
• Web-based video instruction for each week.
• Access to an on-line group facilitated by Nicole (Jan 2011)

The workbook will also provide:

• Encouragement for those who wonder if their disappointments, failures or stubbornness
  disqualify them from living a life of freedom and purpose.
• Understanding of the surprising people and circumstances that God uses to spur on a relationship with Him.
• An opportunity to understand your own spiritual rhythms by reflecting on Jonah’s choices.

In The Divine Pursuit, you will discover a God who invites you to follow him on a surprising heart journey. Destination? A life of freedom, purpose and passion.

Resisting the Grace of God

"Can a person successfully resist the grace of God?" At first, my thoughts moved into the theoretical, the hypothetical, and the theological. However, as I prayed and meditated, I found myself asking God to clear all my thoughts so that I could hear what I needed to hear. Before long, I found myself asking not about Calvanism nor Arminianism, not even Rebeccaism, but I began to ask, "God what really is your "grace." Is it favor? Is it mercy? Is it kindness? Is it empowerment? Is it understanding? Is it beauty even? What if its all that??? Is it possible to resist it? reject it? be hardened by whatever --life-- so much that I reach for it and somehow can't seem to hold on to it? By experience, I would have to assert that sometimes I can see, feel, and hear "grace" pursuing me but that has not always been the case. In my past, I didn't know how to "let" grace in. I wanted to, but my mind, soul, spirit, and actions were somehow unexplainably separate from that grace. Grace was there, but I didn't know how to hold on to it. Thank-God, it held on to me.