In a world in which doctrinal adherence toward purity and holiness means intolerance of any who do not hold the same value, I venture to share that I do not care about purity OR holiness. I want to be faithful.
Jesus is my authority. His fulfillment of Law and Prophets in Agape Love is my only doctrine. His regular disregard for the Law of Moses (as recorded in the Gospels) was fulfilled in loving acts designed to lift people up as children of God. Jesus did not make it about Praise and Worship of Him or tithes to His "organization". Jesus made it all about Agape Love.
Agape Love is active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy according to the Jesus of the Gospels. It is central to His teachings. He commanded it and modeled it in how He lived, according to the Gospels.
So, to follow Jesus is to follow what Jesus taught, commanded and exemplified. It means to live His New Commandment, to love one another as His mandate, especially with the hungry, strangers, naked, sick and imprisoned. It means sacrificing self for the other, even stranger and enemy. It means going the extra mile, forgiving those who wrong you, not judging others for any reason. It has nothing to do with purity and holiness. In fact, Jesus defined righteousness in terms of how the Pharisees and other religious leaders were not living love for people. He calls His followers to make sure our righteousness (Agape) exceeds that of them.
In a world in which doctrinal adherence toward purity and holiness leads to division, abuse, exploitation, discrimination, marginalization, estrangement and intolerance, I believe that Agape Love, when embraced as teaching and practice can bridge gaps and unify God's people. Believing that there is NOTHING more important than living Agape Love as followers of Jesus leads us to faithfulness to God and one another.
THEN, when we all live this love for the sake of other, all will receive as well as give and the well-being of all in the creation will be restored. Justice and Peace will result. Joy will replaced bitterness and depression. Life will be the result, abundant and forever.
Live what Jesus taught.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Saturday, February 13, 2016
As a Pastor, I will be voting for...
We just had Franklin Graham here, rallying people to vote according to their "Christian values". I know what that means. You know what that means. It means that those who are intolerant of people of other faiths, other sexual orientations, other ethnicities or other views on economic justice from the "majority" view are rallying to "take back America", as the more secular racists, sexist, homophobic, greedy, religiously intolerant put it. It means that the radical intolerance of others, now mainline and normative in larger and larger segments of society is popular and growing. It means many things, but certainly does NOT mean a resurgence of "Christian values", at least not according to the teachings, commands and examples of "the Christ".
I believe that those who represent religious non-profits and blatantly tell folk who they should vote for should lose their non-profit status. They should pay taxes for the right to be publicly partisan.
That being said, I will tell you exactly who I think you should vote for...
First... Do not let the claim of being "Christian" fool you. Does the candidate who is campaigning on their "Christian" faith practice what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as we have that in the Gospels? It is VERY EASY to read what Jesus said in all four Gospels. Take the time to do that, and then compare what Jesus teaches as principles for living to what the candidate stands for... (tip - it is possible that one who does not claim to be a "Christian" is more Christ-like in ideology and practice than those who claim the name).
I will vote for...
The candidate who most exhibits Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of other, according to Jesus - (Luke 10:25-37) - even stranger and enemy, and especially those most vulnerable), the central teaching and command of Jesus, in what they say AND DO as a government official...
The candidate who will most follow Jesus' command that we FEED THE HUNGRY/CLOTHE THE NAKED, welcome THE STRANGER (yes, immigrants and resident aliens), visit (and CARE FOR) the SICK and IMPRISONED (and bring about justice in the system that puts them there)... the one who helps the most vulnerable among us, knowing that, at least according to Jesus, one's salvation is contingent upon THAT... (Matthew 25:31-46)
The candidate who does not de-value, de-humanize, work to disenfranchise or marginalize ANYONE, but speaks and acts to include ALL within the nation, living the principle of Agape Love and a stubborn refusal to Judge anyone, as Jesus commanded (Luke 6:37, 38)...
The candidate who has a value for forgiveness and mercy... NOT just punitive action and attitudes of legislating people's lives, looking for reasons to punish, but looking to lift people up and help them redeem their own lives... (Matthew 9:13)
The candidate who understands that CLAIMING a faith that directs one's life and LIVING that faith are very different... who humbly LIVES IT without exploiting it to gain power and then abandoning its principles at every turn... as Jesus said, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I tell you?"
I do not care if the candidate claims to be "Christian". My question is, which one most exhibits the teachings, commands and examples of Jesus "The Christ" in their governing - both words and actions?
As a person of faith, I am compelled to vote for the one who is most inclusive, representative and loving of all, which is consistent with the teachings of Jesus. It must be the one who faithfully represents, advocates and protects the most vulnerable in our society. My morality is NOT only measured in sexual terms or in purity, but also regarding the use and misuse of Power and the immorality of Greed. I am not concerned about being "holy", for GOD is holy, but about being FAITHFUL to the one who commands Agape Love in Forgiveness and without Judging others.
So, I must vote for... THAT CANDIDATE.
Pastor Jamie
I believe that those who represent religious non-profits and blatantly tell folk who they should vote for should lose their non-profit status. They should pay taxes for the right to be publicly partisan.
That being said, I will tell you exactly who I think you should vote for...
First... Do not let the claim of being "Christian" fool you. Does the candidate who is campaigning on their "Christian" faith practice what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled as we have that in the Gospels? It is VERY EASY to read what Jesus said in all four Gospels. Take the time to do that, and then compare what Jesus teaches as principles for living to what the candidate stands for... (tip - it is possible that one who does not claim to be a "Christian" is more Christ-like in ideology and practice than those who claim the name).
I will vote for...
The candidate who most exhibits Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of other, according to Jesus - (Luke 10:25-37) - even stranger and enemy, and especially those most vulnerable), the central teaching and command of Jesus, in what they say AND DO as a government official...
The candidate who will most follow Jesus' command that we FEED THE HUNGRY/CLOTHE THE NAKED, welcome THE STRANGER (yes, immigrants and resident aliens), visit (and CARE FOR) the SICK and IMPRISONED (and bring about justice in the system that puts them there)... the one who helps the most vulnerable among us, knowing that, at least according to Jesus, one's salvation is contingent upon THAT... (Matthew 25:31-46)
The candidate who does not de-value, de-humanize, work to disenfranchise or marginalize ANYONE, but speaks and acts to include ALL within the nation, living the principle of Agape Love and a stubborn refusal to Judge anyone, as Jesus commanded (Luke 6:37, 38)...
The candidate who has a value for forgiveness and mercy... NOT just punitive action and attitudes of legislating people's lives, looking for reasons to punish, but looking to lift people up and help them redeem their own lives... (Matthew 9:13)
The candidate who understands that CLAIMING a faith that directs one's life and LIVING that faith are very different... who humbly LIVES IT without exploiting it to gain power and then abandoning its principles at every turn... as Jesus said, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I tell you?"
I do not care if the candidate claims to be "Christian". My question is, which one most exhibits the teachings, commands and examples of Jesus "The Christ" in their governing - both words and actions?
As a person of faith, I am compelled to vote for the one who is most inclusive, representative and loving of all, which is consistent with the teachings of Jesus. It must be the one who faithfully represents, advocates and protects the most vulnerable in our society. My morality is NOT only measured in sexual terms or in purity, but also regarding the use and misuse of Power and the immorality of Greed. I am not concerned about being "holy", for GOD is holy, but about being FAITHFUL to the one who commands Agape Love in Forgiveness and without Judging others.
So, I must vote for... THAT CANDIDATE.
Pastor Jamie
Saturday, February 6, 2016
COMMUNITY VALUE
Community Value is value for human beings for who they are in life.
No quality of buildings, yards, commercial offerings or quantity of collected wealth can match it.
No individual achievements, accumulations or assets can equal it.
Living within the same general geographical area does not make us neighbors.
It does not make community. Nice houses and businesses, perfectly manicured yards and matching houses does not make community.
Community is people. It is people coming together. Ideally, it is people of very different ethnicities, backgrounds, faith practices, economic classes, sexual orientations and ages coming together. It is folk coming together around their commonalities, choosing to stay and work and live together and striving to benefit, not just themselves but everyone in the community. Homeless, deeply religious folk, gay/lesbian couples, young families with children, elders on fixed income, working poor and upper middle class folk coming together to benefit one another lifts everyone up. It lifts peoples' souls. It blesses everyone equally. It is an arena in which we are challenged to raise our level of human development.
Segregation based on any of these differences hurts individuals, kills community and hurts especially those who are "ghetto-ized" in poor neighborhoods that get abandoned by city officials and services. The coming together of people and the working together of people makes for healthy communities, healthy families, schools and healthy individuals.
Community is the value to which we aspire and toward which we will work.
Pastor Jamie
No quality of buildings, yards, commercial offerings or quantity of collected wealth can match it.
No individual achievements, accumulations or assets can equal it.
Living within the same general geographical area does not make us neighbors.
It does not make community. Nice houses and businesses, perfectly manicured yards and matching houses does not make community.
Community is people. It is people coming together. Ideally, it is people of very different ethnicities, backgrounds, faith practices, economic classes, sexual orientations and ages coming together. It is folk coming together around their commonalities, choosing to stay and work and live together and striving to benefit, not just themselves but everyone in the community. Homeless, deeply religious folk, gay/lesbian couples, young families with children, elders on fixed income, working poor and upper middle class folk coming together to benefit one another lifts everyone up. It lifts peoples' souls. It blesses everyone equally. It is an arena in which we are challenged to raise our level of human development.
Segregation based on any of these differences hurts individuals, kills community and hurts especially those who are "ghetto-ized" in poor neighborhoods that get abandoned by city officials and services. The coming together of people and the working together of people makes for healthy communities, healthy families, schools and healthy individuals.
Community is the value to which we aspire and toward which we will work.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Fear - effective, horrible motivator
I have a fear of bats. I have lived in homes in which bats would periodically find their way into my space. Bats were just fine to me when they were outside, but not in my space. I was not willing to share it with them, partly because I do not like things fluttering by my face and they are unpredictable when they are scared. I would cower, crouched in the corner for a while, but then I would put on all manner of homemade body armor and go after the little "rat with wings". My fear turned to indignant intolerance and finally hatred. That bat was just trying to live. It was just as or more scared than was I. It was of no real, credible threat to me. There were other ways of dealing with the situation. Regardless, out of fear and then anger and even hatred I did battle, and to date have never lost one to a bat.
Those encounters made me a different person. Afterward, I had some regret over who I was in them.
I see the growing indignant intolerance of people around me regarding other human beings. It is the same process, though certainly different in scope and in character.
Civility is lost when we objectify others as "invaders" of our space. Our humanity is in danger when we believe that other human beings are not "entitled" to what we have, where we live or to share public forum "space". Our civility as a nation has taken huge hits and our level of humanity has suffered for it.
What is at the center of this unfortunate new normal is FEAR. Those who have developed a sense of "entitlement" and a false sense of "superiority" believe that those spoils are in danger of being taken away from them. A black man was elected President, and the sense of "entitlement" over the race they were born into was threatened in their minds. Some folk have started asking questions and raising objections to disparities in income, and the wealthy feel threatened. Some of the same folk are raising questions and leveling accusations at those who have been in power for a long time, particularly because their being in office is tied to their wealth, and our democracy is at stake. Those in power, with wealth are uneasy.
So, they share their fear. They pass it on. They make efforts to instill fear within the people "below" them, manipulating them to aim that fear, turned hatred at each other.
It is done through the media. It is done with every speech and debate over legislation. It is done in commercials, in the papers, on social media and on the radio. It is done in conversation. The fear is aimed at "those people" who are trying to take away what you have or the power behind who you are. It is done effectively. Immigrants, the poor, unions, anyone not of our ethnicity or race and those of different political ideologies, those who do not share our biases or prejudices, sexual orientation or faith practice. It is easy. If they are different, they are a threat to you. Be afraid. And in stirring up that fear, and in doing it very well, we are pitted against one another so that we will not see the real threat - the ones stirring up the fear, turning it to anger and then finally hatred.
If the only difference between a poor black man or woman and a poor white man or woman is their race, then THAT is the tool of their manipulation. It's all they need in a culture that has grown to be increasingly more xenophobic. If people are of the same "race" but from a different ethnicity or culture, that is all that is needed in a culture so ethnocentric. If people are the same, except for their economic level, our classist society allows the difference to be manipulated. If folk are the same in every other respect, but have a different sexual orientation, the homophobia we are socialized to embrace as "more pure" or "more holy" is used to drive wedges between them.
Out of our fear of those who are different, we allow those who are TRULY threats to manipulate us from fear to anger and then to hatred. Our civility is lost and our humanity at risk because we continue to fail to see the REAL threats to our well-being - a threat to our well-being TOGETHER.
In this election season, ask yourself WHY there is so much blame being leveled at so many, and who benefits from people being pitted against each other out of fear.
We are called to live AGAPE LOVE with one another in Grace, Forgiveness and without Judgment.
"perfect love (agape) casts out fear" - John 4:7-21
Anything else is anti-Christ, regardless of what some person who professes to be "Christian" tells you.
Pastor Jamie
Those encounters made me a different person. Afterward, I had some regret over who I was in them.
I see the growing indignant intolerance of people around me regarding other human beings. It is the same process, though certainly different in scope and in character.
Civility is lost when we objectify others as "invaders" of our space. Our humanity is in danger when we believe that other human beings are not "entitled" to what we have, where we live or to share public forum "space". Our civility as a nation has taken huge hits and our level of humanity has suffered for it.
What is at the center of this unfortunate new normal is FEAR. Those who have developed a sense of "entitlement" and a false sense of "superiority" believe that those spoils are in danger of being taken away from them. A black man was elected President, and the sense of "entitlement" over the race they were born into was threatened in their minds. Some folk have started asking questions and raising objections to disparities in income, and the wealthy feel threatened. Some of the same folk are raising questions and leveling accusations at those who have been in power for a long time, particularly because their being in office is tied to their wealth, and our democracy is at stake. Those in power, with wealth are uneasy.
So, they share their fear. They pass it on. They make efforts to instill fear within the people "below" them, manipulating them to aim that fear, turned hatred at each other.
It is done through the media. It is done with every speech and debate over legislation. It is done in commercials, in the papers, on social media and on the radio. It is done in conversation. The fear is aimed at "those people" who are trying to take away what you have or the power behind who you are. It is done effectively. Immigrants, the poor, unions, anyone not of our ethnicity or race and those of different political ideologies, those who do not share our biases or prejudices, sexual orientation or faith practice. It is easy. If they are different, they are a threat to you. Be afraid. And in stirring up that fear, and in doing it very well, we are pitted against one another so that we will not see the real threat - the ones stirring up the fear, turning it to anger and then finally hatred.
If the only difference between a poor black man or woman and a poor white man or woman is their race, then THAT is the tool of their manipulation. It's all they need in a culture that has grown to be increasingly more xenophobic. If people are of the same "race" but from a different ethnicity or culture, that is all that is needed in a culture so ethnocentric. If people are the same, except for their economic level, our classist society allows the difference to be manipulated. If folk are the same in every other respect, but have a different sexual orientation, the homophobia we are socialized to embrace as "more pure" or "more holy" is used to drive wedges between them.
Out of our fear of those who are different, we allow those who are TRULY threats to manipulate us from fear to anger and then to hatred. Our civility is lost and our humanity at risk because we continue to fail to see the REAL threats to our well-being - a threat to our well-being TOGETHER.
In this election season, ask yourself WHY there is so much blame being leveled at so many, and who benefits from people being pitted against each other out of fear.
We are called to live AGAPE LOVE with one another in Grace, Forgiveness and without Judgment.
"perfect love (agape) casts out fear" - John 4:7-21
Anything else is anti-Christ, regardless of what some person who professes to be "Christian" tells you.
Pastor Jamie
Thursday, December 10, 2015
HUMANITY
With fear often comes hatred, and in that is lost our humanity.
Just because some have arrested human development, live out of bitterness, wrath, anger and hatred and hurt others out of it, does not mean that the rest of us should respond by JOINING THEM.
The fear over "not getting mine", "not being loved", "not being recognized", not being "respected", "not being safe", "not being better than someone else", "not having more than others" or "not getting my way/not having control" leads to frustration, bitterness, jealousy, resentment, anger and hatred.
When we start objectifying, vilifying, de-humanizing or judging others out of our reaction to such fears, then we have not only diminished their humanity, but have also lost OUR humanity.
When we become what we do not value, as a reaction to others who do not hold our values, we have lost.
When we victimize others because we have been victimized, we are a part of the problem and not of the solution.
When we begin to assume the worst in others, stereotype, profile or objectify others and then speak, write or act on those inclinations, we have lost our own humanity while addressing the problems around others losing theirs.
Feeling perfectly justified is a dangerous thing. It victimizes people. Those who hurt others out of some kind of insane internal justification are wrong, as are those who pick up their torches and pitch forks and go after ANYONE they think might be about that. Hurt people who become what they do not value hurt people.
We can ALWAYS find other voices of fear, hatred, xenophobia, racism, ethnocentrism, nationalism, classism, religious zealotry, homophobia or other bigotries to lend our voices to, but in doing so we hurt our own souls and diminish our own humanity.
Pastor Jamie
Just because some have arrested human development, live out of bitterness, wrath, anger and hatred and hurt others out of it, does not mean that the rest of us should respond by JOINING THEM.
The fear over "not getting mine", "not being loved", "not being recognized", not being "respected", "not being safe", "not being better than someone else", "not having more than others" or "not getting my way/not having control" leads to frustration, bitterness, jealousy, resentment, anger and hatred.
When we start objectifying, vilifying, de-humanizing or judging others out of our reaction to such fears, then we have not only diminished their humanity, but have also lost OUR humanity.
When we become what we do not value, as a reaction to others who do not hold our values, we have lost.
When we victimize others because we have been victimized, we are a part of the problem and not of the solution.
When we begin to assume the worst in others, stereotype, profile or objectify others and then speak, write or act on those inclinations, we have lost our own humanity while addressing the problems around others losing theirs.
Feeling perfectly justified is a dangerous thing. It victimizes people. Those who hurt others out of some kind of insane internal justification are wrong, as are those who pick up their torches and pitch forks and go after ANYONE they think might be about that. Hurt people who become what they do not value hurt people.
We can ALWAYS find other voices of fear, hatred, xenophobia, racism, ethnocentrism, nationalism, classism, religious zealotry, homophobia or other bigotries to lend our voices to, but in doing so we hurt our own souls and diminish our own humanity.
Pastor Jamie
Monday, November 30, 2015
Hubris and Humility
HUBRIS...
From arrogance, pride, self-centeredness...
Centered on (A FALSE) Entitlement... a sense of special Expectation for Self above others
From which GREED, LUST FOR POWER, SELF-INDULGENCE
HATRED, BIGOTRY, PREJUDICE... FEAR of LOSING EXCEPTIONALISM
XENOPHOBIA, HOMOPHOBIA, SEXISM, RACISM, CLASSISM
RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE, ETHNOCENTRISM, NATIONALISM...
Ruthlessness, Jealousy, Wrath, Manipulation, Exploitation, Corruption... Evil
It DIVIDES human beings... excludes, separates, ghetto-izes, vilifies, de-humanizes...
HUMILITY...
From a place of healthy ego, self-love and love of other...
Centered on Equality... a sense of equitable treatment for all...
From which GENEROSITY, SHARED POWER, DEMOCRACY, EMPATHY,
AGAPE LOVE, INCLUSION, ACCEPTANCE, CELEBRATION OF OTHER,
UNDERSTANDING, OPENNESS, RECEPTIVITY, DIVERSITY,
COMMUNITY, UNITY, PEACE, JUSTICE, WELL-BEING,
SUSTAINABLE LIVING FOR ALL, SOCIAL IDENTITY...
Compassion, Heroism, Fairness, Magnanimous gestures, kindness, gentleness... GOODNESS
It UNITES human beings... helps them belong, integrates, includes, values, lifts up...
Our Economics
Our Politics
Our Religions
Our Nation
Our Society
will go the way of HUMILITY and LIFE
or HUBRIS and DEATH
How will YOU live?
Who will YOU vote for?
What ideologies and philosophies will YOU espouse?
What will YOU speak, write, demonstrate and stand for today and for the rest of your life?
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
"You will know them by their fruits." Jesus
... "as for me and my house..." we will live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled...
Pastor Jamie
From arrogance, pride, self-centeredness...
Centered on (A FALSE) Entitlement... a sense of special Expectation for Self above others
From which GREED, LUST FOR POWER, SELF-INDULGENCE
HATRED, BIGOTRY, PREJUDICE... FEAR of LOSING EXCEPTIONALISM
XENOPHOBIA, HOMOPHOBIA, SEXISM, RACISM, CLASSISM
RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE, ETHNOCENTRISM, NATIONALISM...
Ruthlessness, Jealousy, Wrath, Manipulation, Exploitation, Corruption... Evil
It DIVIDES human beings... excludes, separates, ghetto-izes, vilifies, de-humanizes...
HUMILITY...
From a place of healthy ego, self-love and love of other...
Centered on Equality... a sense of equitable treatment for all...
From which GENEROSITY, SHARED POWER, DEMOCRACY, EMPATHY,
AGAPE LOVE, INCLUSION, ACCEPTANCE, CELEBRATION OF OTHER,
UNDERSTANDING, OPENNESS, RECEPTIVITY, DIVERSITY,
COMMUNITY, UNITY, PEACE, JUSTICE, WELL-BEING,
SUSTAINABLE LIVING FOR ALL, SOCIAL IDENTITY...
Compassion, Heroism, Fairness, Magnanimous gestures, kindness, gentleness... GOODNESS
It UNITES human beings... helps them belong, integrates, includes, values, lifts up...
Our Economics
Our Politics
Our Religions
Our Nation
Our Society
will go the way of HUMILITY and LIFE
or HUBRIS and DEATH
How will YOU live?
Who will YOU vote for?
What ideologies and philosophies will YOU espouse?
What will YOU speak, write, demonstrate and stand for today and for the rest of your life?
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
"You will know them by their fruits." Jesus
... "as for me and my house..." we will live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled...
Pastor Jamie
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
A Coffee House
People of the Way of Jesus is going to rent an old firehouse in the middle of our community. We will worship there on Sundays. We will hold group meetings there. Most of all, we will offer it as a COFFEE HOUSE a few evenings a week, on Saturdays and on Sunday mornings (our Worship is at 3pm). It is a community service, partly because this community has been clamoring for a coffee shop for a while. It is also a community service because it will be here that the community will come together with People of the Way of Jesus.
For some, it will be a place to come and have a cup of coffee and have a pastry for a donation. For some, it will be a place to sit and use WiFi with their coffee. For others, it will be a place to meet with friends and chat over tea. The music will be on, the chairs comfy and there will be wisdom sayings, quotes and scriptural passages on the walls to inspire folk who wander into the place.
For some, it will be the Upper Room, where they break bread together and receive Grace. For some, it will be the house of Mary and Martha or Lydia or Priscilla, who open a place in which folk encounter Jesus. For some, it will be the place where they hear the Good News and experience the miracle of sharing more than enough. For some, it will be the kind voice, the unconditional acceptance, the prayer, the good thoughts and the encouragement, the pastoral care and advice that only Agape Love can provide through a few people who care to be available to them.
People from the community will "own" the place. They will be donating furniture, a few dollars for coffee and pastries and their time and presence for their neighbors. One young man is already planning the building of a bike rack for neighbors to use when they visit. The BEING CHRIST with one another will be felt as much as the hearing about Christ is experienced. The Radical Community of diverse peoples with common needs will be an inspiration to others who witness it, and THEY will want to be a part of it all. It is where church and community come together, as one people.
For some, it will be all about Jesus as Savior. For others, it will be about obedience to Jesus as Lord. Yet others, some of whom have had various spiritual experiences or none, will be drawn to Jesus' Way of Agape Love that they hear and see. They will strive to live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled because it makes sense for their community. It makes sense for the world around them to have THAT lived. It is the new, original way of being followers of Jesus. It is the 1st Century movement in the 21st Century. THIS is People of the Way of Jesus.
All this and COFFEE, too! Sounds like the Kingdom Come to me!
Pastor Jamie
For some, it will be a place to come and have a cup of coffee and have a pastry for a donation. For some, it will be a place to sit and use WiFi with their coffee. For others, it will be a place to meet with friends and chat over tea. The music will be on, the chairs comfy and there will be wisdom sayings, quotes and scriptural passages on the walls to inspire folk who wander into the place.
For some, it will be the Upper Room, where they break bread together and receive Grace. For some, it will be the house of Mary and Martha or Lydia or Priscilla, who open a place in which folk encounter Jesus. For some, it will be the place where they hear the Good News and experience the miracle of sharing more than enough. For some, it will be the kind voice, the unconditional acceptance, the prayer, the good thoughts and the encouragement, the pastoral care and advice that only Agape Love can provide through a few people who care to be available to them.
People from the community will "own" the place. They will be donating furniture, a few dollars for coffee and pastries and their time and presence for their neighbors. One young man is already planning the building of a bike rack for neighbors to use when they visit. The BEING CHRIST with one another will be felt as much as the hearing about Christ is experienced. The Radical Community of diverse peoples with common needs will be an inspiration to others who witness it, and THEY will want to be a part of it all. It is where church and community come together, as one people.
For some, it will be all about Jesus as Savior. For others, it will be about obedience to Jesus as Lord. Yet others, some of whom have had various spiritual experiences or none, will be drawn to Jesus' Way of Agape Love that they hear and see. They will strive to live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled because it makes sense for their community. It makes sense for the world around them to have THAT lived. It is the new, original way of being followers of Jesus. It is the 1st Century movement in the 21st Century. THIS is People of the Way of Jesus.
All this and COFFEE, too! Sounds like the Kingdom Come to me!
Pastor Jamie
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