New Age Mission: Day 3 Part 1&2

18. August 2010 by Rose Southwell.

Day 3:

This morning I was awoken by the screeching sound of the alarm on my phone….”Ughh, where am I?” I thought. “Did I dream about being on a roundtrip with Grant and Jesus?!” Oh Wait… I am doing that… because the Buddy Christ is on my background of the computer!!!

For those of you who have seeing me early in the mornings you know one thing is VERY true. I am not functional until there is at least one cup of coffee in my system. Grant is learning Very well that I am Zombie Rose until the second cup. In my sate of disillusion I stand in the bathroom putting on makeup. BK is making coffee and Grant is getting ready. He walks over and peeks his head into the bathroom. He is wearing a black Christian “hardcore” band shirt some tight (ya’ll I mean tight) cut off shorts, Chocó’s and the Presbyterian Gagster hat…. He looks at me as I put on my eyeliner and says in the most Gangster way he can

“word.”

“Yes, Grant… that’s what they called Jesus” I reply simply

“Fo Sho”

As we finish getting ready and running out of the house to a VERY full day of meeting up with Mo peep’s BK’s Mom is right there chatting with us. BK himself is in a state of half awake so he is very quite. We load up in the cars and set off to MO RANCH!! We have a lunch date with a One Mr. Clayton, and One Mrs. Laura. SO SO SO SO EXCITED we start the drive. Because If I were to drive it would be unsafe because of lack of coffee Grant gets behind the wheel. I make a crack about if we get pulled over I might get a ticket for ‘driving without the influence of coffee’

            We start down the road, and stop at a McDonalds  for coffee and soda… because we can… take that Universe!! Not but twenty min’s into the drive we start the relationship talk. Its bound to happen in any long trip with good friends.

“Sooo… Rosie, how’s the dating life?”

“Really Grant? Were gonna do this?” I say.

“Of Corse! Besides, you brought it up” he says.

Guilty as charged. We begin to spend the rest of the trip to Mo talking about relationships, prospects, ex’s, and our different thoughts on marriage. Grant tells me the story about the most recent ex that he broke up with because she didn’t have unlimited text and didn’t like the Goonies. “good reasons” I thought.  It was a lot of fun listing to Grant talk about his ‘type’ and joking about CR’s and everyone we know who is getting married.

Grant cleverly states “Marriage is like becoming a minster of a church, all it is about is being faithful and putting up with a bunch of crap!”

“Truth.” I smile

As we hit Kerrville, Grant realize that he has never actually driven to Mo. He’s always carpooling, or in a van. Nice, that this trip can do that for you. We listen to Ben Folds and start down the last stretch of the road. As we go through Ingram, we see stone hinge.

“WHAT?!” Grant yells

“are they moving stone hinge?”

“no…” Grants eyes squint.

As we drive down 1340 we see that they are intact MOVING Stone Hinge… The Easter Isle statues are already gone. Sorry folks. But at least it is staying in the area. So don’t cry to much, it will be ok.

As we drive the winding roads towards the place of my baptism I fly my hand out the window like an airplane. Its beautiful… the sky has the perfect number of fluffy clouds, is 86 degrees of Perfect Texas heat, the longhorns are out, God is smiling down on us every worry and everything else in my life disappeared except the smile on my face…. Perfect moment.

We cross over the Mo bridge and Grant hits the traditional Horn Burst and I WOOHOO out the window. We Had Arrived! We fallow the new roads in (which I’m still not use too) and park by the registration office and walk over to the Program office. We not that despite the fact that Clayton had said he ‘might have time for us’ the parking lot is Shockingly empty… “Sure Clayton” I think, “ you were just trying to conceal your excitement… he missed me.” We walked into the program office and the front room was empty. Finally we make it back into Clayton’s office where he is hiding. We laugh and he gives me a big hug.

“Hey Chicha!” He says

“Well hello Slim!” I say noting that he had lost 30libs

“Long time no see!” grant says

Chuckling Clayton Responds “ How are you brother”

            They do that man handshake hug thing… I have never quite put tougher that one. Oh well. WE sit down and now that the pleasentries are done the trash talk begins. … Ahhhh! How I have missed the signs of real friendship. One insult after another fly across the room as we find out about how the summers have been, the families, how I feel about seminary and so on.

            Grant and I head over to the main office for a few min’s while Clayton “works on some email” Sure. And run into the Jordan’s and Laura Kean. We chat it up, then Laura Grant and I head over to the Wagon Wheel. YES!!! Toco Salad, how I missed you! That makes meal number 4 that’s been TexMex in a row.

            While in the Wagon Wheel we see Conn, John, and  Gray Batty. Were chatting it up and having a great time. We pass out the road trip Evert’s and Clayton like a jerk breaks the trend and gets his on his left wrist versus the right ankle that everyone else has been doing. Gary gives Clayton a look and says that he wants his on the right ankle. We laugh and thank him for being so wonderful. We leave after an inspection of my car by Clayton. He states that I should come and visit again for a little bit longer next time

“but not too much longer!” we laugh and Hug “see ya later chicka, we miss you.” he says.

 I smile. “ I miss ya’ll to say Hi to Kate for me.”

It sure is good to be loved. Mo Ranch, you stole my Heart three years ago… and today was proof you still have it.  We leave towards Kerrville to see Sarah Wilcox… now Sarah Lenard. We think that we are meeting at the starbucks. Grant sat outside to work on his Chaco Tan but she ended up not coming there. We follow her directions ( strange as they were) and visit her at her DESK JOB! OH Sarah, that place has changed you. We laugh and giggle and talk about life and how things have been. We tell her all about the trip so far and catch her up on the state of our Mo buddies. Hearing Sarah’s laugh made me sooo Happy. How I have missed her. We hoped in the car and drove on our way trying to make it to Waco to see Avocado. As were driving Sarah starts to blow up our phones with text. Grant and Sarah get into this conversation:

G: I noticed your big girl job has changed you a bit. We heard you say something old Sarah would never say. “I’m sweating, gross”

S: HAHAHAHAHA!!! Buncha bullshit, ain’t it???!! I HATE being stuck at a desk. My vagabonding gypsy spirit isn’t cut to be “normal”.

We drive down the road and get Stuck in Austin Traffic!!!  There is always something in Austin. Always (DAMN YOU RUBBER NECKERS!!! ) After an hour of getting from one side of Austin to the other we find out that we will not be seeing Avocado… Bummer. She apparently had a tough day, and we were running really late. So we drove on. As we crossed into Waco, we stopped and ate at Fazollies. (Amazing btw)

At the restaurant we got into a complaining fest about the things we hate. We decided that we hate rubberneckers, people that toss salt over there shoulder, automatic bathroom towel dispensers, and shmucks.  We tossed up a what’s up to the skies for Amanda and Dave Hyers, and drive on. The rest of the drive we listen to Pandora on the phone and jam out. I started the blog and we JUST arrived in Fort Worth. Since this evening will probably be so epic that it needs its own blog… I will leave you for the night. RoseAndGrants and LaurnSturn are reunited!!

More tomorrow.

Peace.

*************PART 2**********************

Day 3-part 2

            As we are driving into Fort Worth we change the address to on the OnStar from Laurn’s apartment to this little place called Woody’s. The OnStar Guy is Having a hard time finding the address, he says

OSG: “I’m Sorry Ms. Southwell, it will take just a moment while it searches”

R: “No worries”

OSG:” How are you all doing this evening?”

G: Doing really great man! We have a and Awesome(sauce) day!”

OSG: “That’s great”

R: “Yea Dude were on a road tip across Texas to see all of our fiends”

OSG: “Oh that’s wonderful, well Ms Southwell I have set up your route, enjoy your road trip!”

G: WOOOOOO!

R: WoooHOOO!!

OSG: WOOOO!

(Pause)

R: did he just wooohoo with us?

G: Yes he did!!!!

R: That’s Fantastic!!

OSG: (chuckles in the background)

The called ended and the directions were sent to the car. The excitement to see Lauren was so thick in the car we had to roll down the windows.  We missed it by accident and pulled into a gas station. (because we can!) and I ran in for a moment. The guy at the counter as me how my day had been I I told him that I had just had the best day that was going to get even better. And that anyone who had a better day than I had, Should die… and leave on the best day of their life.  I giggled and walked out of the store. We ran into to discover that Lauren had not arrived yet. So we find a place to sit and wait. The mins drag by, but then… There she is!!!

            I run and give her a hug about knocking over the door guy in the process. I say Hi to Brynn whom Grant, Lauren, and I all hang out with on our December trip in Fort Worth. We sit down and start talking. Grant and Brynn Zone in on the Mets game and Lauren and I chat about life and my summer internship. Poor Lauren has gotten  one of those “God Hates ME! I-Don’t-want-to-do-this-anymore !!!” Crying phone calls over the summer. So I has some major catching her up to do. Yes I am staying in seminary…. For now.

            More of Lauren’s friends arrive and we proceed to have a wonderful time. After some good laughs at Woody’s we go back to Laurens place and play with a question ball. The three of us do some watering of plants… That right. Apparently Lauren had a FOREST of Basle in her apartment! HAHAH! I can’t get anything to grow no matter how hard I try but Lauren… by accent gets 200 basle pants to sprout. After question ball, we chat it up until 6:30am! We question it up with Will and Lauren and take ourselves off to bed.  This night lived up to the EPIC statues that Only RoseAndGrants and LaurenStern can only achieve.

            Friends, I remembered why I do what I do. Good people, Good times, and lots of laughs.

 

Posted in Life in Ministry, Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

New Age Mission: Day 2

18. August 2010 by Rose Southwell.

Tuesday Day 2:

The day started off at 6:30 in the morning with Elle bounding in on me. KB said goodbye to me, and sweetly kissed a sleeping Grant on the forehead. Later we woke up for real and I started working on the blog Gant hoped in the shower. I was disappointed that we still hadn’t heard from Willem, He was the reason for starting this trip. He was in a wreck last week and we wanted to check on him, “he must still be in the hospital” I thought. Typing away my phone rings. Who is this number I think as I stare at my phone.

“Hello?”

“Rosie?? Do you know who this is?”

“Willem?!?!?!”

“Hey baby!”

“OH MY GOD!!! HEY!!!!!!”

“I just got out of the hospital, are ya’ll still in Austin?”

“YES! Lunch?”

“deal!”

At this point in my excitement I begin to beat down the door of the bathroom, yelling at Grant that I have Grizz on the phone. Grant cant here me over the shower and his own opera that he is writing and belting out as he bathes. Grizz and I make plans for us to meet up with him and his lady. Torchy’s Tacos. We gather ourselves together to meet up with my long lost love Grizz. So excited I can barely focus on driving. We pull up and I begin to scan the lot for Grizz, hiding in the back corner of the Trailer Park Eatery, there he is. I take off running.

“Grizz!” I squeak

He hops up and showers my cheek with fuzzy beaded kisses. Gant and Willem Hold a long and sexy embrace. Bromance is such a beautiful thing. We meet the lady and head for the tacos. We order and begin to catch up. He tells us about the wreck, of which he has stitches in his head, a concussion, a shattered hand and other injuries that cannot be mentioned. Other were hurt in the wreck as well. (keep them in your prayers) He tells us about Guatemala and his year of taking the Gringos hiking. Protecting the coffee crop and is new found family that he lived with. His face sparkled when he spoke of the mountains. You can tell that they stole his heart.

I spoke of seminary and how its going, I told of the Spiritual formation center and how I still want to do conference ministry. I talked about the preaching scholarship and my other hopes and dreams for school. Gant told stories of the Willem/Grant adventures and we laughed, smiled and Joy filled us all. After a while we all parted ways.

Grant and I headed toward San Antonio. The drive flew by as we danced in the car and raped our way down the road. We arrived at BK Lounge. We forgot our coops, but were welcomed by a slobbery dog and warm hospitality. We sat around and joked and laughed. BK told us about his job search and the pains of searching for a job this crappy market fresh out of college. We decide to go eat Mexican… again (I’m having TexMex withdrawals from living on the east coast)

We stopped by the store and picked up some drinks. When we arrived back at Bk’s we proceeded to get into a wicked dice game called “pig”. Grant and Bk whoop us all over me in this game. I mean it was sad, I could not cut a break. Ego deflated…

We get into a fun conversation with the parents about wine, life, and everything under the sun, BK, Gant and I move into the room and they start me on my fist time of chatrulatte. We met some fun people. One guy we chatted with for along time, he was in Florida. He has broken his hand, he showed us this Godzilla toys. Grant used his phone translator to talk to a French-Canadian. At that point I headed to bed, and fell into a sweet sweet sleep.

Day two was great and defiantly filled with lots and lots of smiles, and laughter. More tomorrow.

Peace.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

Worship Planing July 4th

30. June 2010 by Rose Southwell.

Call to worship: (Based on Psalm 66:5-8)

Come and see what God has done: awesome deeds in our world 
God turned the sea into dry land; 
        our ancestors passed through the river on foot. 
So, let us rejoice in the LORD,
        who rules by this might forever, who keeps watch on the nations -
Bless our God, let the sound of God’s praise be heard!

First Hymn: 422 God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending

Prayer of Confession:

Loving God, who hears all prayers, we confess that we have not acknowledged you acting in our everyday lives. We ignore the small blessings and everyday miracles, expecting you to only interact in our lives in big ways. We disregard your hands working with us on a daily basis.  We sometimes believe that our day to day activities are insignificant to you, and forget how deep your love really is. Forgive us for our blindness to your work in our lives and those around us. Help us to call to mind that we are your beloved children; who you listen to, care for, and interact with in all things.

(Silent confession)

We ask these things in your Holy Name.

Amen

Old Testament reading: Psalm 66:8-20

New Testament reading: Philippians 4:4-13

Sermon Title: Strength is not only for Popeye and spinach

Second Hymn: 369 I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

Jesus and Satan in an Epic Battle:

11. December 2009 by Rose Southwell.

Well we have a treat that has landed in our laps… My dear friend and sometimes intellectual nemesis and I are starting a blog war. Now I am going to post his Blog on here so that all can follow what is going on, because his blog “Chapin confessions” is an email chain, and I have my own web page ( Rose-1, Marc-0). But in all joking Marc doesn’t post his blogs for good reasons, and so this one we have agreed to share with our readers back and forth, because sharing our fun with you, makes it more fun for us.

            Now I would like to state that Marc’s telling of the actually conversation are NOT direct quotes, but close enough to show each sides rise in arrogance as we began to push each other’s buttons. And I will also make note that this Blog is Marc’s move first… Written to move the discussion at lunch into a intellectual smack down. Because of this, I will then post my response this weekend, and we will probably be doing this shenanigans for the rest of our lives.

JESUS vs. SATAN FOR THE KEYS TO HELL!Real-life Bible Story or Simply Badass Speculative Shenanigans?A Brief ExegesisBy Marc van BulckOn Thursday, December 10, 2009 at the hour of lunch in the refectory, the gauntlet was thrown down by the plaintiff, Rose Southwell, that according to the Bible, after the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus descended into Hell, where He encountered an epic struggle with an unknown antithesis (possibly Satan, the devil, or some other unknown adversary – this detail was not made clear), after which Jesus procured the keys to Hell, which He now possesses. 

The defendant, Marcel van Bulck, while admiring what he expressed to be “thebadassery” of this story, expressed skepticism toward the Biblical validity of such a

claim.

 “That sounds like bullshit, Rose,” claimed the defendant.The plaintiff, Rose, insisted that this account was real and Biblical.“Would you like me to get out the Bible, Marc?”“I don’t think-““Would you like me to get out the Bible, Marc?” the plaintiff asked in an air of confident mockery.The defendant agreed that he would love to hear the story, and the plaintiff producedher King James Version of the Bible. After some research, the plaintiff produced thefollowing Biblical scripture:“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; andhave the keys of hell and of death.”Revelation 1:18, King James Version 

After some remarks from the peanut gallery concerning the usage of the King James version of the Bible as opposed to the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, which simply refers to hell as “Hades” (“I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades” –Rev. 1: 18 NRSV), the plaintiff insisted on theusage of the King James Version interpretation of the Scripture. 

Regardless of the interpretation of the Scripture, the defendant, Marcel van Bulck,remarked that there seems to be a slight difference between “Jesus had an epic postcrucifixion fight after which He won the keys to Hell” and “I am he that liveth and was dead…and have the keys of hell and of death.” 

While this minor detail was agreed upon, the defendant, Marcel van Bulck, in his insistence on being a thorough Biblical scholar (as well as being a grade-A asshole) decided some brief exegesis of the text might be in order to perhaps add to the discussion. 

The debate as to whether the New Revised Standard Version or the King James Version is more valid is a slippery slope, so the defendant decided to go to the source –the original Greek. 

Now, unfortunately I don’t have the Greek font on my Mac, so please bare with my rough transliterations printed here. In Revelation 1:18, the word for “Hell” comes from the Greek word, “Adou,” which, as it turns out, does actually translate into “Hades,” which is what the NRSV said, (I’m just sayin’…), which is not to be confused with “Sheol,” the Hebrew word for the abode of the dead, which I think any decent Old Testament scholar would agree is not the same thing.1 

According to Goodrick, Swanswon, and Kohlenberger’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Greek New Testament, the Greek word for Hades appears in different Greek forms. “Adou,” “Ade,’ “Ades,” and “Aden,” and the four forms appear in the following Scriptures. 

“Adou”“And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remaineduntil this day.”- Matthew 11:23 

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates ofHades will not prevail against it.”-Matthew 16: 18 

“And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades.”-Luke 10:15 

“I was dead, and see, I am alive for ever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and ofHades.”-Revelation 1:18 

“Ade”“In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away withLazarus by his side.”-Luke 16: 23 

 “Ades”“I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider’s name was Death, and Hadesfollowed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword,famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth.”-Revelation 6:8 

“And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead thatwere in them, and all were judged according to what they had done. Then Death andHades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire”-Revelation 20:14 

“Aden”“For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,or let your Holy One experience corruption.”-Acts 2:27 

Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,“He was not abandoned to Hades,nor did his flesh experience corruption.”-Acts 2:312 

For the sake of full disclosure, these quotes were all taken from the NRSV and not the King James mostly because I like it better (and I have it in front of me right now). However, it scarcely matters. Regardless of which version you are choosing to read from, NRSV or King James all of these references to “Hell” or “Hades” each come from the same Greek word used in the Revelation text, and these are the only other instances inthe New Testament that refer to this word, “adou,” that also refers to “keys.” And literally none of them mention any kind of epic battle in hell between Jesus and…well…whoever. 

But what about these keys that Revelation talks about? Where do they come from? What is their significance? Is it possible that they refer to something else that could possibly allude to the plaintiff’s claim? 

Maybe the Interpretation Series can shed some light on this particular text. The Interpretation series has this to say about Revelation 1:18: “The One who calls them to be faithful even at the cost of their own lives is theOne who embraces us all, who will be there at the End to vindicate and receivethem, the one who has already gone before them through the reality of death. Noaloof deity this, but one who says matter-of-factly that he has taken death into hisown experience, has overcome it, has the keys of death and hades. In Hellenisticmythology the keys of Hades were often thought to be in the possession of Hekate,who controlled the revelatory traffic between the other world and this one (Aune,‘The Apocalypse of John and Greco-Roman Magic,’ pp. 484-89). John castsJesus in this role. Death is portrayed here, as elsewhere in the Bible, as apersonified power, the enemy that enslaves and robs (cf.. 6:8; 20:14; 1 Cor.15:26). Christians are not promised that if they are faithful they will be acquittedin the Roman courts and spared from the injustice of death; in and through death

they are met by the One who has conquered death and abides as the living one.”3

 The Book of Revelation certainly seems to proclaim that Christ has overcome the experience of death. Is this even a literal reference to an understanding of “Hell” or “Hades” or even just simply the experience of death? Sure, why not? 

However, nowhere does this suggest any canonical, Biblical evidence of some epic post-crucifixion battle in a literal Hell where Jesus wrestled Satan or whoever else for these alleged literal, non-Greek-mythological “keys.” 

The defense has nothing further at this time, your honor. 

Your move, Southwell. 

 

 

 

1 Brown, Robert K., Comfort, Philip W. The New Greek-English Interlinear NewTestament. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois. 853.2 Kohlenberger III, John R., Goodrick, Edward W., Swanson, James A. The ExhaustiveConcordanc to the Greek New Testament. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids,Michigan. 1995. 82. 

3 Boring, M. Eugene. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching:Revelation. John Knox Press. Louisville, KY. 1989. 84. 

BIBLIOGRAPHYBoring, M. Eugene. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching:Revelation. John Knox Press. Louisville, KY. 1989. 84.Brown, Robert K., Comfort, Philip W. The New Greek-English Interlinear NewTestament. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois. 853.Kohlenberger III, John R., Goodrick, Edward W., Swanson, James A. The ExhaustiveConcordanc to the Greek New Testament. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids,

Michigan. 1995. 82.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

Defending Humanity

30. August 2009 by Rose Southwell.

The very first thing I had to accept before I came to seminary was that pastors are human. I know this seems a little strange to accept, but hear me out Yes I know, most people understand that a pastor’s physical and biological make up is the same as they are. But I’m not talking about the biological aspect of humanity; I’m discussing what it means to be human.

Humans are fallible. Humans, mess up, make mistakes, hurt peoples feeling, desire love, change their minds, as well as a whole long list of other things that all people do. If pastors are human… that means they do these things as well? Mess up? Make mistakes?! Desire love?? Possibly even Hurt someone’s Feeling?!?! This was a hard concept for me. You see while growing up I did the same thing lots of people do, I put my pastor up on a pulpit (or pedestal) and expected  him to be something he’s not…perfect. Pastors in my mind pastors were perfect people who didn’t make mistakes, drink, question God or have any traits I expect any normal person to have. Therefore, they could not be sinners or behave like humans.  

Since there has been only One who has been both human and divine this premise was a huge mistake on my part.  By working very closely a number of pastors at Mo Ranch; I began to know them and understand pastors were not some strange creature with magical powers of holiness. They were simply people working closely with God to help lead and guide others along the way…yet  they were still human!  I’ve entered into the seminary process and have found myself being held by others to the silly standard I formally held my pastor to.  I now find myself defending my humanity. (No doubt part of God’s since of humor).  I’m learning it’s ok; I mess up. It’s ok; I go out and have a beer with my friends. It’s ok I want to get married one day. It’s ok; I don’t have all of the answers. It’s ok for me to be human.

Furthermore, I think that the real discussion is over forgiveness.  Does making mistakes make us horrible people, or people outside of God’s mercy? NO?!? That’s the beautiful thing; because we are willing to ask for forgiveness and humbly seek forgiveness for our actions we can better ourselves. No one has it right, and no one can make it right without God’s grace. Being human is our blessing and our curse. When we hold people to an unachievable standard we force them to fail and to disappoint us. Unfortunately, when pastors disappoint us we sometimes transfer our disappointment with the pastor into disappointment with God.  Sometimes it is hard for us to separate the two…

Ironically, I still fight this problem within myself. Despite the fact I spend time defending my humanity I still “expect more” out of my fellow seminary students and myself. And in failing the unachievable, I become disappointed with others and most of all with myself. I would love to magically live outside of my human flaws.   I would love it others could be the wonderful amazing people I expect all of them to be. Yet that is unjust of me, and not my place to judge their journey and where they are in that path.

We can’t do it. Perfection is not achievable. We can take a stab at it, we can try, and we can make efforts to better ourselves, recognize our short comings and ask God to help us along the way.  We can ask God to guide us, mold us, and hold our hands as we His children trip and fall along the path of life.

…That’s the point really isn’t it? Trying to do better, trying to be better? Becoming aware enough of others that we realize when we have wronged them, and then asking for forgiveness from them and from God.  We must also learn to forgive ourselves. We know we cannot knowingly go into actions that are wrong expecting to be able to ask for forgiveness. That’s really not ok. But when we do mess up, because we are not perfect, we know forgiveness it there for us. We are all a work in progress; no one has achieved perfection yet. Peace comes with an understanding God washed us clean, made us, and can make us whole again. As new creations in Christ we know we are forgiven, no matter the occupation, no matter the mistakes, no matter the short comings …

Friends that is Good News.

Posted in Life in Ministry, Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »