So, I was looking at my blog, and I realized that I originally started this to keep family and friends updated on what was going on in me and my hubby's life. So that's what this is going to be! So... Moises is still laid-off from his job. his company does work for Chrysler, so when they are closed, so is his plant.:( except, they don't get all the benefits that the chrysler employees do... I think they still get paid something like 95% of their normal pay check... Moises has to collect unemployment, which is still better than nothing, but it's just frustrating. What else... Jenny Gorman is still living w/ us, renting our 2nd bedroom from us, and it's great! I'm a huge fan of what's called "communal living" and I think it's going to take our country by storm pretty soon, especially in this economy! We've become such an individualistic country, that we aren't experiencing the benefits of living in community! That's how it was when Jesus was around, so it can't be that bad! let's see... My lil sis Shannon is a manager at the Arby's on south alpine, which is very exciting! you should stop in and see her sometime! Another thing, I'm on the search committee at church for a new Worship Arts Pastor... it's been interesting seeing the applications that come thru! I'm still working at the bank, too. It'll be 7 years in August (I know... wow). Starting this week I'm taking on a new roll, where I'm a part-time teller and part-time customer service! I've been in the customer service department for almost 4 years, now, so this will be a fun little change for awhile.
I think that's all I can think of right now... I know this isn't as exciting as my last posts... but that okay! Gotta go make dinner now--ah the life of a wife! :) Peace out...
Monday, February 9, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
...do this in remembrance of me...
The Lord's Supper... Communion... wafers. juice. bread. wine... priests.... pastors... waiting in line... passing the dish...
This sacred event of bread of wine has taken on many faces, hasn't it? It's an event that has lived on thru the years, but does it still hold meaning?
At the church I grew up in, we took communion once a month, the 1st sunday of every month, I believe. At the church I go to now, we take communion maybe every few months, at special services. A lot of churches take it every week. Wherever you may fall on the spectrum, most of us have come to know when it may happen and it usually becomes a routine. But, are we really remembering? Do we really think about the blood and the body, the love and sacrifice, when we take the bread and the wine?
That's the thing with rituals... usually you just do them! I don't know very much about the Catholic Church. I've actually only been to one Mass, and the entire thing was in Spanish! However, you still catch on to various routines/rituals that take place. There's the kneeling, the echoing, the "peace" thing, communion. And you can also go and confess to your priest and be made "ok" again. I must admit that I felt very lost and out of place. For a lot people, these things hold very little meaning.... but if you really think about what those rituals are, I can see the beauty in why they were maybe started in the first place. think about it... Confession. How often do we really confess to someone? To actually speak your sins to someone, can be so humbling! And kneeling before God in prayer is a beautiful sight. All of these rituals probably had the greatest of intentions... but what are they now? Routines.
Back in the day of Jesus, bread and wine at dinner was not uncommon. It was part of their everyday life. When he had that moment with his disciples and told them that it was his body and blood, a new covenant, something to be remembered... I'm not so sure that his intention was for us to mimick that exactly, once a week/month/etc as an act of "obedience". I'm starting to think that Jesus was taking something common to his friends, and making it significant... like he was really saying, "even in the everyday events, in the common of your life... remember me."
Something to think about...
This sacred event of bread of wine has taken on many faces, hasn't it? It's an event that has lived on thru the years, but does it still hold meaning?
At the church I grew up in, we took communion once a month, the 1st sunday of every month, I believe. At the church I go to now, we take communion maybe every few months, at special services. A lot of churches take it every week. Wherever you may fall on the spectrum, most of us have come to know when it may happen and it usually becomes a routine. But, are we really remembering? Do we really think about the blood and the body, the love and sacrifice, when we take the bread and the wine?
That's the thing with rituals... usually you just do them! I don't know very much about the Catholic Church. I've actually only been to one Mass, and the entire thing was in Spanish! However, you still catch on to various routines/rituals that take place. There's the kneeling, the echoing, the "peace" thing, communion. And you can also go and confess to your priest and be made "ok" again. I must admit that I felt very lost and out of place. For a lot people, these things hold very little meaning.... but if you really think about what those rituals are, I can see the beauty in why they were maybe started in the first place. think about it... Confession. How often do we really confess to someone? To actually speak your sins to someone, can be so humbling! And kneeling before God in prayer is a beautiful sight. All of these rituals probably had the greatest of intentions... but what are they now? Routines.
Back in the day of Jesus, bread and wine at dinner was not uncommon. It was part of their everyday life. When he had that moment with his disciples and told them that it was his body and blood, a new covenant, something to be remembered... I'm not so sure that his intention was for us to mimick that exactly, once a week/month/etc as an act of "obedience". I'm starting to think that Jesus was taking something common to his friends, and making it significant... like he was really saying, "even in the everyday events, in the common of your life... remember me."
Something to think about...
Monday, January 26, 2009
All we need is love...
The last couple of months, it's really hit me how poorly we really love each other sometimes. And this is among Christians! More often than not, other things that seem important at the time, take precedence over people...over relationships. I too am at fault of this. We are, in fact, only human. It seems to me, though, not much is being done to correct this. Even in churches, it seems as though most sermons are about how to live the "incredible life" and becoming who God has planned for us to be... which is great! But I feel like we may be missing the mark, just a little bit. of course we are... like I said, we are only human. We do the best we can at the time, and do what we think God may be calling us to do. And of course, nothing in this life will ever fully satisfy. But I still think we are not loving as well as we ought to, as we are called to. By the way, that IS the greatest commandment...
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment great than these.(Mark 12:30-31)"
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.(John 13: 34-35)"
From the lips of Jesus himself! The commandment was not to judge others; it was not to turn people away because of their sin; it was not to stick in our "holy huddles"; it was not to make "church" a sunday event. Love. With everything we do, we should ask, "does this show love?". Now, I'm not talking about the hippie/Beatles/1960's kind of love... I'm talking about the love God gives us! That means we shouldn't just go around doing whatever want, knowing that God and our fellow christians will still love us. This kind of love, if we truly accept it and believe it, WILL change us. it will effect everything that we do--and that includes everything we do at church. this MUST be the focus of the church. If we are called to love, that means that we must worship in love. serve in love. teach in love. rebuke and correct in love. disciple in love. have community in love.
This doesn't mean that life/church/relationships won't get messy... as stated earlier, we are human. but if we are loving each other well, then we can get thru the messes together.
That's it for now...
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment great than these.(Mark 12:30-31)"
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.(John 13: 34-35)"
From the lips of Jesus himself! The commandment was not to judge others; it was not to turn people away because of their sin; it was not to stick in our "holy huddles"; it was not to make "church" a sunday event. Love. With everything we do, we should ask, "does this show love?". Now, I'm not talking about the hippie/Beatles/1960's kind of love... I'm talking about the love God gives us! That means we shouldn't just go around doing whatever want, knowing that God and our fellow christians will still love us. This kind of love, if we truly accept it and believe it, WILL change us. it will effect everything that we do--and that includes everything we do at church. this MUST be the focus of the church. If we are called to love, that means that we must worship in love. serve in love. teach in love. rebuke and correct in love. disciple in love. have community in love.
This doesn't mean that life/church/relationships won't get messy... as stated earlier, we are human. but if we are loving each other well, then we can get thru the messes together.
That's it for now...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)