tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1681626023517654292024-02-20T18:46:55.209-06:00Calvary's Community & Pastor BlogPastor Sarah's thoughts from Calvary UMC of Arnolds Park& Okoboji
Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-29303647300883244302018-05-08T10:27:00.001-05:002018-05-08T10:27:32.065-05:00MovingI hate moving. <br />
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Actually, strike that, I hate the sorting through my junk and realizing just how much I hold onto stuff that I might need someday. Or stuff that would make a great art project when I get time. Or half down projects that hit a snag that I never overcame.<br />
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I hate sorting through the physical reminders that I have wasted time, money and effort on things I never finished or used.<br />
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I hate admitting that I carry around a lot of stuff that I don't need.<br />
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I hate letting go of all this. Even though I feel better when its gone, letting go is very hard.<br />
Its admitting the mistake, looking at it and saying, yes, I won't actually do this. I will never actually make something amazing from the free wood pallets I collected. Or the broken antique chair.<br />
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I hate admitting my limitations of time, talent and will.<br />
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When not in the process of moving, I can live in some denial. <br />
Moving takes that away. I have to deal with this stuff, and choose to pack it up and physically take those hopes and dreams and denial with me. Or I have to go through the process of letting go.<br />
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While its bad enough doing this with objects, its even harder with emotional baggage. <br />
But boy is that even more important.<br />
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As all pastors, there are so many things I thought I would do, wanted to do, planned to do. <br />
But I didn't get it done. <br />
There are so many wisps of dreams and ideas and hopes that didn't pan out. <br />
And its hard to let them go. To admit that I couldn't do it all.<br />
But now its time to move on and to let go of the past and all the coulda, woulda, shouldas.<br />
To find forgiveness and move forward into a new day.<br />
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A lot lighter.<br />
with a lot less stuff.Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-89691677497454914352017-09-22T13:19:00.001-05:002017-09-22T13:21:32.656-05:00Love & FaithWow, its been a long time since I wrote a blog!! Sorry about that!<br />
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It has been an fascinating summer and now that Fall is officially here, there's a certain letting go and moving forward with the change of seasons -- although it doesn't feel very autumn-like today.<br />
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The sermon this weekend is on Staying in Love with God. It has been hard for me to think about staying love with God without reflecting a lot on my own love life. For when we think about staying in love, its most often our romantic relationships not God that we think about. <br />
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So for those of you who may not know, I was dating a nice guy for about a year and a half but then I broke up with him in July. I broke up with him because I loved him very much, but I also knew that he didn't love me. And I realized that, although I kept trying to be patient and wait, his feeling for me weren't growing. So it was time to move on. It was a really, really hard decision, especially because I had assumed for some time that this relationship was leading to marriage and I had grown a deep bond with his children. In some ways this summer was hard, but it was also good because I spent time in August meeting new people. The pain of letting go is necessary in order to embrace a new beginning.<br />
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What makes us fall in love? Its a question that I wish I could answer in a book to sell millions of copies : ) Attraction is great, connection necessary, communication essential, common interests and values very helpful. But yet, human hearts don't follow recipes that if you just mix up the right combinations then *poof*an apple pie of love. I wish it were that easy - if it were then eharmony and match.com would have 100% success rates. But they don't because there is so much of our human hearts that is impossible to define, categorize and label. Our childhood relationships, our deepest fears and desires, our struggle between who we think we are and who we think we want to be all factor into how we see our partner and whether we feel love or not.<br />
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Faith reminds us that although we may not find the perfect person for romantic love, we are loved and lovable. That we may not be loved by the particular person we want, in the way we want (looking at you Brad Pitt) But we are perfectly loved but the Creator of the Universe. And we do not have to settle for mediocre relationships, or lukewarm love. God created humans for deep love that is passionate, enduring, accepting all the shadows parts of us with gentle care. <br />
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If you have found that kind of love, then I am so happy for you. Stay in love, and nurture it for it is so very precious. Relationships have lots of ups and downs. You will not always feel loving toward your lover, but it is worth the work to grow that relationship. <a href="http://www.eharmony.com/dating-advice/relationships/seven-things-madly-in-love-couples-do-to-stay-that-way/#.WcVUZkyZOi4">Here's a basic article on staying in love</a><br />
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If you are still searching like me, then blessings to you on the journey. It is a difficult road but it is worth the effort. And in the meantime, have fun, love yourself and feel the love of God sustain you. If you need encouragement give me a call!!Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-19335134982833671572017-05-30T11:39:00.003-05:002017-05-30T11:40:56.029-05:00The Confederacy doesn't deserve MemorialsThis past weekend I preached on the meaning of memorials in our lives and the need to choose wisely what memorials we make in our hearts, our homes and in our communities.<br />
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Memorials have 4 functions:<br />
1. Mark time<br />
2. Remember people who have gone before us<br />
3. Remember how God was at work in those persons lives<br />
4. A visual reminder to tell our children the story of our history and values<br />
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I talked briefly about one memorial that I am very glad came down. <a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/05/20/529232823/with-lee-statues-removal-another-battle-of-new-orleans-comes-to-a-close" target="_blank"> The Battle of Liberty Place </a>monument celebrated the White League that carried out a coup of the state government, attacking the integrated Metropolitan police force and the state's militia that was primarily black. The White League won the battle killing 13 police officers and disarming the state militia. They controlled the state and began to set up an alternate government until President Grant sent federal troops to regain control. <br />
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In America, we respect elections. We don't do coups of our state or federal government. We don't celebrate the killing of police officers and we don't set up alternative governments. If we lose an election, we work peaceably with our fellow Americans and try to win the next election. The Battle of Liberty Place monument stood for everything that is anti-American and I am glad it has now been taken down. <br />
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Two other monuments were also taken down, one a statue of General Robert E. Lee. Lee led the Confederate army against the United States of America. That is treason. There is a long-standing romancing of Southern history, one that makes the Confederacy seem noble. But there was nothing noble about it - these men committed treason against their country because they wanted the right to keep human beings as slaves. Over time, as public opinion on slavery changed, the reasons for the south succeeding has been cloaked under the words "states rights" and "way of life" referring to "the Cause" rather than slavery specifically. You only have to read the speeches and documents of the leaders of southern succession from that time to get the truth.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In the </span><a href="https://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~ras2777/amgov/stephens.html" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;" title="Cornerstone Speech">Cornerstone Speech</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, C.S. Vice President </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Stephens" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;" title="Alexander Stephens">Alexander Stephens</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> declared that</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>t</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">he "cornerstone" of the new government "rests upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery – subordination to the superior race – is his natural and normal condition. T</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">his, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth"</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif;">The <a href="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/csa_scarsec.asp">declaration of succession</a> drafted by the state of South Carolina outlines their "right" to keep slaves and makes clear why at that moment, just after the election of Abraham Lincoln as president, that they were succeeding: "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 25px;"><b>A geographical line has been drawn across the Union, and all the States north of that line have united in the election of a man to the high office of President of the United States, whose opinions and purposes are hostile to slavery. He is to be entrusted with the administration of the common Government, because he has declared that that "Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free," and that the public mind must rest in the belief that slavery is in the course of ultimate extinction."</b></span><br />
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It is time that Christians in America (particularly white ones) rise up and declare once and for all that what the south did was morally wrong and anti-Christ. Memorials to any leaders of the Confederacy should be taken down. The memory of the Confederacy should not be sanitized but exposed for what it truly was: a treasonous moral failing of racism and greed. Confederate flags represent treason and the promotion of slavery. The Confederate flag has been used as a terrorist tool to bring fear to African-Americans, it has no place in our society.<br />
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Our national memorials should point to the unity of our United States of America and our belief that all are created equal. Our memorials should only lift up our highest ideals of one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Our flags should only be the flag that stand for all of us. <br />
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<br />Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-7989823790942047942017-05-18T14:32:00.001-05:002017-05-18T14:33:10.543-05:00Slow Roll Coming!!<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>June 28th members of Calvary United Methodist Church are leading a new kind of community bike ride - a Slow Roll. Slow Roll is a bike ride for everyone;<b> </b>all ages, all skill levels and every type of bike is welcome. Starting at the new Calvary Church south of Casey’s in Arnolds Park, it will be a 5 mile ride returning to the church for free sandwiches, drinks, marshmallows and bonfire. Registration is free and begins at 5, ride begins at 6 with drinks and food following the ride. Neighbors are especially welcome to come to get to know each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Slow Roll began with two friends in Detroit who wanted a a casual bike ride that would welcome everyone. Calvary UMC had a youth mission trip to Detroit in 2015 where they met the founders of the Slow Roll and heard about the benefits of the ride. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> “We were excited that the ride focuses on community building - getting neighbors to know one another and enjoy some time in the sun together.” states Rev. Dr. Sarah Rohret who was on the mission trip with the youth. “We wanted to bring that community-building opportunity to our area as soon as we had a way to host the event.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Slow Roll idea is in its 7th year in Detroit, and has spread across the US to many major cities including Chicago and Minneapolis. The slow pace keeps the group safe and gives riders a unique perspective of their city and its neighborhoods. In 2016, Slow Roll grew to over 12,000 registered riders across the USA and that number continues to increase.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There are many bicycle rides in our area, but none quite like the Slow Roll. Volunteers are welcome to help - contact Calvary UMC 712-332-2447. To register for the event you can go to the Calvary website www.calvarylovesall.com.</span></div>
Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-79286629176995745382017-04-14T11:33:00.001-05:002017-04-14T11:33:29.525-05:00The ShackI loved the movie, The Shack, and here's why.<br />
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I love the way Mack "wrestles" with God and is honest in his doubt, anger, guilt and distance from God is honest and real. "In our doubt there is believing" is one of my favorite lines from the Hymn of Promise 707 UMH. Movies that present Christians as so sure of themselves annoy me, because I spend way more time with people who are unsure than people who are arguing for God.<br />
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I love the images of God - Papa being a black woman, a Native American man -- coming to Mack in the way Mack needs. There are a hundred different images of God used in the Bible:<br />
Rock, Mother Hen, Mother Eagle, Fountain of Life, Shepherd, Gate, Lion of Judah etc. Some are female images, some are male, some are neither. El Shaddai can be translated "God with breasts". <br />
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Jesus says God is spirit in John 4, and we will worship God in spirit. So there is no earthly image that completely captures who God is, God is bigger than any one picture. All of them capture just a piece. So we need all of the images together, and some times one image will speak to us more than another image. Mack had a problem with his abusive father, and the image of God as father was not helpful to him. I totally believe God's love for us would lead God to appear to us as we would best receive God -- male, female, black, white, whatever. <br />
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I love the theology of the Shack. There is so much and it is rich and deep and good theology. It centers on the person of the Trinity which I also believe has to be the center of Christian faith. God is love, because God is relationship. God, inside of God's self, is 3-in-1, unity in diversity, in relationship and love. The conversation the Trinity has with Mack in the book explaining that no one has to be in charge is AWESOME. I use it often in Confirmation. I wish that dialogue had been in the movie. Too often Christians have used the world's image of hierarchy to describe God, and to form our church. This gets used in bad ways -- Church people demanding their own way, the church forcing its way, oppression of the poor, of women, of minorities being excused or even promoted. Jesus preached love - for God, neighbor, enemies, everyone.<br />
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Many people are critical that God isn't powerful enough, almighty enough, in the movie or book. But this is the God who came as a baby born in a barn to teenage parents. God who chose to die on a cross. God whose main image in the book of Revelation is the slain lamb. God is all powerful, but God doesn't have short man syndrome. God doesn't go around saying "I'm the almighty cower before me". God doesn't want cowering, God wants relationship. <br />
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Thats enough for now, I'd love to know what your thoughts/questions were.<br />
I'm thinking this might be a sermon series in June -good or bad idea??<br />
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<br />Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-26806740069514565542017-02-24T18:24:00.000-06:002017-02-24T18:24:28.627-06:00Love and MarriageThe most read newspaper article of 2016 was not anything political or about the election,<br />
it was Alain de Botton's NYT article<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/29/opinion/sunday/why-you-will-marry-the-wrong-person.html?_r=0" target="_blank"> "Why you will marry the wrong person"</a><br />
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Krista Tippett has a <a href="http://onbeing.org/programs/alain-de-botton-the-true-hard-work-of-love-and-relationships/" target="_blank">discussion wth Alain in this podcast</a> that is brilliant, funny and insightful.<br />
I really encourage everyone in a relationship, or hoping to be in a relationship, to listen and learn.<br />
My cheat sheet of insights:<br />
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+ we are all broken, and need to approach the other with that understanding<br />
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+ we naturally give children more benefit of the doubt -when one is fussy or says "I hate you", we ask ourselves if they are hungry or tired or had a bad day. We need to approach our partner the same way<br />
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+We are all hard to live with (but most of us don't realize it)<br />
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+the mundane is the reality of lived love - who cleans the toilet is a service of love<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Chronicle Text', Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">+</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Chronicle Text', Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">self-righteousness is an enemy of love.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Chronicle Text', Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-73794441661461618552017-02-14T11:28:00.003-06:002017-02-14T11:28:30.763-06:00What its like to be a pastorBeing a pastor is sometimes extremely lonely. <br />
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You are taught in seminary:<br />
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Be professional<br />
Don't bring your life into the pulpit (unless its a cute hokey story)<br />
Don't cry<br />
Don't show that you are struggling<br />
Don't ask for help, prayers or support --<br />
Pastors give those things, you don't ask for them.<br />
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The congregation needs to know you are strong<br />
That you can be leaned on<br />
That your family is a shining example of perfect love<br />
That you have it all together<br />
That you always know where God is and what God is saying<br />
That you are there for them - the congregation - all the time.<br />
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This is what you are taught to believe it means to be a pastor.Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-80564231301372604032017-02-10T10:52:00.002-06:002017-02-10T11:10:02.213-06:00Yoga & ChristianitySue Debord is going to be doing chair yoga 10 AM & gentle yoga at 11 AM on Wednesdays<br />
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Some people struggle with the use of yoga by Christians. They point to the fact that yoga is a practice of Hinduism and comes out of a different culture. This is true. <br />
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However, Christianity has a long history of integrating the symbols and practices of other religions into our practice. Like a pendulum, Christians go back and forth between acceptance and rejection of borrowed practices.<br />
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The Puritan movement in the 1600's is when Christians started to reject traditions that were not Biblical, to seek a more "pure" Christianity. This was just after the big split from the Roman Catholic Church so many of the traditions of catholicism were rejected: icons, incense, churches that were ornate with stained glass, the Rosary, clergy robes etc etc. Puritan churches were simple, no instrumental music, no decorations, just preaching of the Word.<br />
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This impulse to go back to "pure" Christianity is still seen in many denominations and is the root compulsion at the center of those who reject Halloween, yoga, Christmas trees etc.<br />
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In the other direction, Christians have often accepted with curiosity and delight new practices and traditions of peoples that they lived amongst. For example when Roman Christians entered into what is now Germany and encountered the winter solstice traditions that honored gods of light & life with cutting down and decorating of fir trees, the Christians embraced this tradition and incorporated it into our Christmas celebrations leading to Christmas trees. When in Scandinavia, the tradition of counting down to the solstice with candles became our Advent wreath. These traditions are not universal. Christmas trees and Advent wreaths are not used by Christians in Ghana, China or Mexico because they are borrowed traditions from Northern European pagan culture. Only when you live in a cold climate do these traditions speak to you and have meaning for you.<br />
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Christianity is a Middle Eastern religion, the traditions of Jesus and his followers were desert traditions: washing feet, anointing with oil, dipping bread into wine. But for Northern European Christians these traditions don't speak. They are strange and uncomfortable. So we discovered and borrowed and transformed other traditions so they spoke to us about Jesus's love.<br />
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This is what people are now doing with yoga. Christian traditions of sitting and listening in church isn't speaking to some people anymore. Yoga's movement, holding, stretching, breathing and finding balance is speaking to us in our modern culture. The Holy Spirit is working in people through this practice. So lets use it! Lets connect with God in the ways that speak to us and call us to know Jesus' love.<br />
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What traditions speak to you? What traditions have lost meaning over time?<br />
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What questions do you have about yoga? Write in the comments!!<br />
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<br />Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-51951294956613227552017-02-02T14:23:00.001-06:002017-02-02T14:26:17.185-06:00Marriage PyramidIn doing research for my sermon this week I came across <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/contemplating-divorce/201101/how-do-you-know-if-you-should-stay-or-go" target="_blank">this really good article from Psychology Today</a>. It has a lot of great stuff in it about marriage and divorce. One concept that was totally new to me was the Pyramid of Marital Needs. I have never heard of this and it was one of those "why didn't I think of this?" moments that I thought I would share.<br />
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Safety = Mutual Trust, Honesty,<br />
Kindness, providing for each others basic needs (shelter, food, etc)<br />
freedom from fear of abuse<br />
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Love = Mutual affection, connection wanting the best for the other,<br />
common interests, fun together<br />
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Esteem = personal self esteem in yourself and esteem from & for the spouse, mutual respect, common goals in life, working together<br />
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Actualization = supporting each other in reaching one's full potential, creativity, spirituality, discovery.<br />
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Unfortunately, there are way to many couples who don't even share the two foundational pieces of the pyramid - Safety and Love. Safety, particularly freedom from abuse, is critical to moving up the pyramid. You can't work on any other problem in marriage unless you have safety including mutual trust and honesty. Love is also foundational, it is that feeling inside but also just sharing common interests and wanting the best for the other person. When you honestly don't care what happens to the person then you should not be married to them.<br />
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Esteem and Actualization are growth areas that first require you to work on yourself before you can work on them as a couple. You have to have self esteem before you can have esteem for your partner or for a co-worker. I have seen many people ruin a relationship because they didn't have the self-esteem to stand side-by-side with their partner. They wanted to be on top, or better than their partner and so when their partner got accolades then they were jealous, defensive and often brought their partner down. You have to love yourself before you can love anyone else!<br />
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Actualization is one of the hardest areas and I think that it is the place where you see a couple go from and "ok" marriage to a truly "happy" marriage. Actualization is reaching forward in life, trying new things, exploring new places, and having the freedom to make mistakes without fear of being ridiculed. When a husband supports his wife in taking a new class, trying a new activity or going to a new place on her own without being insecure, then she can become the best "her" God made her to be. And likewise with husbands. Everyone needs to be able to pursue new things, and couples need to try new things together. When we don't do this, the marriage may be ok but boring and not as fun. Its critical to be able to fail and know your spouse is there for you, and to give each other the freedom to grow without growing apart. <br />
<br />
What area of the pyramid is solid in your marriage? <br />
Which area needs work?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-77575719124613752452017-01-26T15:38:00.000-06:002017-01-26T15:38:20.901-06:00"Love as a Way of Life"Book Review "Love as a Way of Life" by Gary Chapman<br />
<br />
Gary Chapman is most famous for his hit book, "The Five Love Languages". It is a great book and has a lot to teach particularly about how to love your spouse or partner. This book that our Calvary Book Club read for January teaches us about the characteristics a person exhibits to convey love. These 7 characteristics are<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Kindness</li>
<li>Patience</li>
<li>Forgiveness</li>
<li>Courtesy</li>
<li>Humility</li>
<li>Generosity</li>
<li>Honesty</li>
</ul>
While Chapman writes without expressed faith perspective, for those versed in 1 Corinthians 13 or the teachings of Jesus, you will recognize those ideas coming through. This book could be subtitled "How to love your neighbor as yourself". Chapman doesn't stick to couple relationships in this book either, he talks about parenting and the workplace as well making it a great accompaniment to his Love Languages book.<br />
<br />
Chapman goes through each of the 7 characteristics breaking each one down further. What I find most helpful is how Chapman takes a simple trait like kindness and looks at its many facets in how it is lived. How do you chose to be kind? What does kindness look like? What happens when kindness is rejected? How do you be kind with your attitude, words and actions? <br />
<br />
Each chapter ends with making that characteristic a habit and questions for reflection. <br />
<br />
If you have struggled with the phrase "love your neighbor as yourself", if you have ever wondered why you do not get the responses back that you desire from others around you then this is a great book for self-reflection. It will help you look at yourself in the mirror and evaluate how you can be more loving in practical ways. It will help you have a Jesus-centered world-view that is counter to the growing "me first" world-view around us.<br />
<br />
<br />Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-58286272251428675452016-12-13T12:16:00.000-06:002016-12-13T12:16:04.516-06:00Blue ChristmasDecember can be a wonderful month if you love Christmas music and when your family and friends are going to be gathering around you soon for the holidays. <br />
<br />
But December can be a very hard month when someone you love has died or is far away. <br />
When you are struggling with an addiction, mental illness or physical illness. <br />
When there is conflict in your family,<br />
when you and your spouse are fighting or divorcing,<br />
when your kid is struggling and there is nothing you can do to fix it for them,<br />
when your parent or sibling is sick or going through tough times and you can't make it better.<br />
When you are gay or Muslim or different in some other way and you live in a place where you feel afraid that someone is going to hurt you, say something mean to you, or paint on your car or house.<br />
When you have lost a job, or money is tight and you don't think you can afford the things we are taught to "need" to make Christmas merry.<br />
<br />
There are so many reasons why December can be hard.<br />
<br />
I have had many Blue Christmases over the years. The Christmas a few months after my separation and filing for divorce, knowing my step-son was going to be taken right after Christmas to live with his Dad and I would not be given visitation was particularly hard. The first Christmas without my dad was another. These are just a couple. It was very difficult both of those times to be the public face of Christian hope and Christmas joy while also going through deep personal loss and grief. <br />
<br />
We are always living lives that are a complex mix of emotions. Sad and happy, merry and depressed, hopeful and cynical. Our lives are never perfectly merry and, the good news is, they are never fully dark either. There is always a reason, no matter how small, to be thankful --even if the only thing we are thankful for is that we are not alone in the dark. Jesus is holding our hand, walking with us, and bringing back the light bit by bit.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are struggling this Christmas, know that you can talk to me. And you are invited to our Blue Christmas Service Thursday Dec 21 at 6:30 PM You are not alone in the dark - we are with you!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-38682207805722734112016-10-22T00:01:00.001-05:002016-10-22T00:01:46.301-05:00My Beginning ExperienceBeginning Experience is a great resource that I wish I had used sooner.<br />
<br />
After my divorce, I thought that I should be able to work through my loss on my own. I read some books, did some journalling and thought that should be it - I just need to move on.<br />
<br />
Many years later a friend asked me to fill in for her at this retreat that needed a pastor to come pray with people. It was the Beginning Experience retreat. I really didn't know much about it, but I came for the Saturday evening time and prayed with people.<br />
<br />
It was an awesome experience just praying with these folks. I could see that they were in the middle of a great transformation - people were really being healed and working through their stuff. As I was leaving the evening, the leader walked me to my car. He asked me about myself, and I revealed that I was divorced too. He invited me to come to the next retreat and I resolved to do so.<br />
<br />
On my retreat weekend I came with a very healthy bit of skepticism. I thought I would just go through it so that I could help lead the next time, I didn't really need to be there, I was ok. But after our first couple sessions a lot of anger came out of me all of a sudden. Issues that I had stuffed deep down inside came bursting out. I was shocked, the other people on the retreat were shocked, but they accepted my feelings and helped me work through them. <br />
<br />
At the end of the retreat I felt such relief. I felt freer and more myself than I had been in a long time. By putting the past to rest, present day issues in my life became clearer. <br />
<br />
I'm really grateful for the Beginning Experience program, and I encourage anyone who has gone through a divorce or has been widowed to go on the retreat. It is a life-changing retreat.<br />
<br />
Check out our website for more info on how to get signed up. Our next retreats are Nov 4-6 and then in March<br />
<br />Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-46387329251793030622016-10-10T22:38:00.000-05:002016-10-10T22:38:40.819-05:00Gratitudes Wow. Its hard to believe that the new church is now built, dedicated and a regular part of our everyday lives. I keep saying it over and over -- WOW.<br />
<br />
I'm so grateful to each and every person who gave their time, talents, gifts and service to see this building built. It truly was all of us together, led and guided by God. Every minute given, every penny given, has been a blessing. We could not do it without everyone -- thank you! <br />
<br />
Thank you to all of our contractors. They are used to having one person, or a couple, to answer to and here were 200 owners trying to tell them what to do -- I am grateful for their patience in putting up with us!!<br />
<br />
I am so grateful to my family, especially my children, who have borne the cost of this project by giving up time with their mother. I am sorry for every concert and game missed, bedtime and homework time done on your own because of meetings - Thank you my darlings for understanding and forgiving me. And I am grateful to have a special friend who helped me laugh and relax these past 6 months - thank you for supporting me and walking with me on this last leg of the journey.<br />
<br />
8 years this building has been the focus of our lives, not the only thing we have done, but the main thing we have talked about and worked towards. The dedication service was so wonderful, and yet so surreal to me. All this time boiled down to this celebration. It felt like a wedding and Christmas in one. I am so grateful to everyone who pitched in to help make it an extra-special day. Bishop Haller did such a wonderful job and I know that we will often think about wading in the water when we think of where God is leading us next -- thank you Bishop!<br />
<br />
And now its all done and over. We have celebrated and opened the presents and even cleaned up the wrapping paper. It feels to me a lot like the week after Christmas. Or the week after the honeymoon. The focused planning is all done, the celebration over and now we just live with each other. Now we figure out how to be together in this new space. Let us enjoy our new normal, rest a bit. Then lets turn our eyes to where God is leading us and again stick our toes in the water.<br />
<br />Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-27660641562271552002016-07-29T11:39:00.000-05:002016-07-29T11:39:23.758-05:00Clown Camp Part 2Its Friday morning at Mooseburger Clown Camp - and I am tired!<br />
Yesterday was a loooooong day with lots more to learn than I could ever absorb in just a week. <br />
<br />
It has been a lot of fun and I've met so many kinds of people from all over the USA (and Canada!) I met a retired lady from Hawaii who has clowned for 30+ years, retired from clowning but still comes to camp because she loves it. I met a stomach doctor who clowns as a scientist teaching kids about conduction and electricity. I met clowns who do this full time in the circus, and clowns who do this full-time doing birthday parties and events as well as clowns who just do this as a fun little hobby. Many, many Shriner's clowns are here - they do parades, their own circus and events purely to raise money for the Shriner's hospital to treat kids. Amazing generous spirits!!! <br />
<br />
So you may wonder what kinds of things does a clown learn at clown camp? Well, I've learned:<br />
<br />
How to trip, how to run into a door or wall<br />
How to do make up and take it off<br />
How to juggle and make your own juggling balls -- I'm still working on the skill but I know how!<br />
How to use puppets<br />
How to sit on an invisible bench<br />
Storytelling and music, and dancing<br />
<br />
Things I haven't had time to learn but people are doing it here:<br />
<br />
Slapstick - getting hit by boards or get slapped and not get hurt<br />
Balloons -- Oh you should see the awesome balloon sculptures people are making!<br />
Face painting -- not just simple stuff that teens do at the Amusement Park but professional face painters who work on cruise ships are teaching fancy stuff<br />
Masks and Stilts and so much more!<br />
<br />
One of the things that has struck me (I was discussing this with a teacher who wants to use clowning in her classroom) is how much of the core of clowning applies to everyday life. How to observe people and interact with them on their level just to get them to smile and laugh. Thats what being a clown is - sharing a smile and making the world a little happier.<br />
<br />
Every morning I have gone to the Catholic chapel service at 7 AM (eek!!) but it has been refreshing to receive a little sermon each day and pray with the retreat workers and some of the other clowns. Each day Calvary people have been in my heart and prayers in that little chapel. <br />
<br />
One thing that has struck me about it though -- each morning the priests serve communion and I can't receive the elements because I'm not Catholic. The first day it didn't bother me much, I just prayed on my own. But today my mouth watered and I literally longed for bread and juice, to taste God's presence. It made me so proud to be part of a denomination that believes firmly in an open table where all are welcome no matter what. <br />
<br />
Hope everyone is having a fabulous week and getting more sleep than I!!! <br />
<br />Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-44120658419107232882016-07-26T22:25:00.003-05:002016-07-26T22:27:30.759-05:00Clown Camp Day 1<div class="MsoNormal">
Why are you going to clown camp??</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was asking myself the same question as I walked in – why am
I doing this??</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well 22 years ago when I went to UNI, the Wesley Foundation
UMC Campus ministry I attended for church had a clown troupe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved the make-up, the costumes, the
skits, but I was just to self conscious, too timid as an 18 year old to be a
clown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So this past January I was contemplating the new year and my
40<sup>th</sup> birthday and the things I haven’t done and what goals I wanted
to set for myself and one thing that came to mind was clown camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The joy, the laughter, the silliness
seemed just what I needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I
signed up and paid a little each month – now I’m here!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Its amazing how God knows what you need and provides it so
much better than I could ever have hoped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I arrived at camp and found that the clown camp is held at a Catholic
retreat center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a chapel
where there is worship every morning and I’ve already stopped in for some
personal reflection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a
gorgeous view of a lake and the grounds are full of flowers and meditation
places to walk too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I had no idea in January where I would be today with the struggles with my family and the church building - but God knew and God knew what I would need in the midst of this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m certain that I came to be a clown, but God knew I also
needed some retreat time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And here
I’m getting both – some quiet meditation and prayer combined with a lot of
laughter and silliness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
I’m having to reach out and be with people I’ve never met before from all
across America – a great learning lab for me on outreach too!</div>
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God is great!</div>
Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-37200620512747340142016-07-21T09:42:00.000-05:002016-07-21T09:42:05.634-05:00It all starts with ConnectionDo you remember that first moment you felt connection with your spouse or SO? The smile, or laugh or brush of a hand that made your heart race and you knew there was something there - it feels so good to find a connection with someone. It feels good because this is what God created us for - connection.<br />
<br />
When God created the universe, God took the formless void and divided out the light, the land, the water, plants, animals and finally humankind. Everything was created from the same mush, by the same hand of God. <br />
<br />
God said, "Let us make humankind in our image" As Christians we see this verse as confirmation that from the very beginning God was a Trinity - both diverse and unified at once. God - Creator, Savior, Sustainer - is one God and yet at the sometime distinct, different and multiple. <br />
<br />
God created us in this image - we are distinct and different but yet we are one human family. <br />
<br />
What we see around us with all the problems in our world regarding race, religion and politics is our human tendency to see our differences and assign greater importance to our difference than to our sameness. <br />
<br />
It is after the fall, after Adam and Eve eat the apple that division and disconnection enters the world. All of a sudden they hide from God. They are disconnected from God. And they blame and shame each other - they are disconnected in their relationship. Disconnection is a result of sin and fallen-ness. Our pointing fingers, blaming and shaming one another is a result of sin. God created us for connection and relationship without blame and shame and sin.<br />
<br />
Every white skinned person has (after a certain age) sun spots. Those dark spots on your skin prove that you have just as much Melanin as the darkest black person from Africa. Melanin, the chemical that gives our skin our amount of darkness, is all there in white people - it just isn't switched on. Sun damage switches it on and viola we have dark spots. So if blacks, browns, and whites all have the same amount of the same chemical in our skin, why is skin color so important to us? <br />
<br />
We've been taught. We have been taught that skin color is important and associated with all kinds of other traits - thick lips, thick noses, laziness, musicality, sports ability, low intelligence -- all these things are stereotypes that have nothing to do with skin color. They have nothing to do with each other at all. Except that we have been taught over generations and generations that they go together with a shade of skin. It is a result of sin, of disconnection, that we look at our differences and assign blame and shame because of them.<br />
<br />
God teaches us that we come from the same family, the same Creator, and that our sameness is more important than our differences. Our differences are meant to help us complement and teach each other different perspectives. But our sameness is meant to hold us in unity as one family of God. We are created for connectedness and unity, while complementing each other with our individuality.<br />
<br />
Its not easy. Our political views get us arguing with each other and soon we are dismissing each other. I struggle with this. I have a friend that I really like, but some of the things he posts on Facebook make my blood boil. I was ready to unfriend him this past week, but after a day of cooling down I decided to take another tactic - I decided to go on a prayer campaign, praying for him as often as I can. I'm putting post-it notes around my house to remind me. I'm not praying he changes, I'm praying God blesses him and loves him and that he finds peace and joy everyday. <br />
<br />
It is not easy, because we live in a fallen world where sin and shame are all around us. We are taught to look at our differences and assign greater meaning to them. But we can also unlearn this. We can learn to look more to our sameness and our unity as people of one family, created by one God.<br />
<br />
<br />Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-79628309667266257652016-07-12T11:09:00.002-05:002016-07-12T11:10:27.315-05:00Learning to Love<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIPyWcoNxcM_bThI7lyNyc5P_WLdS4G2y57Qc1aFio7OSeLZ3MJBzPL5b99Pe87Xkv1Mq7TLDnN-R6ds_R-1HwfZVopgMVksp5lf6AVRHs8dVLXj0GhC5sDAOlDRsVIAXqkXF7b-M6YVZ/s1600/Summer-of-Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIPyWcoNxcM_bThI7lyNyc5P_WLdS4G2y57Qc1aFio7OSeLZ3MJBzPL5b99Pe87Xkv1Mq7TLDnN-R6ds_R-1HwfZVopgMVksp5lf6AVRHs8dVLXj0GhC5sDAOlDRsVIAXqkXF7b-M6YVZ/s320/Summer-of-Love.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
How do we learn about love?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We learn first from our families, our parents and siblings
and the people closest to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
then we learn from Disney movies about naïve, helpless princesses and heroic
princes and happily ever after which ironically always ends immediately after
the wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learn from soap
operas where love is always a game of possession, lies, and traps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learn from sitcoms where one parent
is the responsible adult and the other is a big kid who makes everyone
laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it no wonder we struggle
to have healthy strong relationships in this modern age of media?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As people of faith our learning about love comes first from
looking at how God loves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s
love for us and humanity is the pattern for our loving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How Jesus loved, caring for the
hurting, the poor, the rejected, the sinners and accepting all as precious is
our example of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And our first
place to practice this love is in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How wonderful would it be for parents to bring their kids to
church expecting them to learn about love from watching church members?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Paul writes what is called “The Love Chapter”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 Corinthians 13, he isn’t writing for
a couple of lovers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t
write it for romantic love at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact Paul doesn’t really thing romantic love is all that great – his
preference is for Christians to stay single and celibate and focus their lives
on God and on service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(this
standard continued for another 1,300 years, Christian churches/pastors weren’t
involved<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in weddings at all until
that time)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul writes The Love Chapter for the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Specifically a group of house churches,
at this time there were no church buildings, who were quarreling with each
other comparing and trying to one-up each other all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul first writes chapter 12 – how we
are all given a gift from the Holy Spirit and we need each other like a body
needs both hands and feet, eyes and ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are the body of Jesus and we need each other to work together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then Paul switches on us with Chapter 13 – but even though
we may have these gifts, they are nothing without love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can have talents and skills but if
we don’t use them with love its pointless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The quality of how we interact with each other matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the first quality should be
loving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then Paul fleshes out what loving looks like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patience, kindness, not
keeping score or wrongs, not flying off the handle, not being self-centered,
forgiving, hoping for better, believing, trusting.</div>
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It’s a long list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a list that when I read it at weddings, I feel bad because it’s a
tall order for two people mad about each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a really tall order when we realize this is how we are
supposed to love the people we sit in church with and sometimes kinda
like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a tall order when we
are supposed to love the people at the church down the street with this
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are supposed to
treat every person we meet with this love.</div>
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This week we have seen a lot of un-loving actions in the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what are we supposed to
do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may seem naïve, silly,
pointless, even stupid, but Jesus says we are supposed to meet persecution with
love, rejection with love, hurt with love, we are supposed to respond to hate
with love. Because God loves us that way.</div>
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Its not easy. Its not supposed to be easy. But God calls us beyond what our society, our culture and our human guts say (all those things would let us focus on revenge and getting even) God calls us to a higher standard, Love. What does look like this week, of all weeks? Like this:</div>
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<a href="https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13619877_10208655090928536_4812400974066837879_n.jpg?oh=f9e83cfd6df4c02ddd858c4f7b342a21&oe=57F8CDE8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13619877_10208655090928536_4812400974066837879_n.jpg?oh=f9e83cfd6df4c02ddd858c4f7b342a21&oe=57F8CDE8" width="518" /></a></div>
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Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-41362745823671141012016-07-11T17:36:00.001-05:002016-07-11T17:36:19.589-05:00New Sermon Series: Summer of Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmASXcuHdqPdaDZ792S9Wo9sWI6DvSZfb_fo2rgWq9d4OLzWO-aAFcWMh3ieoHRvJZPmJAC6xe9ZL-YvYYmmFtIGJHcIiEfDV5xKb7-igEiiEj2ffzZf1WpzKdIqNSvqVQPreUCK6Diku/s1600/Summer-of-Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmASXcuHdqPdaDZ792S9Wo9sWI6DvSZfb_fo2rgWq9d4OLzWO-aAFcWMh3ieoHRvJZPmJAC6xe9ZL-YvYYmmFtIGJHcIiEfDV5xKb7-igEiiEj2ffzZf1WpzKdIqNSvqVQPreUCK6Diku/s320/Summer-of-Love.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"All you need is Love" -- The Beatles</div>
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Summer 2016 is going down as a summer of bombings, shootings, racism, terrorism and a whole lot of social media fighting. What is Jesus' answer to all of these problems? </div>
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It may sound naive, simplistic and maybe downright dumb yet the answer Jesus gave us over and over was this: Love one another.</div>
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How can we as individuals and as a church in Arnolds Park, Iowa help change the world? By striving to love one another all the more. So this summer lets talk about love. Platonic love, Agape/Godly love, Philo/brotherly love and yes romantic love as well. We'll go to all parts of the Bible and talk about many aspects of love and how we can act more loving. And in loving we change the world.</div>
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<br />Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-87664287602568157382016-06-22T11:41:00.001-05:002016-06-22T11:41:23.184-05:00Faith on the StreetJesus talked about people who live their faith so that other people can see them. <br />
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<span class="text Matt-6-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: blue;">Jesus said: Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Matt-6-2" id="en-NRSV-23285" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. </span><span class="text Matt-6-3" id="en-NRSV-23286" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, </span><span class="text Matt-6-4" id="en-NRSV-23287" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Matt-6-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. </span><span class="text Matt-6-6" id="en-NRSV-23289" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. </span></span>Matthew 6:1-6</div>
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Sharing our faith is a tricky thing. On the one hand we are told to go and share the good news of Jesus with the world- we believe we have something beautiful to offer others. On the other hand we are told to be careful of practicing our piety before others - if we share our faith the wrong way then we can easily turn people against religion.</div>
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We have to ask ourselves, "Is this way of sharing our faith focused on us or on the receiver?" Because its easy to share in the way we want to share, its harder to figure out how does the unchurched, the receiver, want to hear? </div>
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Its fun to share our faith in a way that shows the world how good we are, how holy, how nice. Its a lot harder to go into the places where unbelievers hang out and just be with them - the way Jesus was with them just eating and drinking and hanging out, showing that he wouldn't judge them but came to love them. That was Jesus' evangelism plan - hanging out and loving people as they were. When Jesus was on street corners he was healing people, touching them, answering their needs that they brought to him. His public preaching was mostly outside the city, or in the synagogue -- places where people had to choose to go to hear him.</div>
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So it troubles me that our Iowa governor has made a declaration that the Bible should be read publicly in every county in Iowa in the next few weeks. </div>
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This troubles me for a few reasons, </div>
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1. its a violation of church & state -- a principle that protects churches as much as it protects the state and individual rights</div>
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2. Jesus says not to do stuff like this and I'm a follower of Jesus. This is standing on the street corner showing how good, and religious we are -- its designed to make us look good, and not to serve others or make the world a better place.</div>
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3. The most important reason is that its not good evangelism. Reading the Bible out loud to people going about their business on a beautiful day isn't an act of hospitality, it is an interruption. Its annoying. It makes us look like crazy people, religious zealots, and unchurched people don't want any part of that. When I pass by the guy who reads the Bible on the street corner in Spencer, I feel the same way - he looks crazy to me and I am embarrassed by him. </div>
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I won't participate in this event, and I hope that the rest of the ministers in Dickinson County and in Iowa will not participate. I hope that instead of reading the Bible out loud, we can organize days of service and caring. Hand out free cookies on the street corner quietly. Clean up the beaches or trails together as churches. </div>
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Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-90476485103230046222016-05-28T20:39:00.003-05:002016-05-28T20:39:45.928-05:00The Power of Stillness"Be still and know that I am God"<br />
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God commands that we do what is good for us - to be still and be with Him.<br />
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Stillness is counter-cultural in our world that values constant communication, motion, accomplishment. Yet all that busy-ness, all the going can keep us from truly feeling our feelings and letting God be at work in our hearts.<br />
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Be Still, God says.<br />
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Just Be.<br />
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Be still, and in quiet listen to God. <br />
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Connect with God.<br />
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Let God open up your heart and be at work inside you.<br />
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10-15 minutes a day<br />
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1 hour a week<br />
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1 day a month<br />
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2-3 days a year<br />
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Be still and be with God<br />
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Need a guide to get started? <a href="http://michaelhyatt.com/the-practice-of-stillness.html" target="_blank">Michael Hyatt has a simple guide here</a><br />
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Want someone to walk you through some guided meditations? <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwiF1dH1kf7MAhUOK1IKHe27A-EQFggpMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmarc.ucla.edu%2Fbody.cfm%3Fid%3D22&usg=AFQjCNFXxjWPrCNK-Dsc5KmgvaoPk_9XJg&sig2=3irF0LhW0GlL0t1tV0fZnw" target="_blank">UCLA Mindfulness center has some great guided meditations here.</a> They are from a secular, health perspective<br />
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<a href="http://www.mindfulworship.com/category/free-guided-meditations/" target="_blank">Here are some Christian guided meditations from a faith perspective.</a><br />
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Ready for a day-long retreat? <a href="http://retreatday.com/" target="_blank">here is a great website that will walk you through a whole day with God!</a> I also have some books and other resources for taking a personal retreat day.<br />
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Want a great place to go on a personal retreat? <a href="http://www.wellspringsfarm.org/#!about-us/c1fco" target="_blank">Wellsprings Farms (formerly Clare's Well)</a> is a wonderful place to get away by yourself and its not too far away.<br />
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<br />Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-39537093502630513242016-05-24T11:34:00.000-05:002016-05-24T11:34:36.259-05:00What does a Christian Look Like??<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul the great church starter goes to Galatia among Pagan peoples,
converts a group of leaders and helps them to start a church and then moves on to another area. Jewish Christian missionaries come
some time after Paul and are trying to convince the people to become more
Jewish in their religious practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To be circumcised, to follow the kosher food laws, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul writes this letter called "Galatians" to the
people in Galatia and this letter and this point of view becomes the basis for
which Christianity begins to reject its Jewish roots.</div>
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In chapter 5 Paul asks: What does it look like to be Christian? </div>
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How do we know we are being led by the Holy Spirit? </div>
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For the Jewish Christians it is being circumcised, eating
kosher, and believing Jesus is the messiah prophesied in the old testament.</div>
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What does it look like to be a Christian?</div>
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It is a question that is always being asked again. Can Christians have tattoos? Piercings?</div>
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At one point in our Methodist history being a Christian
meant not drinking, not dancing, not playing cards, going to church in a suit
and tie if you are a man, or a dress and hat if you were a woman.</div>
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Over time these outward marks change with our culture and we are always asking again - what does it look like to be a Christian?</div>
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Paul’s argument is that narrow definitions of religious
practice don’t work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a
check list or a picture of a “Christian” doesn’t work. Outward habits of not doing this or always doing that are not the true signs of faith -- they are cultural definitions of who is "good" but have nothing really to do with our hearts.</div>
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What is really defines our faith is our connection to God
through the Holy Spirit, allowing God’s spirit work in us to make us better
people. The marks of being a Christian are in how we interact with people. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf7njJU1UTEQLduk_0dRIq9EvYCi8-H4Hh_3bLxsFHObNzMhYzUpoQfFjBPg2sb0_E3CsEnc0cd5Xf2yLrX8w1HiuIjjCU3WqWFPYrTmH7rc9VcB4hQ2zaQoN6vx_u6Q4DcHmDIT22DTv/s1600/fruit+of+the+spirit.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf7njJU1UTEQLduk_0dRIq9EvYCi8-H4Hh_3bLxsFHObNzMhYzUpoQfFjBPg2sb0_E3CsEnc0cd5Xf2yLrX8w1HiuIjjCU3WqWFPYrTmH7rc9VcB4hQ2zaQoN6vx_u6Q4DcHmDIT22DTv/s640/fruit+of+the+spirit.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The practices that we take on – service, Bible Study,
prayer, small groups are opportunities for us to grow and develop these
qualities within us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they are
not the ends in themselves. Being a person of faith means cultivating the inner qualities that bring us closer to God and help us love our neighbor. Being a Christian is defined by our hearts, our attitudes and the habits of our minds.</div>
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When we meet a loving, joyful, peace-loving person who is good and kind and gentle and controls their temper then we know we have met a person led by the Holy Spirit.</div>
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Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-78767823891315492662016-05-17T11:53:00.000-05:002016-05-17T11:53:02.839-05:00When Christians get it Right<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 19px;">We've talked about how Christians get it wrong the last 5 weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px;">But what does it look like when Christians get it right??</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px;">It looks like Pentecost!</span></div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gwuAeDHLDFc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gwuAeDHLDFc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First -- On Pentecost the followers of Jesus focused on telling the story of Jesus -- how Jesus lived & died and rose again to give us freedom and life and
love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When
Christians get it right we are focused on Jesus’ story, how we live it in our
lives and sharing it with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s getting it right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Second -- On Pentecost the Holy Spirit Wind
blew open the windows and the doors sending us into the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The Holy Spirit o</span>riented the disciples outward to the world, not inward to the group of insiders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When
Christians get it right we are far less worried about navel gazing and inner
circle stuff than we are about how we can engage the world. The new
church should not be a resting place for used up rockets but a launch pad for sending followers of Jesus out into the world. The church is not a car museum where
everything is perfectly shiny and preserved but a NASCAR pit stop where the
grease, fuel and the wheels are flying into us so we can get out there again to do the work of the church.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Third -- On Pentecost involved speaking in tongues, other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave ability. Which is a little weird for mainline Protestants in subdued Iowa. Think of the speaking of tongues as God's radical hospitality -- making sure the people heard the Good News in the way they would best absorb it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are not called to share the Good News in the way we want to hear it -- We already have heard it!! We are called to share the Good News in the way others might best hear it. That means asking ourselves what kind of music do people in the world listen to?? What kind of hour do people in the world enjoy?? Who are on the edges of our society and how can we connect
with them? In the way <u>they want
to hear it</u>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These three things:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">+Focused on Jesus' story</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">+Outwardly Oriented</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">+Sharing in the way others can hear</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are hallmarks of how Christians can get it right -- how we show love non-judgmentally for God's people.</span></div>
Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-11313042477157466072016-05-09T13:50:00.003-05:002016-05-09T13:53:45.214-05:00Comforting Words<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We all struggle with what to say at a funeral, or to a friend who has had something bad happen to them. Here are some words to say that truly comfort, and some to avoid:</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>Words of Comfort<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Hug)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m always going to remember their (smile, laugh, that time
when)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll never understand why this happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You aren’t alone</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When X happened to me I felt (shocked, angry, frustrated,
depressed)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like to call you in
the next couple weeks for coffee and I’d be happy to listen to your experience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would love to help in some way – I could do X or Y, which
would help?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Put on your calendar to call the person in the next weeks
& months ahead. Don't wait for them to call you!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Feelings aren’t right or wrong, they just are.</div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all grieve differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are normal. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>What NOT to Say<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know how you feel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is just like when X happened to me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be
Strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t say that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t feel that way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything happens for a reason.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This must be a part of God’s plan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God never gives us more than we can handle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is for the best.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
S/He is in a better place.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me know if you need
anything.</span><!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">God needed another angel in heaven.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">These might sound spiritual but they do more harm than good -- avoid them at all costs!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After preaching this on Sunday, a friend came up to me and responded that he had just been at a funeral for someone who had been a great runner. He was trying to think of something to say to the widow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He first thought of saying: "Jesus must have needed a great runner on the track team"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">then he thought better and reworded it to: "If there is a track team in heaven, John is sure on it"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "cambria";">much better.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "cambria";">A simple rephrase can make a big difference in theology and comfort.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "cambria";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-58312377359763446762016-05-05T09:54:00.003-05:002016-05-09T13:54:30.071-05:00Can All mean ALL?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">My goal in talking about
homosexuality and the issues surrounding it is not to tell you you are right or
wrong about your point of view, I’m not going to try to convince you to change
your mind on the issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I also can’t in one sermon
go through all the Biblical texts that relate to homosexuality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are too many and we’d have to go
into Hebrew and Greek etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I
hope we can do that sometime soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">My goal is to talk about how
the fight about homosexuality is affecting the ministry of the church and the
mission of Jesus Christ, and the mission and ministry of Calvary United
Methodist Church specifically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The issue of lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender rights is not new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These issues have been around for 2,000 plus years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They ebb and flow between levels of
acceptance and levels of how much it is discussed openly in culture – but they
have been there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">When its about your
family, your people that you love, then this “issue” is deeply personal and
touches a part of your heart that is tender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I first want to encourage everyone to be careful with your
words when discussing LGBT rights and roles in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may be talking to someone for whom
this is personal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while we can
always disagree, please do so with respect and gentleness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The United Methodist Church
has been arguing over LGBTQ rights in the church for 44 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before 1972 there were no rules in the
Book of Discipline (BOD) about homosexuality and each local church could do as
it felt right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glide Memorial UMC
in San Francisco did many same sex wedding that were not legal but
meaningful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the adoption of
the phrase “We believe homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching”
in the BOD in 1972 the fight over that language has been constant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PBS did a 30 minute documentary about
the UMC’s fight over the issue highlighting the clergy trials conducted for
pastors who came out and pastors who did same sex weddings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most recently Rev Frank Schaefer was
put on trial in the UMC and his clergy credentials taken away because he
conducted the wedding for his son and his son’s husband.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">What happens when the world
at large sees us, the church, fighting about this issue is damaging to the
Mission of Jesus Christ, the Ministry of the Church and the call of Calvary
United Methodist Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><u>The Mission of Jesus Christ</u>
was spoken by Jesus in two places: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial";">Matthew 22: 37-38 </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">“You must love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your being,</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial";"> and with all
your mind. This is the first and
greatest commandment. And the
second is like it: <i>You must love your neighbor as you love yourself</i>.”</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="color: magenta;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="color: magenta;"><b>Matthew 28: 19<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.</i>”</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">So Jesus’ mission can be summed up as:
Love God, Love neighbor, Make disciples of all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">When the world sees the church arguing
about whether or not LGBTQ people are welcome or not, spending thousands of
dollars on church trials, then the mission of Jesus is called into
question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does the church really
want to love our neighbor?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we
really want to make disciples of all people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are going to start excluding certain groups of
people then we really aren’t taking Jesus’ words – make disciples of ALL –
seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All means all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If all doesn’t mean all then who else can
be excluded?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone who doesn’t
fit our narrow picture of the right kinds of people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><u>The Ministry of the Church</u> is in its
rituals that enter into people’s lives at special moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baptism, Confirmation, Weddings,
Funerals – these are the moments when people who have ignored God all of a
sudden feel the tug to connect with the Sacred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are open to seeing how God is at work in this new time
of their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are
forbidden from allowing certain people from participating in these moments then
we are telling them that God is not with them in the midst of their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">In 2005 I came to Calvary UMC married to
a man who promised to love, respect and be faithful husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon after arriving, I learned that he
was not being faithful, and even after being caught and repenting he continued
to lie and be in relationship with other women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was deeply hurt and broken by the betrayal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That winter the opportunity came to go
to a young clergy conference in Washington DC to learn about the Social Principle
of the UMC and how to use them in our ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a discussion exercise we were asked to listen to each
other for two minutes on a topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The leader read this statement on marriage from our BOD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: magenta;"><b>“We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant that is
expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity
between a man and a woman.”</b></span><span style="color: #434343; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The young, female clergy I was partnered with spoke
first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She spent 2 minutes telling
me that the most important part of that statement was the man/woman part and
that the church really needed to focus on God’s vision of marriage that was
just for men and women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">When it was my turn I started to cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her: I had a husband, he had all
the right body parts, but he wasn’t loving, committed, or faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me the most important part of that
statement was the quality of a relationship, how people care for and love each
other faithfully and that the body parts was the least important part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I probably get one or two phone calls a
year asking me to conduct a wedding for a same-sex couple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It breaks my heart to have to say “no”
because I know that they have been hurt by the church before and that I am
being another church person that is rejecting them when deep down I believe God
is with them and wants to bless them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I believe it is the quality of a relationship that God wants us to focus
on, and that what is between our legs is not God’s priority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we turn not only LGBTQ people away
from the church, but many people like me who have been in marriage and know
that marriage is more than sex. We long for a church to focus on helping build
quality relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Finally, <u>Calvary United Methodist Church
has a special place of ministry</u> in this area. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">When I first came to Calvary UMC I had a bunch of get to know you
coffees at people’s homes and I was surprised to find at each one a person or
family who was or had a close family member who was LGBTQ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had not served a church where I had
so many persons affected by this issue and it was humbling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are also not alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My cousin from California I had not met
until we were both in seminary about to become pastors in the United Methodist
Church came out to me at my grandmother’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am saddened that after having an appointment to a church
where the senior pastor was not supportive of her she left the UMC and is now
clergy in another denomination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wish she was Methodist, but I am joyful that she and her wife are happy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Truth in advertising is very
important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>20 years ago the United
Methodist Church launched the most successful advertising campaign of any
denomination in history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Open
minds, Open hearts, Open doors”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>was our slogan and the world loved it, attendance went through the
roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But 9 months later
attendance was back down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People found we
weren’t so open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked the
talk but didn’t walk the walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was disappointing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Calvary’s mission statement
for 10 years has been:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sharing
God’s unconditional love with all”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we really mean that, then all must mean all and we must be prepared
to welcome and accept all of God’s children without judgment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or else lets change our mission
statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lets be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we going to welcome everyone – can we
decide to welcome people even those we may not agree with morally??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I believe that we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that this church has the
heart for the mission of Jesus:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Love God, Love Neighbor, Make all Disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I believe all can mean all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May God help us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">#GC2016 #RMN #allmeansall</span></div>
Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-168162602351765429.post-9547037637383360302016-05-04T10:12:00.001-05:002016-05-04T10:12:46.949-05:00Do non-Christians go to hell?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The world has changed. We used to go our whole lives without really meeting or getting to know a person of another religion and it was easy to condemn those who were not like us. But the world shrunk and now we have Muslim doctors, Hindu yoga instructors, Wiccan cousins and Jewish neighbors. We have met our neighbors who are different and we have realized they are a lot like us -- a lot like Jesus always said.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Jesus was asked about how to go to heaven by the smart guy Jesus answered, "what does the law say?" the smart guy said, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself." </span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus said, "you got it."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Smart guy says, "but who is my neighbor?" in other words - who do I really have to be nice too? are there people that I can be mean to and not worry about getting into heaven? Are there "get out of kindness free" cards out there?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus, as he is prone to do, answers the question with a story. And the story would have had a lot more impact in Jesus' day because they knew who Samaritans are. Samaritans are to Jews backwards cousins who butcher the faith with just plain wrong ideas - like worshipping on the mountain instead of in the Temple. Samaritans were dangerous, prone to lead a good Jew astray. They were evil, refusing to do what God so clearly said to do. Samaritans were avoided by good Jews at all costs. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Jesus goes and makes the Samaritan the hero of the story. Jesus! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good religious people pass by a guy in need and the Samaritan takes care of him -- who did good? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Smart guy has to admit (but he won't say the word "Samaritan") the one who showed mercy to the hurt man is the one who did good. Jesus says - go and be like him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What?? Go be like the Samaritan?!?!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If this story was told today with similar religious tension the story would go something like this:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A guy pulls over to pick up a hitchhiker on Hwy 71 south of Spencer. The hitchhiker car jacks the guy, beats him up and leaves him on the side of the road. A car comes by and the Catholic priest on his way to meet Pope Francis notices the guy but doesn't want to be late to meet this amazing Pope and drives on by. Another car comes by and its a United Methodist District Superintendent on his way to the Imagine No Malaria fundraiser. She sees the guy on the side of the road but can't stop or she'll miss the chance to help so many in Africa so she passes by. A Muslim guy who works in the meat packing plant in Storm Lake is driving by, he stops and puts the guy in his car and takes the hurt man to the nearest hospital where he gives the check-in desk his </span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">own credit card for expenses. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who should we be like? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who would God be proud of? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who would God welcome into heaven with the words, "well done, good and faithful servant"?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christianity has always had a variety of thought on the question "do non-Christians go to heaven?" and there are three main answers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #262626;">1. Christian Exclusivism</span></u><span style="color: #262626;"> – Must be Christian to go to heaven, no exceptions. Most people who believe this put a large emphasis on having Jesus as your personal Savior and believer's baptism. Taken to the logical conclusion not only people who are not Christian are going to hell, but b</span></span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">abies, Mentally handicapped, and those who never heard about Jesus. The problem with this perspective is that the f</span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ocus is on human understanding and the evangelist rather than God's grace and Jesus' redeeming work on the cross. It requires that we understand and accept fully Jesus' sacrifice -- and really, do any of us fully understand?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #262626;">Christian Universalism</span></u><span style="color: #262626;"> – Jesus saves all and everyone goes to heaven no matter what. This is a very tempting, feel good kind of theology that basically brings everyone into the game. But there is a problem with this as well - does not allow for free will. God does not make us come to Him/Her. God invites us and calls to us but God will not make us. Universalism means people will be in heaven whether they want to or not - and some honestly will not want to be there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #262626;">Christian Inclusivism -- </span></u><span style="color: #262626;"> Jesus died to save the world, and all who earnestly seek faith, seek to love God and neighbor will be saved. Not because they believed correctly or because they did good but because they lived in faith, whatever faith they could find, and that faith was lived in their lives. This allows both for free will and for an inclusive theology that welcomes all who seek. And while this might sound radical, it is actually a common position in the 2000 years of Christian history. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CS Lewis wrote in his classic book <u>Mere Christianity,</u> "We do know that no person can be saved except through Christ; we do not know that only those who know Him can be saved by Him.”</span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (</span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Page 65) In other words the work of salvation is through Christ alone, but that does not mean that people have to get it completely right for Christ to save them.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Billy Graham, the father of modern evangelism said in an i</span></span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nterview with Robert Schuller May 31, 1997:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"And that's what God is doing today, He's calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have, and they turn to the only light that they have, and I think that they are saved, and that they're going to be with us in heaven." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when you meet your neighbor who is Jewish, who is Muslim, who is Hindu, who doesn't know what they are - don't think to yourself "oh my they are going to hell". </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think instead of how God loves them and wants you to love them too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why do </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">evangelism at all? Why try to share the message of Jesus? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because it is good news. It is good news that God loves us so much that taking a body on earth lived with us and shows us (even through death) that we are precious and beloved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus shows us what it truly is to be human: kind, generous, humble, loving, patient and self-controlled. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus shows us what it truly is that God wants for us: joy, peace, love, grace, and renewal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I preach Jesus not because I worry about hell, but because I know life is better with Jesus in my life today. And I believe that Jesus can make life better for all of us when we follow his lead and love God and love our neighbors.</span></div>
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Sarah Rohrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870549518636402321noreply@blogger.com0