Into The Mystery

Galatians 3:26-28
So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians--you are one in Christ Jesus.

When I was growing up I’d watch PBS documentaries on the civil rights movement in the United States. Many of my friends were watching cartoons while I wrestled with Human Rights. I never could understand the hatred and cruelty between peoples.

Over the last number of years I have applauded what Bill Hybels and the others at Willow Creek have done in trying to help bridge the racial divide. Bill went so far as to buy a dilapidated car wash in order to help the operator make a living in Michigan. Bill is white, the operator is black. What struck me so profoundly is the example of seeking to live out of love for Jesus in relationships around you.

In Canada a deep divide has separated whites and Native North Americans in the past. It is akin to the black/white divide in the US in my opinion. The church has helped the Aboriginal community in many good ways throughout the years; at the same time horrible things were done to many Aboriginals through churches and their work with the indigenous peoples.

Yesterday was a great day in the life of CoHo. When we celebrated together as a community, being lead by many Native North American practices to worship God together, it was a beautiful thing to be a part of. Terry, Bev, Matt and Jenn, along with Paul, Glen, and Roland helped us see the rich significance of life and worship through earthly metaphors and experience.

Terry's teaching on Chasing Our Thoughts was challenging and illuminating. I hope to be able to post that soon.

I believe that God so desires for us to so live out His love for us that we can’t help but be changed. Thus concluding with a Dance of Transformation was so fitting.

I saw seventy year olds dancing alongside of small children. Black, white, Aboriginal, it didn’t matter. In fact, those categories no longer matter in Christ. I believe that the church is to be the multicultural expression of love that our nation desperately needs to see. Welcome Home, welcome home friends.

“Faith is not simply a decision that is made or a commitment that is promised… Rather, faith is a new life that we practice. And that life is practiced in the context of relationship.” Leonard Sweet

Ephesians 3:14-21
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.