We often think of Paul alone, but he worked in concert with many others. While each of us can do good on our own, when we come together, God multiplies what we give. Together, we can do more good than we ever could alone. And God has not left us on our own, struggling to find Him without direction. Rather, He has come among us and, sends us forth to do His work in the world.
Jeremiah and the prophets show that, in the naming of our struggles, we are able to move forward toward change. One word for this is "lament." And God, our strength and hope, has not left us on our own, struggling without direction. Rather, He has come among us and, in the Scriptures of the synagogue and the church, has us the reliable record of His presence.
When Nehemiah shared the vision God placed on his heart - to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem - the people responded not with hesitation, but with unity and action. Today, we are also called to build - our church, our community, and the work of God's kingdom. We seek the courage to act, the wisdom to lead, and the faith to trust that God's hand is upon us.
David's early story teaches us not to lash out, and to worship with abandon. When David as the Israelite King welcomed the Ark of God into Jerusalem, he danced with all his might before the Lord. He wasn't worried about appearances or holding back - his heart overflowed with gratitude and joy for God's presence among the people.
Join us for a joyful romp down a yellow brick road, somewhere over the rainbow. Though not a Biblical figure, Dorothy Gale of Kansas demonstrates Biblically sound leadership - empowerment and encouragement rather than heirarchical decree - as she travels with a group of friends through Oz.
The stories of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt inspire us to live and work with certainty in an uncertain world. We ask God to light a lamp before us so that our feet do not stumble, and to make our path clear so we may never wander from His chosen way.
From the burning bush to the Pentecostal flame, God burns into our world in such a way as to break through our contentment with a status quo rooted in oppression and inequality. God emboldens us by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and with the fire of His calling.
Within the complexity of God's Being there is unity. Yet from that unity flows forth diversity, and all taken together is wholeness. Despite our differences, we work to not be at odds, competing for power, and struggling for prestige. Rather, we wish to be at peace, whole as God is whole, conscientious trustees of His reconciling love.
Rev. Ron says that "I hope and pray that these weeks' reflections on being 'open' – our openness to all people after God's invitation and example, in both our hearts and minds – will inspire us in our interactions with one another and members of our community. As we continue to live in times of uncertainty and anxiety, I invite you today to reflect on what it means for our church to commit to having 'open doors,' to being generous, maybe even 'radical,' in our hospitality toward others."
Rev. Ron Bartlow says that "One of my deep appreciations for our Methodist heritage is that it has always taken seriously a person's ability to think. Indeed, 'reason' is one of the four methods by which we are exhorted to consider the things of God (the other three being Scripture, tradition, and experience). I invite you to consider what it means to demonstrate an 'open mind' as members together of our church community."