one strength

I was blessed to worship in an older sanctuary this week. As I was listening to the first song my eyes wandered around the new space. I noticed the colors, stained glass, banners, and paraments. My mind went back to some sanctuaries in Chicago with the old wooden pews and the railings around the Altar. The high vaulted ceilings and creaky floors. Most times when I worship in a new space I will notice the flaws and things that need to be fixed. Instead, of having those realities fill my head I thought, “I wonder how many people have sat in this very seat and worshipped?”

I started to imagine the numerous emotions that have flooded the people who have sat where I was sitting. The stories that they had to share about God and the ways that the Spirit was at work in their life. I imagined the amount of struggles, joys, and moments of peace people who sat in this very pew experienced while worshipping. I wondered what parts of Scripture confused them and what parts gave them strength and comfort.

I experienced a moment of oneness with past and present worshippers. I remembered that we really are not alone. The generations who have worshipped before us have shared the greatest gift of all, the gift of themselves, of story. It is a personal story which leads to the story that gave them life as the discovered the interaction of one God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We have different stories but share one faith, one strength, and one creator. It is in the space we worship were we can look around at a community who shares our story. It is in the space we worship where the story continues as God’s interaction is revealed in our lives.

Ephesians 4:4-7 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Romans 12:5 So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

Instruments of Peace

By Joseph Murdy, Intern
“Lord, make us instruments of your peace.” –Prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi

Have you ever heard a trumpet sound? Nothing can rattle our attention better than the surprising sound of a trumpet. Instruments have played a role in human society for thousands of years. They have been used to entertain us, comfort and inspire us, startle us and for some even wake us up in the morning. Violins have melted hearts, drums have been used to sound warnings and celebrate, pianos, organs and guitars sound praise to God on Sunday mornings, and trumpets have been known to bring down walls (Joshua 6:20).

This past Sunday my heart was especially touched by a little girl who came to church. When I was introduced to her she extended her arms to hug me. She hugged me and kissed my check and asked to touch my bald head. In the moment she reached out to hug me, I almost cried. Not only did she touch my bald head, she touched the inner part of my soul. In her small arms I felt the love of God envelop me. Later that night my experience of God’s love in this child was still pulsing in my heart. I realized then that she was an instrument of God’s love and peace.

As Christians, we are called to be instruments of God’s love and peace. We are called to echo the love of God which we experience most fully in Jesus Christ. Our reflection of God’s love can change people’s lives. Instruments no matter how they sound always grab people’s attention. By ourselves we carry a melody of God’s love and grace to people who may have never heard a sound so sweet. Their first instinct may be to ask, where does that sound come from? Together we can make a sound that will awaken the world and shake the foundations. Don’t be ashamed to open your lives, become vulnerable, and share the love of God. Let others know about the love of God by simply being around you. Reach out, extend your arms and embrace others. Don’t worry about how you will sound; all they will hear is the love of God echo in their soul.

I am worth more than you!

We’ve been having some alliteration fun lately…

Pennies and prayers for Publix – Farmworkers in the fields are family too. I feel like I’ve been living it these words because we’re working on a new campaign with the CIW (Coalition of Immokalee Workers).

I recognize not everyone agrees with the work of the CIW. Some are still unsure what the CIW does. Others are fired up and ready to work along side of the CIW.

No matter your stance there is something we can all agree upon. On a social ladder farmworkers are at the bottom.

Sadly a social ladder leads us to say, “I am worth more than you.”

I am sure our Christian ears hear those words and it’s like a dagger in the heart. We know that no one is worth more than another. Yet this social ladder teaches us different. Each one of us subconsciously or consciously thinks we are worth more than others.

We put worth on a lot of things and it’s a way that we justify ourselves.

I am worth more than the farmworker – as a matter of fact most of them don’t even belong in this country. They are illegal. Their inhumane treatment is not my issue.

I am worth more than the person working on the side of the road who is in prison –they should be cleaning up our roadways. It gives them something productive to do for society. It’s not my fault they broke the law.

I am worth more than the homeless man who asked me for a couple of dollars – After all he really should just buck it up and get a job! I work hard for my money it’s not my fault he doesn’t have a job!

I am worth more than my neighbor who just foreclosed on their home. After all it’s not my fault they got themselves over their head in debt to the point they can’t handle it!

We need to stop finding our worth in the things of this world! It only leads us to destructive thoughts. Our worth doesn't come from the world it comes from the gift of life that God breathed into us. It comes from the movement of the Spirit in our lives. It comes from the saving grace given through Jesus triumph over death.

Living this reality gives us the challenge to see the world not as society would have us experience it but instead through the light of Christ. AMEN!!

If you would like to learn more about the current CIW campaign please check out this video or the website:

http://www.ciw-online.org/supermarket_video_2011action.html

Forgiven

By Joseph Murdy

Forgiveness in our day and age is not a daily conversation piece. We don’t typically say to the guy who cut us off at the light, “I know your probably in a hurry, I forgive you.” We don’t often use the words, “I forgive you.” We also don’t often say to ourselves, “you are forgiven.” I have been thinking about forgiveness a lot lately. Namely how I don’t deserve it, and I don’t extend it to others often enough either. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt that no matter how much you plea, pray or beg, you will never be forgiven? Have you ever said to yourself, “God could never forgive me for that thing I did?” If you have ever found yourself thinking or feeling this way, do I have a GOD for you!!!!

I recently explained to someone that I was struggling with feeling forgiven and accepting God’s forgiveness. I even went as far as to say, “I don’t believe in it…forgiveness that is.” What a sad moment that was, to admit openly that I didn’t believe in forgiveness. As quickly as it came out of my mouth I realized why I felt that way. I didn’t feel I deserved to be forgiven. This is the truth, and it is true for all of us. We have a God who loves us unconditionally no matter what…no matter what…no matter what! Nothing can separate us from God’s love, not sin, not death, nothing. We don’t deserve to be forgiven, true. But because of Jesus, we are forgiven unconditionally through the Grace of God.

I read a story not too long ago from a great book called, The Ragamuffin Gospel it went something like this:

Four years ago in a large city in the far West, rumors spread that a certain Catholic woman was having visions of Jesus. The reports reached the archbishop. He decided to check her out. There is always a fine line between the authentic mystic and the lunatic fringe.

“Is it true, m’am, that you have visions of Jesus?” asked the archbishop. “Yes,” the women replied simply. “Well, the next time you have a vision, I want you to ask Jesus to tell you the sins that I confessed in my last confession.” The woman was stunned. “Did I hear you right, Bishop? You actually want me to ask Jesus to tell me the sins of your past?” “Exactly, please call me if anything happens.” Ten days later the woman notified her spiritual leader of a recent apparition. “Please come,” she said. Within the hour the archbishop arrived. He trusted eye-to-eye contact. “You just told me on the telephone that you actually had a vision of Jesus. Did you do what I asked?”

“Yes, Bishop, I asked Jesus to tell me the sins you confessed in your last confession.” The Bishop leaned forward with anticipation. His eyes narrowed. “What did Jesus say?” She took his hand and gazed deep into his eyes. “Bishop,” she said, “these are his exact words: ‘I CAN’T REMEMBER.’”

If you are anything like me, you probably read those last words and had to remind yourself to breath. You might also be thinking, “Really?!?” I am here to tell you that God does forgive you. Freely and entirely! The power of forgiveness is incredible alone, but the knowledge of realizing that you yourself are truly forgiven...that is liberating. Thanks be to God, who forgives and forgets!