Reyes Gibbs Blog

Did you know....?

Whenever someone comes up to me with, "Did you know...?"  I want to say yes and walk away!   It only happens in church for some reason.    For me the "Did you know...?" is a signal for "I have some juicy gossip to share!" 

Gossip is going to kill the church.   Why is it we love Gossip?    Why is it important for me to know that so and so is getting a divorce or can't pay their rent or their children are out of control?   For some reason it seems that as pastor I should know about everyone's life!

Wrong!! I want to know about people's lives from the people themselves.   Okay, if I hear that someone died, I will act on that.  That kind of information is public and there is a need for pastoral care.    But if someone is getting a divorce, and the parties involved have not contacted me, then I have to just pray about the information I received.   If people in my faith community are hurting they do call me directly.  I don't wait for the "Did you know...?"

A church community sometimes feel that it is okay to share everyone's life with everybody else without regard to the person they are talking about.    So when I get information from a "Did you know....?"  I ask, "Did you speak to....?"  Usually, its a "no" and they got the information second hand.   When that happens, I respond, "I'll pray for them!'

It's too bad folks don't feel compelled to share the Good New of Jesus Christ with as much enthusiasm, energy and effort as they do about gossip!!!  If they did, church would be vibrant and with folks coming to faith communities wanting to know the answer to the question,  "Did you know...?"

Daddy's Girl

This past weekend I attended the "Revolve Tour" a Women of Faith gathering for young girls.   We brought seven young women to hear the many messages that building up self-esteem and images from God's point of view.    Although the theology of the event was a bit more conservative than mine, it was a good gathering for the girls to be exposed to and provided opportunities for many questions and dialogue.  Specifically, the male terms to describe God sets me off a bit.  But I believe that everyone is entitled to call God whatever God is to them and folks just need to call God often if not always.   I also believe that I cannot put God in a box.  God is God.   I call God many names, Mother, Creator, Spirit, Life, Father, etc, the many discriptors that enables me to believe in a loving and compassionate God. 

At this gathering they had a conversation about being "Daddy's Girl"   translated "God's the Father's girl"  A Rapper had a song entitled "Daddy's Girl."  T-shirts were sold with this theme.  Kinda cute.  The message was that if your physical father is a jerk, you have your spiritual father who will love you no matter what.  A spiritual father that will be there for you, even if your father walked out on you!  I have a now appreciation for the term "Daddy's Girl."   More illustrations like this were listed.   They also used the illustration of "treasures and targets."   Which one are you?  A treasure which is  unique and valuable and esteemed  or a target- what you do about yourself that make certain people take aim at you (poor choices, the choice of dress, friends, attitude goals, etc.) 

I wondered, "Where is the pastoral care for the girls that are struggling with the issue of fathers who abandon, abuse or just aren't there for their daughters?"   There wasn't a message, "If these messages cause you pain, anxiety, or tears, go to Section A to ask more questions and to be with someone who can help you through this?  So I was more aware that it was my role to check in with the young women I was with answer any questions they may have.   

This gathering had a rapper, rock star, and olympic gold medalist.   A Drama team that shared the everyday issues of listening, parents, peer pressure.   My greatest observation in this mass of 5,000-6,000 girls is that I did not see much skin or belly buttons.  As if the message was, "good Christian girls don't show off their bodies."    Now this is one message I could preach.   But not.... because for me it is about the messages that affect the inner soul and mind of the young women.

If you want to more about the messages and the music go to the revolve tour .
   

Socialism vs. Christian"ism"

In the great debate over health care the terms "socialism and communism" manage to sneak themselves in in arguements agains universal health care.       I think that we do indeed support socialism when it benefits us.   The U.S. military is designed after a socialist structure.   We are proud of our military and we believe everyone needs care, also everyone needs to know their duty, and of course, everyone needs to be loyal and follow without question their leaders.  And went they don't follow, we know what happens!

I am tired of folks using labels to get folks against a good idea by using a term that  denotes "unamerican ideals."  In our day and age, what exactly is that, when the gap between the rich and the poor is widening at such a rapid rate that the middle is diminishing as I write.    Or when our President says something like, we need health care for the poor not for the children of the well off!"  What is he thinking?    Here's my position, should I child of a waitress have the same benefits of a child of a CEO of a Bank/Savings and Loan or one of those organizations we bail out when their in trouble?   The answer is every child should have the same benefits.  So either the CEO's child should have the same health care of the poor child or...?  Hmm

Michale Moore of "Sicko" the documentary of health care in the United States was on Oprah the other day and he and another advocate for universal health care said that those opposing universal health care should stop using the term socialist but rather we should say that we are adopting a health care system based on Jesus.   What a notion!   A health care system that includes everyone no strings attached.   A health care system that guides folks to good health.  Jesus rarely put conditions on people he healed, his basic request was "don't tell anyone what I did."   And of course, we did tell.  And who got angry, the people in charge!!!  And what happened?   Angry because he healed inspite of the rules.  Angry because it would take money out of their pockets for healing (wait a minute, that would be our current health insurance lobby!))  You get my point, Jesus healed, forgave, and saved many from death and when he did this they called him names including traitor, criminal and   Probably a "socialist or communist" (whatever the translation may have been in that day)

I was  in the company of Daniel Ortega several years ago when I was in Nicaragua.  He said that the US painted him as a communist and didn't believe in Jesus.  He told us that that wasn't true.    He did believe in Jesus.  His Jesus was not the Jesus that presented himself in the priests in the church who blessed the weapons in that killed his people.  His Jesus was the Jesus who went into the streets to help the oppressed.  Which Jesus do you vision?

So stop the socialist communist thing!   Let's start talking about a health care system that is based on Jesus' teaching.   So instead of socialism how about Christianism, its worth a try.

Fasting for Peace - End Fast@Bethel 8PM-October 8

Everyone is invited to participate in the Interfaith Fast for Peace.  From sunrise to sunset, fast and pray for peace on October 8, 2007.   Come to Bethel at 8PM for a simple meal, prayers and communion.
Here is more information about the fast.

Multifaith leaders to fast for peace, end to Iraq war

Leaders from many religious communities have urged Americans of all faiths
to fast from dawn to dusk on Monday, October 8 to call for an end to the war
in Iraq.

"This war must end!" say the religious leaders in their statement about the
interfaith fast. "We must end the shattering of Iraqi and American lives by
offering American generosity and support -- but not control -- for
international and nongovernmental efforts to assist Iraqis in making peace
and rebuilding their country, while swiftly and safely bringing home all
American troops."

Bishop Christopher Epting, the Episcopal Church's ecumenical and interfaith
officer, is among those religious leaders supporting the event.

"Surely the one thing people of faith can do together to work for peace is
to use the ancient spiritual disciplines which we share in common," said
Epting. "Prayer and fasting together, particularly during times of the year
when a number of our traditions mark major holy seasons and days, seem
pretty basic. I hope many Episcopalians will join this nationwide effort."

The religious leaders are inviting millions of Americans to organize joint
interfaith events in local communities to fast and break the fast together.
Events can be registered here ( http://www.interfaithfast.org) where groups
can find a toolkit to assist in organizing such gatherings.

"American culture, society, and policy are addicted to violence at home and
overseas," says the organizing statement. "In our time, the hope of a decent
future is endangered by an unnecessary, morally abhorrent, and disastrous
war. Ending this war can become the first step toward a policy that embodies
a deeper, broader sense of generosity and community at home and in the
world."

"Respect Heaven Love People"

“Respect heaven love people” is the business motto of Kyocera, a company in Japan. I am in the middle  of writing my thesis (Yes, I am not done yet!) and part of the thesis is to look at organizations and their styles of leadership. 

Kazuo Inamori, founder and President of Kyocera believes that “people have their own will, their own mind and their own way of thinking. If people are not sufficiently motivated to challenge the goals of growth and technological development…there will simply be no growth, no gain in productivity, and no technological development. “ In addition, Inamori believes that tapping the potential of people will require a new understanding of the “subconscious mind.” “willpower,” and “action of the heart…sincere desire to serve the world.” Inamori teaches Kyocera employees to strive for “perfection” guided by their motto, “Respect Heaven Love People” In turn he believes that it is his duty as manager starts with “providing for both the material good and spiritual welfare of his employees.” (Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline. 139)

As followers of Jesus we are supposed to always be striving for perfection using the principles that Jesus teaches us. But of course, human perfection is a misnomer because we humans we fall short of God’s expectation of perfect. Perfection isn’t about our looks, jobs or lifestyles,  it is about what is in our hearts.  I don’t believe that Inamori is Christian but his way of doing business looks a lot like Jesus’ teachings.

What if this country did business as if we really were “under God”? What if in the United States all US companies' mottos were “Respect Heaven Love People? What if we were all taught that the “action of the heart” is about a "sincere desire to serve the world?” These “what if” questions for some are impossible to conceive because thinking “what if” would mean that just asking  the question would mean change! It is the “what if?” questions that spark conversations about change.

 I don’t think I am going to stop asking “what if?” because we need the conversations. I need to ask, What does God call us to do? What does it really mean to follow Jesus? How are we a presence of God in this community? These conversations are important in the life of the church. James and Evelyn Whitehead in their book, Method in Ministry – Theological  Reflection and Christian Faith say,

 “The metaphor of conversation reminds us that pastoral reflection is meant to be a communal exercise, not a monologue nor a lecture. If only one’s person’s voice is heard or only one group’s concerns are acknowledged, there is no conversation. ..theological reflection as a conversation is not simply an emergency strategy to meet a momentary need. We do not have a conversation – about poverty or consumerism or sexuality or authority – so that we can settle the matter once and for all and be done with the need for such engagement. The conversation is our life together. Such a community dialogue is a habit, both pleasurable and painful, in which our faith is tested and matures. This realization helps us bridge the gap between theological discipline and the everyday life of Christian Faith.” (p4)

Without our conversations, Bethel would not be. Conversations are “our life together.” Conversations are critical and essential for good health. Just in our regular life, if we aren’t in  conversations with those closest to us about our fears, needs, hopes and dreams, our relationships will not grow and strengthen. This is the life of a community of faith, to be in conversation regularly about God’s role in our life and God’s call on our lives.

I will continue to ask the “what if?” questions, not because we are in a stuck place but because we are working on our relationship with God and the community. We strive for “perfection.” We practice loving God and loving neighbor or in Inamori’s words, “Respect heaven, love people.”

 We are doing well. People are coming to Faith Encounters (which by the way is fun and lively!) music is powerful, messages are relevant, worship attendance and giving is up. There is great energy in the air. We are doing well.

I recently received the following from someone who knows our faith community and most recently attended the “Bark A Lot in the Parking Lot.”

“after the "dog show" event on Saturday, as I was walking home, I was reflecting on all that your church does. A little flock with a few people, but you all really do make your presence known. I thought about how friendly people are -- and yes, now, everyone seems to know me -- but I remember back in your early days how you challenged them to be open, friendly and welcoming. And I think that they are.

Then I got this little missive today, about how people act when people come in to their church, sit at their pews etc. And it made me think, again, how welcoming and open

Bethel

is / has become. So I am sending not because you and your congregants reflect that worse of this message...but that they reflect the best of this message. “

Here is the message to which she refers:

One day, a man went to visit a church.. He got there early, parked his car, and got out.

Another car pulled up and the driver got  out and said,"I always park there!

You took my place!" 

The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down.

A young lady from the church  approached him and stated,

"That's my seat! You took my place!"

The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday School, the visitor went  into the sanctuary and sat down.

Another member walked up to him and said,

"That's where I always sit!  You took my place!”

  The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing.

Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them,

the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change.

Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet.

Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"

The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye,

"I took your place."

 

For many of you, it is hard to imagine that  Bethel was described as the church above.  It is because of the "what if?" questions and our conversations together in community that we have grown out of the above description.  Thanks be to God! 

An Anniversary

I remember the day. I had a daily morning routine with Deanna. She and I would meet at the

Marina

walking path around 5:30AM. We would walk for about 90 minutes or so talking about grandchildren and the church. That particular morning we noticed  in the middle of our walk that there were no airplanes in the air.  Previously we always noticed the noise and the number of planes landing at

Oakland

Airport

. Then we noticed that there were just a few of us walking which was strange because by the time we are ready to head home the track gets very crowded. We thought it peculiar and we asked, “wonder what’s going on?” 

 It was when we headed off home and turned on our radios did we hear about the tragedy in

New York

. You must have those moments when you remember what you were doing when something tragic has happened in the world or your family. Our Anniversaries, Birthdays, etc are times when we celebrate the days of importance to us. They come up every year. We remember the day of the wedding, we rarely remember our birth. I know of couples who will celebrate their week anniversary of meeting, then the anniversary changes its meaning and focus as another date takes on more importance. In my culture, after someone dies, we celebrate their life 40 days after they died and then every year on the anniversary of the death. Anniversaries are meant to recognize that day of weddings, birthdays and deaths. We tell stories, laugh, cry and in my case have a great party. 

 This anniversary is no different. For the first anniversary we had peace celebrations, community gatherings, lots of patriotic talk, a push for vengeance, energy around protecting ourselves against the “terrorists,” paranoid/schizophrenic ideas about the “others.” We remembered all the names of the 2700 plus people who died by reading each name and remembering that they mattered. But as life would have it, the significance of that day, the memory of the lives lost and the pain experienced,  diminishes as we get busy with life. Only those who have lost ones can tell you what this day means and I don’t think they would say it was about terrorists. It was about the life of a loved one who deserves to be remembered as a father, mother, brother, sister, friend. In the last minute details of conversations of those died, it wasn’t “Make sure you get the guys who did this!” but “I love you!” 

This day saddens me

because the lives lost at the

Twin

Towers

has been used to support decisions that has caused thousands of more deaths. The families of people who died in the Towers were promised great help by politicians and we said yes to a lot of money for their care. Years later, many families have not received what was promised The military heroes who come back injured have to have big political expose’s to get the care they and their families need.  . Some of those who died were invisible to our government and never will receive what other victims were promised.  Years later, those who were part of the rescue missions at the tower and lived are dying and are now fighting with insurance companies for health care.  I don’t know the number of soldiers and innocent civilians who have died because of the “terrorists” nor do I know how many “terrorists” have died. I do know that it is in the thousands. Years later, have we learned anything?

Here's what I have learned from working with politicians and gang members, we are no different than our enemy!  We have lost our commitment, if we had any, to Jesus' greatest commandments to love God and one another.  In politics, no matter what party, it is about "me getting elected"  in gangs its about "territory, respect, and retaliation."  Yes they all say its about working for their constituencies.  Some leaders in politics and gangs are good leaders and do make a difference.  Its a matter of perspective!

For this anniversary, I hope we all take time to pray and ask God for God’s leading in our lives to help us learn from the tragedies in our lives. Pray for God’s guidance to help discern where you may be of service to humankind so that “terror” is no longer used as the tool to help us make decisions. Ask God to help make you an instrument to fight the “terror” of hunger, poverty, the “isms” in this world, poor education and violence in our street. Ask God to help each one of us to face the “terrors” we each have about the world and each other and the courage to seek Jesus in the other. Ask God to continue to be a presence for those who are physically fighting the “terrors”, teachers, military personnel, principals, police, fire, emergency, social workers and all  those who in their daily lives see the effects of the “terrors” that go unchallenged.

Keep praying!!!!!  Perhaps next anniversary, we can celebrate  PEACE AT LAST! AMEN

When we practice love....

I am reflecting on the following passage as the world becomes more complex and unbalanced.   Today on the news, "Pastor arrested as part of a corruption ring in New Jersey." What are people thinking?  Children still going to school hungry in one of the wealthiest nations.  My own community I serve, I see many people struggling to make a living wage.     Today I read in the San Leandro Times in the letters to the editor..."If my neighbor next door doesn't speak English, I'll report them to immigration!"

"Blessed is the who hear God's word and does it!"   What would happen if we practiced love in the manner Jesus taught, love our enemies, turn the cheek, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned.  In our world today, Jesus would also ask us to welcome the immigrant, help our poor by having a tax base that is equitable and fair, fight for health care for everyone, stop killing the innocents in war, stop wars...I could go on but that's enough for now.  I am reminded of and old story about asking God the hard questions. 

When she finally met God, she asked "Why didn't you do something about the hungry and the suffering.  and God's responses was "Why didn't you?" 

Please pray for courage, compassion, and good sense for each of us as we try to follow the teaching the Jesus.  The following is the passage that I encourage you to reflect and ponder upon.

1 John 3:18-24 (The Message)

18-20My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

21-24And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God's command: to believe in God's personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep God's commands, we live deeply and surely in God, and God lives in us. And this is how we experience God's deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit God in us.

When she finally met God, she asked "Why didn't you do something about the hungry and the suffering.  and God's responses was "Why didn't you?"

Happy Labor Day!

Americans have great holidays!!!  Labor day was started in the 1800's by a union who wanted to celebrate and honor the "working man."   It also marks the last day, folks could wear white (I've never understood this).  The beginnings of fall are in the air.  News this morning  compared Labor Day to New Years Day because we do a whole new thing in September.   

Labor in the 1800's is far different than it is now.  We had manufacturing plants here instead of outsourcing our goods.  Unions were definitely there to save folks from dangerous workplaces and push for good wages but not in foreign countries where the U.S. makes or buys most of their products.   

So what does Labor Day the holiday mean to any of us when "work" is so different. Most businesses don't give folks a full 40 hours or more than half time for fear having to provide health benefits or other things like a fair wage.   Okay a bit sarcastic, but.....  Just a note just because one works 40 hours doesn't mean their employer will give them health benefits.   If the woker had a union, yes but otherwise no.

In one of my readings for my DMin Program by `Justo Gonzales The Bible through HIspanic Eyes" he shared that preaching the Ten Commandments takes on a different message when in front of an immigrant community.  Specifically, we have the commandment that after we work six days we get to rest.   He says that in many communities they want to work six days, not the two or three days  of work they can get.   When one preaches, one needs to know the context.   Does God then say in the commandments that we are reqyured  to work six days and then rest.  If that is the case, then if we cannot find work for everyone to work six days are we following the commandments. I know that people have to work six days a week just to make ends meet.  What does it mean to work six days and rest.   For most of us  our "normal work week" is five days, do we need to find another day to work.    Maybe....  I'm still thinking about this.

Keep safe this holday.   Labor on but first pray for those who want to work, who struggle in difficult work enviroments so they can live and blessings to those companies who day care for the "laborers"!!

Fundamentalists vs Most everything I believe!

Recently, there have been a slew of e-mails being passed around that are anti-Muslim, expressing strong and very prejudicial opinions about “why Muslims can’t really be Americans” and other very bigoted sentiments.  I replied to the parishioner who sent it this way:  I am not including the questions because they are just wrong but you can sense what the question is by the responses.   Below are my response and Pastor Barbara's response..  Pastor Barbara's responses is very good.   Barbara's DMin was on fundamentalism and her knowledge is amazing!

Sarah's Response
Really, the label should be Arab American,  We don’t go around saying we are Christian Americans

We don’t do Buddhist-American.    Muslims, Jews and Christians are all the people of the one book with differing views of God,  So can a Jew be an American?

I don’t know but yes this is an extremist point of view.   A Muslim was just elected to Congress.    He’s an American.

 Oh Well, if I were in charge.

Pastor Barbara's Response

Recently, Pastor Barbara replied to one of these e-mails, point by point with the following information. The original e-mail is not included as it was not seen as necessary, but know that these numbers correspond to specific comments in the original e-mail.

  “There are fundamentalist Muslims, just as there are fundamentalist Christians. These can be extremists, as we’ve seen.  But they in no way represent the majority of Muslims.

Yes, there are Christians and Muslims who believe that people who do not share their faith beliefs will go to hell.  This is not, however, true of all religions. Buddhists, Hindus and many other religions (native American religions, for example) do not have these exclusivist ideas.

In response to the e-mail stating that Muslims can’t really be Americans:

1. Theologically, WE (as much as Muslims) should not have the strong loyalty to our country that many have because WE are supposed to have allegiance to one God only – not a country, but God.  We are asked to love everyone, just as Jesus modeled for the Jews stepping beyond their loyalty to the Nation of Israel by loving Samaritans, and Syrophoenicians, we are called to do the same. By the way, the word “Allah” just means “God” – it is not a “moon God” but the same Judeo-Christian-Islamic God that we believe in.  Muslims use the Old Testament just as we do – they have the same roots as we do, with Abraham as their founder – their God is not a different God and is certainly not a “moon god.”

2. Religiously, no other religion is accepted by OUR God accept OUR God – see all of our Old Testament which goes on and on about not worshipping Baal or “any other god”.  Why does this mean Muslims or Christians or any of us can’t be American? Jews and Christians alike who also use this Old Testament stuff about accepting no other gods are Americans, so how is this different for Muslims?

3. Scripturally, again, we too are supposed to put nothing and no –one before our God, the same as the Muslims.

4. Geographically, while the Muslims may pray towards

Mecca

, the Old Testament roots our home (or at least the home of the Jews) as

Jerusalem

. But Jewish loyalty to

America

is not being questioned.

5.  Socially, Christian fundamentalists also are “forbidden” to make friends with non-Christians. This is a fundamentalist thing, not an Islamic thing.  I have several Islamic friends – they have no problems being friends with all sorts of people.

6. Again, political allegiance is not based on whether you are Islamic or not but whether or not you are a FUNDAMENTALIST or not.  Christian fundamentalists teach loyalty to

America

and

Israel

.  Non-fundamentalist Christians teach LOVE FOR ALL PEOPLE ACROSS BOUNDARIES.  This is true of Islamic people too – many believe in love for all people across all boundaries.

7. Domestically, not just Islamic writings, but our Old Testament also teaches that women are to be submissive (and actually, Paul also says women are to be submissive! – that’s NEW Testament stuff).  And in our Old Testament, many people have many wives: Abraham had his slave-concubine Hagar (is that really better than having several wives?), Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1^st Kings 11:3), etc.  While we’re on the subject of bad religious practices, our Old Testament states, for example, in Exodus 21: 20-21 (NRSV translation) that a slaveowner can beat his female or male slaves to death as long as it takes them at least a day to die!!  Proverbs 23:13-14 encourages pounding on children with a rod. There are things in many religious texts that should be suspect. Just as we suspect many of the Old Testament practices, many Muslims are also cautious about some of the practices mentioned in the Quran.

8. Muslims believes the Bible to be corrupt?  Really? Muslims believe in the Old Testament.  And it’s not actually true that the constitution of the

United States

is based on Biblical principles: that is again, a myth of Christian Fundamentalists.  In fact, our constitution was based on the basic principle of separation of church and state!  Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson especially advocated religious freedom (All of whom were theists and stopped considering themselves Christian!!).  What little of religion slips into the constitution is based, again, on the Old Testament – something Muslims also use.

9. The Quran actually teaches peace – the God of the Quran is a peaceful God, in contrast, again, to the God of the Old Testament who wipes out whole groups of people (the Canaanites for example) simply because they are not Jewish. 

Take for example, Father Chacour’s school in Ibillin, Gallilee. It is a

school

of

Christians

, Jews, Druze, and yes, Muslims who choose to come together across all boundaries to work for peace and community across faiths.  If “Muslims” all really believed the things in this e-mail there would be no Muslims at this school or at any of the many, many interfaith gatherings across the world (and indeed, locally – if you are interested I can connect you with one!) seeking peace, love and unity between all peoples.

I finish by leaving you with another of our scriptures: again, one we share with the Muslims: Exodus 22:21 – “You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the

land

of

Egypt

.”  I think there are a lot of people who need to remember this.  We are all aliens in this land, all immigrants originally (with a very few exceptions), and we should be very careful about whom we attack and shun and criticize.  Every person is a unique person who cannot be boxed as “Muslim” or “Christian” or anything else – we should know this, we who are so often “boxed” and judged as exclusivist or closed-minded because we are “Christians” - many assume we are extremist, they assume we are fundamentalists, though again, most Christians are not fundamentalists.

Class is done!

Today the Biblical Foundations for Spritual Leadership ended and with a sense of "I wish it wouldn't end!" because I have met great folks working faithfully to make Christ relevant!   I learned that in all my kicking and screaming about the labyrinth that Spiritual practices are about being intentional in opening myself to the presence of God.    This class was wonderful!  And I didn't have to walk the labyrinth.

The significant learning for this class for me was the professor who led it, Christine Vogel. She led with a presence that invited discussion, aha's, discourse, and debate.  She was pastoral in her responses, academic when she needed to be but was a real presence to help me learn about my own spirituality.
No, I am not getting brownie points for this.  But she modeled for me a teaching style that is open and inviting. 

So what is your spiritual practice?  Do you pray before each meal?  Do you pray, at all?  Do you drink a glass of wine and say "Thanks Be to God for your abundant blessings?"   Do you take your prayer beads daily and feel their shape as you remember what the beads represent, a loved one, a world issue, or yourself?   The key for me is that  whatever your practice, it needs to be done regularly.   If your spiritual practice is to just come to church on Sunday, that is a start.  If you are not sure about a practice  or  need suggestions, let's talk!!!

Practice, Practice, Practice!!!! becomes a discipline.   A discipline helps a disciple!  A disciplined disciple is a good thing!!

Peace and Blessings, now off to do a the class project!!!!