“An unquestioned answer is worse than an unanswered question.”

Like that old, soulful U2 rock anthem, do you sometimes find yourself singing “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for?” Or maybe you find yourself “losing your religion” just like that classic R.E.M. song says. “I cant Live… with or without you” might perfectly describe your relationship with the institutional church… But in any case, you definitely feel emotionally distant from the Christian spirituality and Sunday worship you grew up with and possibly experience now. Curious to find out why you’re having these feelings/thoughts? But more importantly, curious if there is a better way to think about and practice faith?

The roots of this disconnect between what we are and what we grew up with are many: generational, philosophical (postmodernity, for example), educational (if you grew up in an anti-intellectual church), and cultural. Someone recently observed, “We are in the midst of a paradigm shift in the church. Not since the Reformation five centuries ago have so many Christians come together to ask whether the church is in sync with their deepest beliefs and commitments.”

“Wandering Christian Conversation” will take up & explore these and other theological/cultural questions. The possibilities for exploration are actually exciting once you start being creative and think “outside the box!” We are united by a love of asking questions, Enjoying a drink together, and reading/discussing Emerging Christianity-type books. On our part, we are a multicultural, multi-creedal, and global Christian-type of group. We come from many backgrounds and traditions. But most importantly, we embrace and wrestle with the faith we were raised in, the traditions of all the major christian denominations (orthodox, catholic, and the multitude of protestant streams) as well as the faith we hold for ourselves.

Authors that we might discuss would be Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Donald Miller, Neil Cole, Tim Keller, and more. If you love to read books by these authors and others like them, you’ll fit right in. And if you don’t like to read, you can just jump in the discussion.

This group is for Christians who, like Jacob, wrestle with God and don’t let go until we hear His voice directly… and most of us have a limp because of it.

All faiths, all beliefs, all doctrinal stances, all questions, all colors, all races, and all ages welcome. We don’t promise answers, but we do promise a safe place to ask your questions and honest feedback for you to think about.

And you can click here for the bulletin.

The cost is $5.00. Please reserve your space by calling the church office, emailing Carol Lewis, or clicking the link below to reserve on meetup.com.

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Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home; it’s supported by seven hewn timbers.
The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted, 
   wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers.
Having dismissed her serving maids, 
   Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place, 
   and invites everyone within sound of her voice:
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on? 
   Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!
I’ve prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread, 
   roast lamb, carefully selected wines.
Leave your impoverished confusion and live! 
   Walk up the street to a life with meaning.”    Proverbs 9:1-6 (The Message)

And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good newsto the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.’     Mark 16:15-18 (NRSV)

It is always a good reminder to hear the great commission. “Proclaim the good news.” Of course, for me this passage always brings up the question why can’t we heal the sick, cast out demons, and handle snakes. Although, some claim they can.

It was the passage from Proverbs that really caught me this morning though. In the New Revised Standard Version it comes across as powerful, but a little harsh. However, Eugene Peterson in The Message renders it as a beautiful invitation. “Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me! I’ve prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread,  roast lamb, carefully selected wines. Leave your impoverished confusion and live!  Walk up the street to a life with meaning.” Wow! What an invitation. Talking about Good News! So many with whom I come in contact are living in impoverished confusion. As a society, we are the definition of impoverished confusion! And yet here is wisdom (Sophia, logos, voice of God, Jesus Christ) inviting us to a table with fresh-baked bread, a life with meaning. That is an image that is going to stick with me all day.

Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;
   his appearing is as sure as the dawn;
he will come to us like the showers,
   like the spring rains that water the earth.’    Hosea 6:3 (NRSV)

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
   the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.  Hose 6:6 (NRSV)

I can’t tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed.                                       2 John 4-6 (The Message)

So here is what is most important: knowing God and loving one another. So simple. In theory.

People conceived and brought into life by God don’t make a practice of sin. How could they? God’s seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It’s not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. Here’s how you tell the difference between God’s children and the Devil’s children: The one who won’t practice righteous ways isn’t from God, nor is the one who won’t love brother or sister. A simple test.     1 John 3:9-10 (The Message)

A simple test, indeed. It’s a test I often fail however. Give me any standard and I can excel in not meeting it!

I think the problem is that we often put the cart before the horse. We focus on our righteousness; we force ourselves to love one another. It doesn’t work in the long run. What we have is the opportunity to focus on our relationship with God. Then the righteousness the love flows by God’s grace.

You can read this week’s bulletin here.

Looking at Ephesians 3:1-10, we place our ministries within the grand story of our faith – “a faith that works.”

Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—
   in peace because they trust in you. 
Trust in the Lord for ever,
   for in the Lord God 
   you have an everlasting rock.     Isaiah 26:3-4

People with their minds set on you, 
   you keep completely whole,
Steady on their feet, 
   because they keep at it and don’t quit.
Depend on God and keep at it 
   because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.    Isaiah 26:3-4 ish (The Message)

The passage from Isaiah continues the theme that emerged for me in yesterday’s readings. That if we put our trust in God, we “have an everlasting rock.” I think there will always be a little part of me however, that says “but…” As I engage, as I practice, maybe that part will grow smaller.

We are showing this film again per numerous requests, because many were unable to view it when it was shown in the evening last year. Mark your calendars and invite a friend!

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