Journey Lectionary Lesson 13 Dec 2009

Journey Class Lectionary Dec 13th 2009

Reference Scriptures
Zephaniah 3:14-20 • Isaiah 12:2-6 • Philippians 4:4-7 • Luke 3:7-18

We are looking at two different passages: Zephania 3:14-20 and Luke 3:7-18

Zephaniah 3:14-20
3:14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!

3:15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.

3:16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.

3:17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing

3:18 as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.

3:19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.

3:20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.

Comment: The passages from Zephania are replete with promise and hope of being renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth. How do the passages in Luke that recount the message being presented by John the Baptist to the crowds of his day differ from the Zephania passages? Or do they?



John has good news and bad news...which do you want to hear first?

Luke 3:7-18
3:7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

3:8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

3:9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

3:10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"

3:11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."

3:12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"

3:13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you."

3:14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."

3:15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,

3:16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

3:17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

3:18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

See you Sunday...

Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line

It's Thanksgiving, It's Advnet

Journey Lectionary Year C
First Sunday of Advent
Nov 29 2009

We have a juxtaposition of events this Sunday for our study.
It is Thanksgiving weekend. It is a time in which we stop to recognize that and those for what and whom we are thankful.

But it is also the first Sunday of Advent when we celebrate the coming of hope and fulfillment for our lives and the identity and construction of a community so we might live in the light of God.

As you prepare yourselves for this time of study, how do the occurrence of these two important celebrations bring a sense of meaning to you and to others with whom you relate?

Promise of Advent

Jeremiah 33:14-16
33:14 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

33:15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

33:16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness.


Hope and Fulfillment in Community

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
3:9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?

3:10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.

3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.

3:12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.

3:13 And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Lectionary Nov 22 - The Reign of Christ

Where Do We Put God...?

Reign of Christ -
November 22, 2009
2 Samuel 23:1-7
or
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Psalm 132:1-12, (13-18)
or
Psalm 93 Revelation 1:4b-8 John 18:33-37


Dear fellow Journey classmates:

In thinking about the lectionary lesson for this Sunday the 22nd. I was impressed by the restlessness of David to find a “place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.’

Of course, David was most likely referring to the temple and it’s use as the abode of the ark, considered God’s presence on earth. But what does it mean to “find a place for the Lord today, with us? How does that work out? Do we simply see him as occupying time and space? Is that limitation to his being? Or is that the very way he is revealed?

Psalm 132:1-12, (13-18)
132:1 O LORD, remember in David's favor all the hardships he endured;

132:2 how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,

132:3 "I will not enter my house or get into my bed;

132:4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,

132:5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."

132:6 We heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

132:7 "Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool."

132:8 Rise up, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.

132:9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your faithful shout for joy.

132:10 For your servant David's sake do not turn away the face of your anointed one.

132:11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.

132:12 If your sons keep my covenant and my decrees that I shall teach them, their sons also, forevermore, shall sit on your throne."

132:13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation:

132:14 "This is my resting place forever; here I will reside, for I have desired it.

132:15 I will abundantly bless its provisions; I will satisfy its poor with bread.

132:16 Its priests I will clothe with salvation, and its faithful will shout for joy.

132:17 There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.

132:18 His enemies I will clothe with disgrace, but on him, his crown will gleam."


In John 18 we have the classic rhetorical exchange when virtually anyone who confronts Christ with a question is answered with a question? How does this exchange go to the heart of everyone’s relationship with Christ?

John 18:33-37
18:33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

18:34 Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"

18:35 Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"

18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."

18:37 Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."


The heart of Christian Identity...Who do you say that I am?

What Does it Mean to Have Hope...?

LECTIONARY READINGS FOR NOVER 15th 2009
1 Samuel 1:4-20 or Daniel 12:1-3
1 Samuel 2:1-10 or Psalm 16
Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-25
Mark 13:1-8

Lectionary Study for November 15th for Journey Class

What does it mean to have hope in the midst of trial and despair?
What can we say about hope being an integral part of our selves in daily living?
What happens to those who we assume have no hope?
Is hope only expectation or is it a “reality” we should pursue?
How is your hope? Will it die with you or live on?

These are some issues we can probe this Sunday in class regarding the lectionary verses.

Two characteristics stand out for me about these verses.
First: They all relate to issues of going through trial or despair.
Second: They all end in a response of Hope.

Read the final verses of the passages below to see the hope statements expressed.
They are: 1 Samuel 1:20, Daniel 12:3, 1 Samuel 2:10, Psalm 16:11, Hebrews 10:23-25, and Mark 13:7-8

What different kinds of hope are expressed here in the last verses of the passages below?

1 Samuel 1:4-201:4
On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters;1:5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb.1:6 Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.1:7 So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.
1:8 Her husband Elkanah said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"
1:9 After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the LORD. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.1:10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly.1:11 She made this vow: "O LORD of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head."
1:12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.1:13 Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk.1:14 So Eli said to her, "How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine."
1:15 But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.1:16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time."
1:17 Then Eli answered, "Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him."1:18 And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your sight." Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.1:19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.1:20 In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the LORD."

Daniel 12:1-312:1
"At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.12:2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.12:3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

1 Samuel 2:1-102:1
Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory. 2:2 "There is no Holy One like the LORD, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.2:3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.2:4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.2:5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.2:6 The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.2:7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts.2:8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.2:9 "He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail.2:10 The LORD! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed."

Psalm 1616:1
Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.16:2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."16:3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.16:4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.16:5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.16:6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.16:7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.16:8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.16:10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.16:11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-2510:11
And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins.10:12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God,"10:13 and since then has been waiting "until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet."10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.10:15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,10:16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,"10:17 he also adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."10:18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
10:19 Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,10:20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh),10:21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,10:22 let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.10:23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.10:24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Mark 13:1-813:1
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!"13:2 Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."13:3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,13:4 "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?"13:5 Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray.13:6 Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray.13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.13:8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.

Walter Morton for JourneyAcrosstheLine

Lectionary Nov 8, 2009: Responsibility to the Poor?

Lectionary Lessons for November 8th , 2009

Psalm 146
146:1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!


Mark 12:38-44 As he (Jesus) taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!
They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 1For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."


The music group U2’s Bono said the following at the presidential prayer breakfast this past summer:

Thus sayeth the Lord: ‘Bring the homeless poor into the house, when you see the naked, cover him, then your light will break out like the dawn and your recovery will speedily spring fourth, then your Lord will be your rear guard.’ The jewish scripture says that. Isaiah 58 again.

That is a powerful incentive: ‘The Lord will watch your back.’ Sounds like a good deal to me, right now.

A number of years ago, I met a wise man who changed my life. In countless ways, large and small, I was always seeking the Lord’s blessing. I was saying, you know, I have a new song, look after it… I have a family, please look after them… I have this crazy idea…

And this wise man said: stop. He said, stop asking God to bless what you’re doing.
Get involved in what God is doing—because it’s already blessed.

Well, God, as I said, is with the poor. That, I believe, is what God is doing.
And that is what He’s calling us to do.

I was amazed when I first got to this country and I learned how much some churchgoers tithe. Up to ten percent of the family budget. Well, how does that compare the federal budget, the budget for the entire American family? How much of that goes to the poorest people in the world? Less than one percent.

There is a continent—Africa—being consumed by flames.
I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did—or did not to—to put the fire out in Africa.
History, like God, is watching what we do.

How do the haves help the have nots??

All Saints Day, celebrated in November?

This image above is normally called "Icon of the Second Coming" but is also used to illustrate "All Saints Day." It is from an anonymous Greek author from about 1700 A.D.

All Saints Day...celebrated in November?
In a church staff meeting sometime early in the year, some of the ministerial staff were attempting to iron out some dates during the fall months for events at the church. An event for late October, early November, was being mentioned that would also be the “theme” for a Sunday’s Worship service. When Sunday, the first of November, was mentioned as a possible date for the emphasis, the Music/Worship Minister spoke up and said, “Nope, that’s All Saints Day.”

The discussion then turned to other possible Sundays to use for the emphasis in question. The discussion ended up being tabled for another meeting. But the minister who had suggested using Sunday, the first of November for the event, then asked, “What is All Saints Day?”

You know you’re in a Baptist staff meeting when someone asks...

The senior pastor answered that it was a celebration of the persons who have been lifted to sainthood by church tradition. And “all saints” day is purposefully set aside to ensure all persons are recognized as such whether they have a specific day or tradition that celebrates their sainthood individually or not.

But is a blanket celebration, covering all the bases just to make sure we don’t leave out any saints, all the reason there is for the celebration by Christianity? Why is it November? What other celebration is pretty darn close to it? How are they related...particularly in a spiritual sense that can even speak to our selves today?

For more info on the history of “All Saints Day,” check out this Wikipedia page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints_Day , so I don’t have to copy the info and get picked up for plagiarism.

See all you saints on Sunday...

Journey Lesson for Aug 30th. The lesson of Love

Journey Lessons for August 30th 2009
The Lesson of Love

Hebrew Scriptures: Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Hebrew Scriptures: Psalm 45

In Song of Solomon we have a song of passion and desire for each other, a poem of love. Many times this has been interpreted in spiritual terms, but it is also seen by certain interpretations (feminism) as simply the desire of erotic love. What is wrong with seeing as both ways? Would this be a normal Jewish interpretation of these passages?
In the 45th Psalm, we have what has been considered a Wedding song or ritual for a wedding ceremony. It is a public event in which each is committed to the other. It is supposedly the only Psalm directed to another human being. It is grand and eloquent.

Christian Scriptures: James 1:17-27
Christian Scriptures: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15,21-23
James admonishes that real faith requires action. After James lays the foundation for faith in God himself and the endurance needed to stay faithful, he then responds that real faith is equated with real action. In other words, one is not possible without the other?
In Mark we have the telling of the disciples being criticized for not properly following the ritual hand cleaning required by religious law. Jesus responds that if the heart is not in the practice of the faith the external signs mean nothing.

Comment:
I believe all four verse selections have a theme here today, It is the theme of passion that is necessary in all of our living practices. In the Hebrew scriptures there is a synthesis between the Psalm and Song of Solomon. There must be passion in a marriage or it may only be an empty ritual in the end, no matter how great and impressive the ceremony. This follows the synthesis of the physical and the spiritual which were more accepted as the proper model of the human in the Hebrew scriptures than it has been interpreted in the Christian.
For Jesus and James, in the Christian scriptures we have the interpretation of the necessity to have a faith that has real action from the heart. It is important to show with the hands our respect for God in ritual but the gestures are empty unless those hands are reaching out to the needs of our fellow human beings.
I once heard someone say that “every story is a love story.” Simply put, where is the passion, the personality, your personal action in expressing the Love of God to others? Is it merely trapped in the illustration of ritual or does it freely express itself in true passion for others? Whether meeting human physical needs or the spiritual concerns of another, the story should always be one of love.

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20
What in Christian life is the belt of truth? How does it protect us?
What is the breastplate of righteousness? What does it do?
What does feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace mean?
What is the shield of faith and how do we use it against evil?
What is the helmet of Salvation? What does it protect us from
Why is the word of God the Sword of the Spirit?
What are we fighting against. If the rulers and powers are not of flesh and blood, what are they?
What other analogies could we use to describe the above concepts for those who are not “into” war scenarios'?

Where Does God Live

Lectionary for Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
1 Kings 8: 1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43
Psalm 84, Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:59-69
Where does God live?
1Kings 8 10-13 (The Living Bible)
“Look! As the priests are returning from the inner sanctuary, a bright cloud fills the Temple! The priests have to go outside because the glory of the Lord is filling the entire building! Now King Solomon prayed this invocation: 'The Lord has said that he would live in the thick darkness;But O Lord, I have built you a lovely home on earth, a place for you to live forever.” Verses 27-29 “But is it possible that God would really live on earth? Why, even the skies and the highest heavens cannot contain you, much less this Temple I have built! Please watch over this Temple night and day-this place you have promised to live in...'”
Exodus 40:34”Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle and the glory of the Lord filled it. Moses was not able to enter because the cloud was standing there, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.”
Psalm 84
“ How lovely is you Temple, O Lord of the armies of heaven. I long, yes faint with longing to be able to enter your courtyard and come near to the Living God. Even the sparrows and swallows are welcome to come and nest among your alters and have their young, O Lord of heaven's armies, my King and my God. How happy are those who can live in you Temple singing your praises.” (1-4)
God lives in Us: Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you?
What does it mean to dwell in God?
What does it mean that God dwells in us?

You Are What You Eat or Is this What I think it Is?

A August 14, 2009

I must admit I thought that introducing lesson might be fun and perhaps rather easy. But as is most often the case I found myself wanting to dig deeper into the passages. I thought by doing so I would be able to provide each of you with a more meaningful preparation for our time together Sunday. Yet, as I begin to draft this summary I realize that it is not my doing but God's doing and I’m once again “feared” by the presence of the Lord and therefore remain humbled. I’m not sure I have acquired wisdom in this process but I’m thankful that today I can spend hours focusing on His Holy Word. Let’s begin.

The Bible verses this week focus on wisdom. In 1 Kings 2:10-12 is Solomon's request that God provide him the “wisdom to govern (God’s) people and discern between good and evil.” God is pleased with his unselfish requests and grants him a wise and discerning mind as well as riches and long life so long as he continues to keeps Gods “commandments and statutes.” Most of us know that Solomon remained wise but did not reap the benefit of long life because he failed in keeping Gods commandments and statutes.

So how do we acquire a heart of wisdom that will guide our response as parents, professionals, citizens, and persons of faith?

Psalms 111 and Ephesians 5:15-20

These verses supply the reader with two thoughts to ponder. First, the “beginning of wisdom” comes from knowing Gods omnipotent character. This is witnessed by the wise daily as Yahweh moves about in all aspects of life. Second, make the most of time by focusing on Yahweh’s guiding light in all one does. Praising his name all the while.

Can you think of a time or period when you have focused on Yahweh with all your heart? Have you ever spent a day trying to see his workings in the world around you? How is he at work now, with us, today this moment?

John 6:51-58

I read a few commentaries on this passage and was struck by the debate that Christians have had in the past concerning transubstantiation or what is commonly referred to as the “Eucharist”. Transubstantiation is the changing of the substance of bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. In that even though the senses experience bread and wine this is considered an accident and is not the essence of the matter. In a nut shell the Roman Catholic denomination believes that a change in substance actually occurs during the Eucharist. That is to say that the bread, although it has the appearance of bread, actually contains the elements of Christ’s body and the same is true for the wine. Now, I’m sure this would make people feel uneasy. Christians are cannibals? What on earth? Martin Luther and others did not dig this interpretation and so today most protestant faiths believe the sacraments to be a symbolic memorial of sorts. Even today the debate about whether or not the passage is to be a literal interpretation or not continues among protestant denominations. This all made me think about what food truly is. Is this where "We are what we eat." comes from? What does John really want the reader to infer from the following passages?:

6:54 “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them

up on the last day;

6:55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.

6:56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.”

Abide means to be within. Nice, That sounds great Jesus living with in me. Hold on a second. If he resides in me, then he is present even when I sin. Hmm. In Luke 22 19-20 it states that Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, acknowledged it was his body and asked that they eat it in remembrance of him and he did likewise with the wine saying it is his blood shed for them. There is one difference in this passage. The use of the greek word for “eat”. I discovered that the greek word for eat used in John’s text is one used to describe the “gnawing upon”. The text does not just convey we ingest Jesus’ body and drink his blood but savor it by gnawing on it. Gross ,right? But give it some consideration.

What does gnawing on Jesus’ body have to do with wisdom?

What does it mean for Jesus to abide in you? What about when we commit sin? Is he still present?

What about transubstantiation? Is modern science able to prove it’s existence? If so how does this change our view on Jesus abiding within us?

My final thoughts are that we contemplate what we have learned from studying the word today. That we consider, like Solomon, what we would truly want from God to make our lives the best they can be. That we think about how being thankful, and mindful of God in all we do will help us to remain in awe of him. I pray that each of you have the time to read this weeks' verses. I also pray that you are each at a place this moment full of peace and joy that can only come from abiding in Him.

See You Sunday,

Dan

For fun visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ42IMu7HIQ

PS: For some interesting background on the history and controversies related to this passage, check out these Wikipedia articles:
- Transubstantiation
- Consubstantiation
- Real Presence

August 9th - lesson continued

Our Lectionary Scriptures for this week are: Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2; John 6:35, 41-51; II Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33; and Psalm 130.

Some things to think about:

(from the passage in Ephesians)

Paul gives Christians some advice to follow that will help them allow God's love to shine through them to all those with whom they come in contact. He gets down to the nitty-gritty details of day to day living, and wants us to realize that what we do, not only affects those around us, but also affects our relationship with God. Things such as: lying, stealing, getting angry, the language we use, grieving the Holy Spirit, etc. He ends by admonishing us to imitate God - to follow His example.

(from the passage in John)

Jesus plainly states that He "is" the Bread of life. The people had seen and partaken of the "bread" Jesus provided for them, and then sought Him out again the next day - they wanted more! That's when Jesus revealed Himself to them as the true "Bread of Life." But, the people couldn't get past the "fact" that Jesus was the son of "Joseph," "whose father and mother they knew."

• Are there times in our lives when the "facts," as we perceive them, get in the way of our faith?
• Are we willing to take Jesus at His word?

Also from this passage, Jesus says, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him."

• What do you think that means?
• How did the Father draw you to Jesus?

(From the passage in II Samuel)

After all is said and done, David is back on the throne, Absalom has been defeated and killed, and David mourns the loss of his son.

• What kind of thoughts do you think were going through David's mind? Guilt? Regret? Relief?
• Why did Joab disregard David's orders to "go gently with Absalom?"
• What kind of imprint are we leaving on those around us?
• Does a man reap what he sows?

(From the passage in Psalms)

During what seems to be a very distressful time in this psalmist's life, he has chosen to seek out God and remind himself that he can trust in God's Word and the forgiveness that comes from Him alone. He seemingly clings to that of which he is certain: God will hear his prayers; there is forgiveness with God; there is mercy with God; and there is "abundant" redemption.

• Where do we run when we feel like our life is out of our control?
• What certainties do we cling to when everything around us seems to be crumbling?
  

"Imitating God" OR "Just an Imitation"

Lesson for August 9, 2009 - Ephesians 4:25-5:2 (Living Bible)

(25)Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves. (26)If you are angry, don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry – get over it quickly; (27)for when you are angry you give a mighty foothold to the devil.

(28)If anyone is stealing he must stop it and begin using those hands of his for honest work so he can give to others in need. (29)Don’t use bad language. Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing.

(30)Don’t cause the Holy Spirit sorrow by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who marks you to be present on that day when salvation from sin will be complete.

(31)Stop being mean, bad-tempered and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. (32)Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.

(5:1)Follow God’s example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father. (2)Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ’s love for you was like sweet perfume to him.

A few questions for all of us to think about:

How truthful are we – really truthful? (in our relationship with God and others, in our finances, in our work, in our prayers, and in the small day to day decisions we make?)

What usually triggers anger?

What is considered bad language? Is it “bad words” people say, or does it include much more than that?

What comes to your mind when you think of “grieving” (or causing “sorrow” to) the Holy Spirit?

What kind of things come to your mind when you are told you should “imitate God?” Can you think of people in your life who have left their mark upon you because they are/were a true imitator of God?

Prayer of Thomas Merton, Benediction of Carson Brisson

Those in class today asked me to post the following. This is how we closed the class:

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I re ally know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"

May joy and nothing less find you on The Way.

May you be blessed and a blessing.

And may light guide you, and countless others, all the way home.

-Carson Brisson, Dean for Academic Programs and Associate Professor of Biblical Languages at Union-PSCE.

Why Do Bad Knees Happen to Good People?

First...
Thank you for all who have called and stopped by to visit Sandra in this time of double ordeal. She had a good surgery and was ok for about the first hour after getting to her room on Wednesday. But the evening, night and Thursday morning have been rough. They increased her pain meds and then Physical Therapy came by and got her up on her feet to the bedside chair.
It was a real struggle but she made it. They have gotten her up again as I write this and she has had significant pain so they are trying her on different pain meds this time.
She's from cheerful to painful over a matter of minutes but the staff is very happy with her present progression. We will know more Friday or Saturday about her next step in care.
Thank you all for caring...

Oh, by the way she is listed in the hospital as Sandra Rogers (her licensed therapist name) room 575, St Marys Bon Secours

Walter Morton for Sandra Rogers Morton

This Thing Called Love

Scripture Passages for August 2-Part 2
John 6:24-35, Ephesians 4:1-16

" If we all learned what we should learn the first time 'round, we wouldn't need love at all." Karla in Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

David fell victim to his passions, which led to his demise, but also ultimately to his restitution. And in today's scripture, a thousand years later, the people following Jesus across the lake are still looking for immediate gratification instead of something long-lasting and restorative.

Just as Nathan had opened David's eyes, Jesus helps his would-be fans see that there is a bread that sustains for a day and another that sustains for eternity. One fills the stomach, but the other fills the soul, changes self-centered focus, erases fear, and brings peace. It seems easier said than done, and necessitates dedication, discipline, and devotion, things that lead one to the mirror for a closer look. With this kind of determination, the benefits of the Bread infiltrate and begin to seep in and then out of our pores.

In Ephesians 4:1-16, our last scripture focus, we see one final piece of the puzzle-the need to work together as a unit in our endeavor to be worthy of this new Bread we have been given. Christ's love and acceptance of us, foibles and all, propels us to practice humility, gentleness, and patience as we learn to extend Jesus's love for us to each other. We practice grace because Grace has been given to us, and "under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." Ephesians 1:16b This verse is our dream. So why don't we see it fulfilled each day?

Why don't we learn the first time 'round as stated in the quote above? Why do we need love? What is it about love that matters? What is the difference between love and Love? How does this compare to bread and Bread?

See you in class!

The Man in the Mirror

Scripture Passages for August 2-Part 1
2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a, Psalm 51:1-12

We humans are sorely lacking in insight when it comes to knowing ourselves. David's elevated political position caused him to abuse his power by coveting and seducing Bathsheba, murdering her husband, and then marrying her. The prophet Nathan's courageous confrontation helped David face the dirty truth behind his actions when he related a parable about a rich man with many flocks who killed a poor man's only lamb. Recognizing his sin, repenting, and accepting his punishment was the turning point in David's life. In Psalm 51:16 & 17, he expressed what he had learned, "You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering, you would not accept it. The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise."

The impetus behind all abuse is a need for power and control. It is fear-based and seen in schoolyard bullying, domineering, oppressive parenting, marital condescension and disrespect, or boardroom tyranny and manipulation, just to name a few examples. This Bible story, therefore, applies to all of us, but the tricky part is recognizing when we are abusing our power or position. How do we recognize it? Or are we willing to? When are we David and when are we called to be Nathan? We know people who cannot or will not see how their actions hurt others. They are more concerned with self-protection and guarding their image. But David was different and we can learn from him. When are you willing to be as vulnerable as David was when he condemned himself and admitted, "I have sinned against the Lord." 2 Samuel 12:13
He looked in the mirror and saw the truth.

To be continued.....

Living in the Fullness of God...

Our Scripture passage for Sunday, July 26th

Ephesians 3:14-21 (The Message)

^14-19My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

^20-21God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

COMMENT:

When you read this scripture, how do you relate to it? Paul was attempting to find a common denominator for all. What does it mean for us to plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! And live full lives in our everyday existence today?

How would your envision your life if you were living at this full level? How is it different from where you feel you are now?

Lectionary Scripture for July 19, 2009
Have you ever felt, outside, not welcome or somewhat unsure about your acceptance in a group, in your work, in your own family? What does it take to be accepted? Can you think of a time in your life when you felt welcome into a community? Felt welcomed into a church? Is this what Paul is talking of here? Read through the passages given here and don’t forget to check out the last question at the end? Look forward to bloggin’ with you.

Ephesians 2:11-22 (The Message)
11-13But don't take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God's ways had no idea of any of this, didn't know the first thing about the way God works, hadn't the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God's covenants and promises in Israel, hadn't a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.
14-15The Messiah has made things up between us so that we're now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody.
16-18Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father.
19-22That's plain enough, isn't it? You're no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He's using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.

Closing inquiry:
What would you say is the most important thing you consider about another when accepting them?

Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line...

Lesson Blog for this Sunday, July 12th from Ephesians 1:3-14

Theme Question:
As I was growing up as a young Christian, I remember being told in Sunday School that "God has a plan for your life!" Do you remember being told this?

Hold onto that thought, while first, we explore some background (stolen directly from Wikipedia.com) regarding the letter of Ephesians.
Wikipedia mentions there is some question by scholars whether Paul was the actual author of the book of Ephesians. Ooh! Big surprise there! I have yet to read critique of a book of the bible where the first question wasn't whether or not it was written by who it was traditionally ascribed to...so let's get onto what they say about purpose and content.

Purpose

The purpose of the Epistle to the Ephesians is born out of its particular socio-historical context and the situational context of both the author and the audience. Originating in the circumstance of a multicultural church (primarily Jewish and Hellenistic) the author addressed issues appropriate to the diverse religious and cultural backgrounds present in the community.

For reasons that are unclear in the context and content of the letter itself, Paul exhorts the church repeatedly to embrace a specific view of salvation, which he then explicates. It seems most likely that Paul's Christology of sacrifice is the manner in which he intends to affect an environment of peace within the church. In short: "If Christ was sacrificed for your sake, be like him and be in submission to one another." Paul addresses hostility, division, and self-interest more than any other topic in the letter, leading many scholars to believe that his primary concern was not doctrinal, but behavioral.

Some theologians, such as Frank Charles Thompson agree the main theme of Ephesians is in response to the newly converted Jews who often separated themselves from their Gentile brethren. The unity of the church, especially between Jew and Gentile believers, is the keynote of the book. This is shown by the recurrence of such words and phrases as:

Together: made alive together, 2:5; raised up together, sitting together, 2:6; built together, 2:22

One, indicating unity: one new man, 2:15; one body, 2:16; one Spirit, 2:18; one hope, 4:4; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, 4:5-6.

In the passages for Sunday, July 12, Ephesians 1:3-14 (the Message)

^3-6How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

^7-10Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

^11-12It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

^13-14It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.

Observation:

Paul definitely appears to be laying the groundwork of his argument for unity in the faith here and that groundwork is Christ himself for all Jew and Gentile alike in the Ephesian church. Paul states in a rhetoric of pre-determinism that Christ "had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone."

Theme Question:

Did you hold that thought I asked at the first about if you've ever been told "God has a plan for your life?" Well, what about it? What does that mean to you? Does it mean anything to you at all in this day and age, in the many experiences you have had in your life? If so how is this possibly expressed to others in your daily experience? In your daily expression of reality?

Journey Profile

Remember . . . Walter asked us to write 5 things about our class. Here are mine:

The class was formed for folks wanting a place to explore and question, without someone having definitive answers. We have discussions, different opinions, questions, doubts. No thoughts or ideas are labeled "wrong" -- we do not always agree. I love it when we disagree.

We are a group of people who are trying to be "transparent." We talk about our struggles and share at a level not experienced in many church groups.

Our group is generous with time, talents and cash--at the church, with the larger community as well as among ourselves.

Journey is a diverse group. We have young and old, well-to-do and homeless, married and single. We have widows, widowers, divorced and never married. We have a full spectrum of developmental stages of life and of faith. We have sovereigntists and skeptics (well, at lease one).

We are all seeking spiritual truth and learning to live in love for God and others. We try to strike a balance between what we know and what we do--who we are. I think it is safe to say we want to learn from the example of the life of Christ.

That's my 5 cents. SM

What's Love Got to Do With It?

“If you live far enough away from trouble, trouble will never find you.” So says Henry Smith’s father in Gary D. Schmidt’s Newbery Award winning novel, Trouble. Of course, when Henry’s older brother is hit by a car and eventually dies, Henry must reevaluate his father’s words. He and his brother had planned to climb Maine’s Mount Katahdin together, but now, Henry musters the courage to proceed with their plans, partly as a tribute, but mostly “to learn how to live with trouble,” terrified as he is to face this challenge alone. Later, Henry is in the hospital, having escaped death himself while on Mount Katahdin. Contemplating all he has been through, he says, “The world is trouble and grace. That’s all there is.”

In last week’s Sunday school lesson we read and discussed two passages where trouble’s results were favorable, but how should Christians react when the outcome is a sad one, despite much faith and prayer? Yesterday we attended the funeral of a 41 year old father of four who had been pressing toward the goal of a heart transplant for 6 months before succumbing to complications related to the transplant itself. Hundreds of friends and relatives are still reeling at the devastating results experienced by a Christian family buoyed up by hope and prayer for so long. We just received an email from the daddy of the heart transplant recipient. He said that though God did not touch his son directly in terms of a complete healing, his family felt that God had communicated with them, fed them, and ministered to them through all of us in cyberspace or in person, by the giving of our support and prayers. God had shown His face through us, and that by sharing in their burden, they were better able to carry it.

Some Christian’s believe that their faith shields them from calamity, but rabbit’s foot theology will always let us down. Jesus’s love and example won’t. Love will never disappoint, and God’s love is always visible when we come together to share our joys or sorrows in a Sunday school class, on a blog, when we pray together, or when we are gathered together to honor anyone, dead or alive. As the rector at the funeral said yesterday, “When there is love in the house, God is there.”

When trouble knocks at your door, do you think it’s God’s doing? Do you think He allows trouble for a purpose, that there is method in His madness, that trouble happens and God’s grace gets you through it, or that there is another reason why bad things happen to good people? Any thoughts?

PS. I just noticed that Jim Somerville's latest post "Vending Machine Prayers" is about this same subject, and so interesting. Check it out here!

Memorial Day Fun...

We had a great time at Jeff and Jeannie Dortch's on Memorial Weekend Sunday. I remembered Jeff talking in class about their pond and going swimming in it, but I had no idea it was such a wonderful and serene place. It was like being transported to another level of "relaxitivity." The burgers and hotdogs were delicious. The fishing was good. All this and a harmonica acommpinament too. And the tent was tremendous, why you could have had a wedding there.
Thank you Jeff and Jeannie.

Sign up for Posting/Authoring as a Journey member

hello again everyone...

This is my second post to the Journey class. To update, I have gone through the email listing that Sandra had for our class and have "invited" all of you as "authors" to the Journey Across the Line Blog. That means that you will be able to "post" as well as comment to "Journey Across the Line." You should have received an email inviting you to register as an author. Since Blogger.com is a Google product, you will have to create a Google account using your own email address (even if it's not a google email) and choose your own password to "post." So you may "post" as well as respond/comment so we can have a better interactive experience. So take the time to sign up...

Questions:
I have received an email from Jeannie Dortch regarding the development of our class profile. To get things started I thought we could list the "Top 5" things or experiences we each like about our Journey class. Then we could begin to build our profile from that list. So get your fingers out and we'll give a try...

From the first post I made, Sandra has responded with the Lectionary readings for July 5th...so check them out and feel free to be free in your thoughts...

Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line

Welcome to our blogspot!

Hello everyone...

Welcome to our Journey's class blogspot, "Journey Across the Line."
We are hoping that this "spot" will be a place where we can enhance our connection, commitment and support for one another. But it is also the hope that it will be a locale where we are each able to find our voice of expression as an individual on the journey with others. While we are each a member of the larger group, we are still unique creations of God and we wish to be able to celebrate that potential to its most full reality.

Why a blogspot? First, I'll give the noble intention. Sandra has spoken to me recently about the process of communicating lesson content through emails to the class on a weekly basis. I started wondering if there might be an even better way to enhance the interactivity of the class as a community, not just a place where we can post lessons. although we will. I believe the class is one of the most eclectic and dynamic on the FBC campus. However, it is still limited to the time constraint of less than an hour a week. Of course, for some of us this may be our tolerable limit for each other, but really I think not or else this fellowship would have crumbled much before now. New classes go through stages of development just as individuals do and it appears this one has the strength as well as the adaptability to stay moving forward while still having spiritual and theological empathy for all in the circle. A true blessing.

Why a blogspot? OK, now the selfish reason. After studying for two degrees in Communications and Media Studies, it's what I'm interested in as I continue to pursue my ministry studies at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. If I feel there is any call to my life it has been the expression and influence of story upon the shaping of my own faith and the observation of its power to shape the faith and lives of those around me. Of course this shaping is not just through word, but through voice and sight: the written, the verbal and the visual expression of our very selves. It is my hope that this will be an opportunity to express and share our lives with each other through commenting and posting on the lessons, posting of concerns of our lives and celebrating our uniqueness by posting our written, verbal and visual talents.

With the best efforts the noble and selfish reasons can combine for the benefit of each of us.

Finally, Why Journey Across the Line...?
Let me give three quick reasons.
In a gospel way...it appears that the story of Jesus is many times the story of someone crossing the line...to heal, to forgive, to admonish, to teach, to confront, to set right or to voice justice for those who for any number of reasons were not allowed to cross the line themselves.

In an artistic way...from my experience of participating in the art world, I found that the persons who most fulfilled the definition of "artist," in my interpretation, were those who crossed the line in their medium or genre to express a new reality or perspective that was crucially needed by the world.

In an experimental way...this is an experiment, in community, in fellowship, in human expression. We will be, in some sense, crossing lines which we have never done before, communicating as a "virtual" community, and hopefully allowing ourselves to be known by each other more. It is this experiment of journeying across the line that can be our experience and a true blessing. Your participation is all that's needed.

First, we need to decide what our "profile" needs to be. This is the description of who we are as a class and community so others will know what we are about when they come to visit our blogsite. What would you like to contribute to this description?? Let me know and we can then construct our "profile" that people can read when they arrive. You may contribute by clicking on "comments" below. Look forward to stepping across the line with you.

Note: Due to the upcoming holiday, we will start posting lesson discussions after July 5th.

Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line