Volume 1 Issue 8

Welcome to Growing in Christ! Thank you for inviting us into your life for a time of prayerful theological reflection. Our hope is that by employing the mustard seed principle, the message of God’s love, of the Christ’s peace and of the Spirit’s power will spread one to another until all the world is infected by this Good News!
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It is truly a joy to report that both Mom and Dad came through their respective surgeries this past week successfully, and that complete recovery is the prognosis for each. Thank you to all who lifted them up in thought and prayer.
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PBS’ “NOW with Bill Moyers” continues to be “must see TV” (even if it’s not NBC). Anyone hearing Harvard Visiting Professor of Psychiatry Robert Jay Lifton’s analysis of the flawed reasoning that is behind our government’s intention to engage Iraq in war has to lift praises to God that there are voices of reason in this troubled time. Now, who’s listening?
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This week’s word: eschatology—1. the doctrine of the last or final things, as death, the judgment, the future state, etc. 2. the branch of theology dealing with them. (The American College Dictionary)
M. Eugene Boring refers to Matthew 5:17-7:12 as the portion of the Sermon on the Mount that deals with “Life in the Eschatological Community.” Today’s sermon deals specifically with Matthew 5:17-48.
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Today’s sermon makes reference to “The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth” by Thomas Jefferson (1989, Beacon Press). This book is the fascinating product of the statesman’s, writer’s, architect’s and U.S. president’s personal struggle to make sense of the life of Jesus. It is available from www.amazon.com for $11.20.
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Your comments are always welcome! Feel free to post them to the Bulletin Board for others to read and reply to. It is our mission to help engage your spirit in a dynamic relationship with the God of all creation that finds expression in and through this virtual community of faith.
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Until next week…….Shalom!