Volume 1 Issue 11

Welcome one and all to Growing in Christ. Our democratic process has been exercised this past week, and once again we are witness to the miraculously peaceful transition of power that was the intention of the ingenious founders of this great nation. Anyone who viewed the PBS presentation of Ken Burns American Stories on Thomas Jefferson had the opportunity to learn of the significant role theology played in the life of this remarkable man. The purpose of Growing in Christ is to explore the role of theology in our own lives, and to learn more about the impact that our worldview has upon our daily activities.
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It took a while, but there’s a good theological debate/discussion forming on the Bulletin Board under the 10/30/02 heading: “…here goes” This is what GiC is all about, and I really hope that more of you will feel free to submit your thoughts and opinions, either in response to this subject or others about which you have questions or feelings. In some of the “private” e-mails I’ve received a few of you have expressed a hesitancy to let your “ignorance” show or to voice an unorthodox point of view. If I’m willing to shamelessly exhibit my ignorance on a weekly basis, and to enthusiastically challenge orthodoxy whenever and however I can, the very least you can do is lend a little support to my lunacy by joining in the fun! I truly believe that the voice of God is finding expression through this enterprise, and that its richness and fullness is amplified by the number of you who choose to join in the chorus!
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This week’s sermon continues to focus on The Sermon on the Mount as found in the Gospel of Matthew. I’m unsure at this point as to whether or not the series will require the rest of my life to complete. It had not been my intention originally to devote this much time to the text which is contained in Matthew 4:23-7:29, but I am personally discovering so much insight into the essence of the Christ that it is now almost an obsession. If, however, I “hear” from the GiC community that it is losing interest and that it is time to move on to something else, I will try. This will be the most genuine way that I can express my thanks to those who take the time to respond to my sermons.
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Some weeks ago I recommended Don Miguel Ruiz’s book, “The Four Agreements”. My lifelong friend, Rob (okay, we didn’t know each other until the seventh grade), has given Mary and me a copy of another of Ruiz’s books, “The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship: A Toltec Wisdom Book” (1999, Amber-Allen Publishing Inc.). The paperback is available for $11.20 from www.amazon.com. I’ll be reading it as soon as Mary is finished with it, and will let you know what I think of it.
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Our journey of faith continues into another week. We do not know with absolute certainty what events will occur or what situations will arise, and so it is all the more important that we carry with us the absolute conviction “that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 NRSV)
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Until next week…….Shalom!