On Sunday, I will be giving the message at the 9 am service. We are going to be doing a wonderful series (in my opinion) during Lent. I will be sharing more on that in the next few days. However, I finally decided on the passage that will be the focus. The Scripture comes from Romans. Here is the Scripture:
Romans 12:9-21
The Message (MSG)
9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
11-13 Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
17-19 Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
20-21 Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.
- - - - - - - - -
I love those words. We are going to be looking at Loving God / Loving Others but then really "jumping off" of that and exploring, "us going out, not us coming in".
The thoughts and writings on this blog are the thoughts of Jeff and do not necessarily represent the views of Grace First Parish of Russell and/or Lutheran Campus Ministry of Southwest Minnesota State University.
14 comments:
What, you are using the Message. That isn't the "real" Bible. Only the ones that we say are real, are real. Until someone we don't agree with thinks it is real and then we will have to change. HA
I went to my first Ash Wednesday service tonight and it was pretty cool. Got the ashes on the forehead and everything. I have made up my mind. I am going to give up Diet Coke for Lent. I haven't had one all day so I am on my way. Pray for me!!!!! This is huge!
By the way, are you a Buckeye fan or just a transplant? Wondering, from an Original Buckeye! Go Bucks! OH IO
I didn't get blocked from time2changenappies which surprised me. PBC said how much he agreed with me, but that other little troll wouldn't let it go.
I reserve judgement on PBC but the Ttoll would have driven me from faith if my conversion had been up to him.
So the theological school of I'm right and you're wrong is alive and flourishing in Jesus land.
I went to college last night and because it is hosted by a religious community of Anglican brothers, I got the complete Ash Wednesday treatment, complete with insense and chanting. Dead atmospheric.
I am giving up alcohol and chocolate, biscuits (cookies to you guys) and cake.
I may take on humility for Lent, but I probably don't need to.
Nator:
I took my two boys with me to Ash Wed serive. It was traditional/liturgical and they were not quite sure what to expect (new to them).
I know, I am using the MSG for the scripture to introduce the message. Unbelieveable.
I am a transplant. I am not an ohio State fan. The SP has season tickets and he took me to a game last year to try to convert me. It did not work. I am a WVU fan.
DP:
Your comment made me laugh.
I tip my hat to you for all the things that you are giving up.
We "chanted" Psalms 51 but there was no insense. My ashes ( i am the only one ) who got them from a different pot and they were hot :) I am ot sure if I was being sent a message or not !! (j/k)
Our associate pastor actually sang Psalm 51. Ok, it was more of a chant, but he did it by himself from the pulpit and we have never done anything like this before. It was actually the first time we have used ashes in the service. I heard comments from some that it was too “Catholic” for them, but they got ashes anyway. All in all an interesting service.
DP, you have a wit about you that is amazing. Funny. That is all I can say.
Sorry about the WVU thing. If you stay in Ohio long enough it will grow on you I'm sure. Went on a ski retreat last month to WV ad our bus broke down. Spent a fun morning at a rest area. Some of the people bought West Virgina hoodies to remember the experience.
Sorry to keep this going, but I think that Brian has posted your response as a post to tear apart. If it isn't yours, and it isn't mine, then whose is it?
Nator:
On the ashes, yes many people do think that it is too cathloic, especially if your church 'branch" is far removed from the cathloic church.
On the WVU thing, it is okay. I mourn frequently over them. Over the years, I may be able to have a decent taste for them but they WILL NOT surpass WVU
On PBC blog, yes that is my comment. I commented about the woman at the well because of Tim using it.
He, PBC, obviously disagrees with me and to me, he obviously read my comments wrong. It is rebuttals, he kept writing that it was irrelevant or pointless. Ummm, the point of it was to show there is a lot to the story, do not use that story to ax friendship evangelism.
Ohhhh, well. He won't let me respond.
I sent him a response that I thought it was wrong for him to post your response without letting you respond. I know it won't see the light of day, but he will read it. Maybe it will make him think.
Nator:
It is okay. If I apologize, he will allow me respond from his comment. But, I am not apologizing for sharing Scriptural truth.
This is also not the first time that my comments have been turned into a post. The Fight Pt. 2 one was me, as well.
You do not need to fight or comment on my behalf :) He probably thinks I sent you :)
Well, it is just so much fun :")
Ok, I really am not fighting on your behalf, although I really like people who work with youth . . . I am just aggravated at the whole scene. I think it is very unloving, don't you think?
Just for info sake, I did not try to post on their site. PBC has a message and is attributing it to me, but it was not.
It was from my mother-in-law who is visiting. So, yes, it came from family and my comp but not me.
I have mailed him to ask him to move my name from the remarks.
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