Barely one year ago, a father, a young mother and her small daughter stepped out of the airport terminal in a war torn city and walked to the steps of the last plane loading passengers fleeing to America in front of the atrocities our world labels as ethnic cleansing.
With heart pounding drama, this small family was stopped at the steps of the plane by armed men - who knows if they were soldiers, independent militia, or roving bands of thugs taking advantage of a deteriorating political situation.They were stopped. Their passports, visas, and papers were demanded, reviewed, and confiscated.
An eight year old, a mother, a father that close to escape and freedom, imagine the terror.
In the plane loaded with other escapees, among a crew which did not anticipate this armed intervention, imagine the terror.
There were words. There were heroic attempts to intervene. There was a gunshot and before her eyes a young girl watched her beloved father die.
Hasty arms hurried the young child and her mother into the aircraft.
Hastily, a crew sealed the door, and taxied away before more blood could be shed. And paperless, without proof of identity a widowed family escaped to America.
But the trauma was not over. When the plane arrive here in Chicago, with the fresh blood of her husband, the fresh blood of her father, in their minds, paperless, alone, without advocates, a hopeful mother and daughter, deplaned in the freedom and stability of America and headed for customs.
And then here in America the trauma returned.
Immediately the mother and eight year old child were questioned, arrested, and, as is assumed to be criminals, because they had no papers, hauled away by more men in another uniform. Never mind the story. Never mind the witnesses. Never mind the freshness of grief, of trauma. They were hauled away - the mother to prison, the daughter to a home for criminal American teens.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
When Is A Church Not A Church ? A Shout From God !
There may not be a definitive answer to that question. Probably because God doesn't discuss where is the fine line between being a living church, a lukewarm church, a dying church, a dead church, or no church at all.
The following (not my writing) summarizes very well what God says happens in the Body of Christ i.e., a church that is part of the Body of Christ.
"The biggest problem with online church is also the biggest problem with offline church. That problem is that the primary focus is on the worship service. This may shock some of you, but…
Church is not a worship service.
Somehow many people have come to equate church with the Sunday worship service. But the truth is the Sunday service is only a small part of a church.
Church is a community of believers.
Scripture tells us that among other things a church, aka community of believers…
Throughout my years of ministry, the above has consistently been one of my messages from God . I seem to have either not communicated this message well or seldom found an attentive ear willing to pray and take corrective action. But this message is a shout from God to the American Church.
Instead of what is not a church -
GOD SPENDS HIS TIME ADDRESSING
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHURCH !!
The following (not my writing) summarizes very well what God says happens in the Body of Christ i.e., a church that is part of the Body of Christ.
"The biggest problem with online church is also the biggest problem with offline church. That problem is that the primary focus is on the worship service. This may shock some of you, but…
Church is not a worship service.Somehow many people have come to equate church with the Sunday worship service. But the truth is the Sunday service is only a small part of a church.
Church is a community of believers.
Scripture tells us that among other things a church, aka community of believers…
- Develops genuine friendships
- Shares their money and possession with each other
- Eats together
- Shares communion together
- Prays together
- Serves one another
- Serves those outside the church
Throughout my years of ministry, the above has consistently been one of my messages from God . I seem to have either not communicated this message well or seldom found an attentive ear willing to pray and take corrective action. But this message is a shout from God to the American Church.
Will we listen or will we be cut off from the vine and joined to the Great Prostitute of Revelation (and to her fate)?
*/*
Friday, July 3, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
God of Grace *
God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. He showed Moses how he went about his work, opened up his plans to all Israel. God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he's rich in love. He doesn't endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins.
Psalm 103:6
Psalm 103:6
God of Grace -
"God, a God of mercy and grace, endlessly patient—so much love, so deeply true—loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. Still, he doesn't ignore sin."
Exodus 34:4
Exodus 34:4
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