What if...? What if...? It's time again for this question.

 What if.... 

• You're right, and I'm wrong? 
• I'm right, and you're wrong? 
• We're both wrong? 
• It doesn't really matter? 
• People really don't care?
• What really matters has nothing to do religion and theology but everything to do with how I treat you, and how you treat me? (You know... do unto others)
• God isn't contained by church walls and is working as much out of the church as in the church? 
• God doesn't have to be "named" to be the One at work?  
• It is okay if we don't have all the answers? 
• Jesus really meant it when he said we should love our enemies?
• I wouldn't be afraid to ask my questions out loud? 
• We believed God is bigger than the Bible as we relate to our world? 
• I get fired for asking questions? 
• We would really understand the meaning of grace? 
• We understood that the answer to the question is "Love?" 

I struggle when we as believers profess to have all the answers, or when we are certain that our way is the only way. (How many Christian denominations are there, anyway?) Some of us say, "But the Bible says..." yet we pick and choose what we want to inform our lives from this important book. Over the years the Bible has been used to condone the KKK, slavery, the Inquisition, misogyny, homophobia, and the Crusades,to name a few. I appreciate Barbara Brown Taylor's image of the Bible as "God's word with human fingerprints all over it."  What if the Bible is the starting place for discernment not the final place?

So, as I post what I think, and you post what you think, and she posts what she thinks, and he posts what he thinks.... What if we're all just noisy gongs and clanging cymbals? What if the measure of our words is found in the action of love in our lives? What if...?What if...? What if....?


And I'll keep pondering the questions....Perhaps we should meet to bring our questions; not for answers, mind you, but rather for contemplation.

This week Brother Mick's message is called "If I Had My Druthers," with his sermon text from Acts 10:34-43. Mick says in his presermon notes, "Peter was fairly sure about his original understandings of who was in and who was omitted from Christ's body until his vision and a new perspective on God's much broader acceptance of those who believe. So much of our lives seems to come down to niggling little preferences quite apart from reason or reality which can cause us to completely shut others out." I hope you can join us for worship at 10:15 AM. If you're unable to attend but want to hear the message, it will be posted on the website. http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/sermons/index.php

College students who've not yet returned to school or live locally, I'm hoping you can join me in the Upper Room at 9 AM.  
Todd will join those attending the new class of more established young adults in a room in the 1960 hall at 9 AM. There is nursery care available, or you can take your little ones to class. 

Steve and Lizzie get married tomorrow!  

The ingathering for January is items for Bridge of Hope. See last week's blog or the bulletin for the list. 

Winter family night activities begin on  Wednesday, January 15 with a meal at 6:15 PM.  There are classes for children from kindergarten through senior high, and an adult class. Brother Mick is leading a sing along with new and familiar songs from our songbooks/hymnal with the adults. 

I think I'll grab our copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder's The Long Winter and curl up with a cup of tea for the rest of the season. 

Prayer for today: Open our eyes, Creator God, to the beauty of your Presence. Open our ears, Gentle Master, to the wisdom of your Voice that speaks to our souls. Open our hearts, loving Savior, to the invitation of peace and hope.  Open our minds, Divine Mystery, to the wonders of true life. Author of all life, fill us with Your bread and wine that we may be vessels of sustenance and warmth to a world crying out for relief. Come Kingdom of God. Be done, will of God, here on earth as it is in heaven. In JESUS name. Amen. 

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too!

Love and Light,
Carol

http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

"Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference! Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend." jd