Today, in Sunday School, we watched the movie "Tomato" by Rob Bell. We are invited to "die"...to find our true life. We are loved not because we are loved, saved, accepted, or valued because of how moral, spiritual, true, or right we are but His message is that we are saved in death...he's already done what we cannot do on our own. We cannot hold-on to a false-self and use our own efforts...we would be draining ourselves of a good and true life...dying in a different way.
from today's Message: We read Jeremiah 23:23-29 Psalm 82 Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Luke 12:49-56
People who are learning about Christ and being his disciple, seem to expect that if we follow Jesus--if we pray to discern God's will, then things will go smoothly for us, or at least proceed without catastrophe. But Jesus promises anything but an easy ride to his followers. Not only are we still surrounded by a world that is hurt and defensive, by disease and death.....but Jesus says that we can expect even more problems from following him: we can expect conflict, division, and controversy, even within our families. Jesus loves truth, and he loves justice and mercy. He is willing to let the truth be painful, and he is willing to offend for the sake of mercy, and he says that we can expect the same if we follow him. So no matter who it offends, we should hear the call to give generously or to act mercifully, and to proclaim truth.
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