tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30457889441305463312024-02-19T02:55:21.788-05:00CrossfusionThe Intersection of Culture, Politics and the Local ChurchJohn Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-91205218144481633652018-08-07T10:17:00.001-04:002019-03-05T10:12:16.175-05:00We've Moved<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-54598432258012633942016-03-01T16:57:00.001-05:002016-03-02T13:18:38.987-05:00Readers Vote: One Blog or Two?Currently I maintain several blogs. Two or three for myself, and one for church. Of my two main blogs, I have one where I post my weekly sermons, and another where I post opinions, commentary, and other things that aren't really sermon material. Each of these two blogs has their own subscribers, and each has their own email list. Lately I've been thinking of merging these two together in order to save a little time, but also, since the output of my opinion blog is a little sporadic, so that readers can see a more "regular" output.<br />
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Of course, the content of these two are a little different and so I understand that those of you who subscribe to one, may not be all that interested in reading the other.<br />
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But the only way I can know what you are thinking, is if I ask. So below is a one question survey so you can tell me what you think.<br />
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Thanks so much for your time.<br />
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Blessings,<br />
<br />
John<br />
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John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-9173633685763526902016-02-12T14:02:00.001-05:002016-02-12T14:13:33.783-05:00Are you Connected?<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTO8hyphenhyphenI96kd_RtFmkFKcxPi0FVVnEhMPtQyBOp9OoDTDz1P5RVgkZSG7xWZmkMGAB1VWu59emOvsG17QsiVWonjOr0ap-bHngM9IEjZHWuHN4CMkXrJridEiouMznSI98uROXHBx24mnM/s1600/Ceasarea+aqueduct+%2528cropped%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTO8hyphenhyphenI96kd_RtFmkFKcxPi0FVVnEhMPtQyBOp9OoDTDz1P5RVgkZSG7xWZmkMGAB1VWu59emOvsG17QsiVWonjOr0ap-bHngM9IEjZHWuHN4CMkXrJridEiouMznSI98uROXHBx24mnM/s400/Ceasarea+aqueduct+%2528cropped%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Not long ago, my wife, Patti, and I visited Caesarea
Maritima in Israel, an ancient ruin of a city built by Herod the Great around
12 B.C.E. Before Herod took control of
it, Caesarea was nothing more than a small fishing village, but he built it
into a center of trade, politics, and power.
Caesarea became the administrative capitol for Pontius Pilate and the home
of the tenth Roman legion. In that
place, Herod managed to build one of the largest man-made sea ports ever built
in a place that had no natural harbor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But in order to turn a small fishing village into a
bustling, powerhouse of a city, Caesarea needed water. .. a lot of it. And so, Herod built an aqueduct that would
carry water to the city from the mountains more than 7 kilometers (about 4
miles) away. In some places the aqueduct
ran underground, in others above it, and in places where they needed to
maintain its height, it ran in an elevated channel that was supported by enormous stone
arches. As we visited Caesarea, we could
still see it on the beach outside of town.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Herod’s aqueduct was used for over a thousand years,
and although it was repaired and rebuilt several times, what is seen to day is
nothing more than a dry and empty ruin.
Even as a ruin, it is still imposing and impressive. But as impressive as it is, Herod’s aqueduct
is useless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I looked at this massive structure, I was
reminded of a story that I read a number of years ago which asked whether our
lives were intended to be pools or channels.
The answer is given to us by none other that Jesus in John chapter 15
where he said, <i>“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you
will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”</i> What Jesus tells us, is that our function as
followers is to be a channel that carries his strength from the source to the
fruit. We aren’t the roots and we aren’t
the grapes. We are the branches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And so it is with the aqueduct. Our calling is not to receive God’s message,
his Spirit, and his power and store it for later. We aren’t meant to be dams, lakes or reservoirs. Instead, our job is to be like streams,
rivers or the aqueduct. We are meant to
be channels through which God’s grace, mercy, love and strength can flow into
the lives of others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But too many of us look just like the aqueduct in
Caesarea… dry, useless, and empty. We remember
better days when we were once filled to overflowing, but somewhere along the
line we became disconnected from the source.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rivers are powerful because they are connected to
the source of their strength in the mountains.
Herod’s aqueduct was useful because it carried water from mountain
springs to a thirsty city. But
disconnected from the source, rivers and aqueducts are nothing more than dry
relics of a better day. The only way
that they can do what they were intended to do is for them to remain connected
to the source. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The same is true of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whether we think of ourselves as branches or
aqueducts, our role is the same. Our
mission is to carry the message and power of Jesus Christ to a world that is
desperately thirsty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But the only way we can is for us to keep drinking
from the spring. When we think that we’ve
had enough, learned enough, studied enough, or done enough and we stop drinking
from the source, we become disconnected, dry, and useless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every city needs water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The world still needs the mercy, forgiveness,
compassion, strength, and love of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But the only way the world can get what it needs...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> ...is
for us to stay connected to the source.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-16837093072027690942016-02-10T11:14:00.001-05:002016-02-10T11:34:56.807-05:00Israel: A Culinary Adventure<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x7UFs3Q-x0vhLYxnrunAyGSZ33Z6P9diis80ZzzK0n2_1C2YiV0aFIkdG1GHrj8t56deNekG3ijp10fXU1P2gcULs23s8nNesSo-HUCDqxzmveOcvlXFyMVLFM0_SChqGToQvwUSoewk/s1600/Israeli+buffet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x7UFs3Q-x0vhLYxnrunAyGSZ33Z6P9diis80ZzzK0n2_1C2YiV0aFIkdG1GHrj8t56deNekG3ijp10fXU1P2gcULs23s8nNesSo-HUCDqxzmveOcvlXFyMVLFM0_SChqGToQvwUSoewk/s320/Israeli+buffet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As many of you know, my wife, Patti, and I recently returned from a
two-week pilgrimage to Israel. The trip
was nothing short of amazing and you can be sure that I will write several
more posts about our time there.
But first, I want to describe the culinary adventure that
came with our trip.<br />
<br />
Any trip to a new
place, whether it is to another town, another state, or to another country
always gives us the opportunity to try new things. When I used to travel for my employer, some
years ago, I always tried to be open to experimentation. I learned that it was fun, and painless, to
try local foods, drinks, and be open to learning a little about culture and
people. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But the two weeks we spent in Israel went far beyond my
previous excursions. Every day our
hotels would serve enormous buffets for breakfast and dinner, and every day we
would stop for lunch at some amazing local spot. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In two weeks, I tried more new food I have in any other
decade of my life and it was glorious.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKQMBkU45CGsZcmexaQrcI6YlbAw5TWhIdSGfaACkKgphqVtmUUqKy352gcVQVRhMhuLN_cWfWSWszFDLPWflPok8AUsr8xydoMQchqyi_2evmZykOvEn4MeuDqZbCGngSvfj3hNetUr2/s1600/Israeli+salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKQMBkU45CGsZcmexaQrcI6YlbAw5TWhIdSGfaACkKgphqVtmUUqKy352gcVQVRhMhuLN_cWfWSWszFDLPWflPok8AUsr8xydoMQchqyi_2evmZykOvEn4MeuDqZbCGngSvfj3hNetUr2/s1600/Israeli+salad.jpg" /></a>Those who know me know that I am not generally a fan of
breakfast. The choices that we have for
breakfast in American culture bore me. I
don’t much like French toast, pancakes are better for lunch or dinner, and
while eggs and bacon and cold cereals are great, I get tired of them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And this leads me to the culinary revelation of our
trip. The world of breakfast is far,
far, bigger than the choices we have in American culture. And those new choices were wonderful.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I discovered that fish was an acceptable, and to me
fantastic, offering for breakfast. At
various times there was herring, smoked herring, pickled herring, salmon,
smoked salmon, raw fish (not sure what kind), and a few other fish that either
I don’t remember or which were never identified. We also had <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakshouka" title="Shakshouka">shakshouka</a>, a Middle Eastern egg dish, in which eggs are poached in a tomato and vegetable sauce. This was good, though not my favorite.</div>
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Almost every breakfast (and many dinners) also offered goat
cheese, salty white cheese, <i>labane</i> (yogurt cheese), white Bulgarian
cheese (20-30% fat), cream cheese, fresh local yogurt, and Greek yogurt. I list these all together because it
sometimes became difficult to discern which were cream cheeses, and which were
yogurts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And many meals also offered hummus, couscous (which I never
managed to sample), many varieties of eggplant, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_salad" title="Israeli salad">Israeli
salad</a>, a variety of other unnamed vegetable salads, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halva">halva</a> which looks sort of like a
cheese, Braunschweiger, or liverwurst. It isn’t meat at all but made with
sesame paste and honey. It’s a little
crumbly but has a slightly sweet taste.
And there was also a dessert that was something between tapioca and rice
pudding but made with a grain that no one could adequately translate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lunch was often some variety of falafel, which for the
uninitiated, is sort of fried “meatballs” made with chick peas) or shawarma,
which is a spicy shaved chicken (shaved off of a spit much like good Greek
gyros) with vegetables and served in a pita bread or in a “roll bread” that was
a bit heftier than a tortilla, thinner than a pita, but about the size of a
tortilla at Chipotle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And then there were the breads that were served at every
breakfast and dinner. They varied from
day to day, but although none of them were labelled, there were breads that
resembled challah, butter knots, sesame twists, and tons of other varieties. There were rolls, fresh pita bread that is
far better than anything store bought here at home, <a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7514644866_53bdce0b7a.jpg">Jerusalem
bagels</a> (which are not bagels in the American sense, but a forearm-long,
oval shaped, slightly sweet, bread), pastries like rugelach (sort of a
chocolate, hazelnut, crescent roll)and others that were variously drizzled in
honey or sugar.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And of course there was fruit. Every day there was an offering of oranges,
kiwi, apples, grapefruit, fresh tomatoes, dates, olives, and the discovery of
the week (for us), flora fruit. Our
introduction to this was at a snack stop after a worship cruise on the Sea of
Galilee where the snack place across from the gift shop had the usual offering
of soft drinks, juices, sweet rolls, but also offered a sort of a fruit
smoothie that we didn’t recognize. We asked
the proprietor two or three time what it was, and every time we swore that he
was saying, “Four.” We assumed that
there was some sort of language barrier and he was telling us the price, but
after several attempts he took a small cup, poured out a taste, and offered it
to us. It tasted like some combination
of mango and citrus and was so good that Patti immediately bought the regular
serving. It was only after she was
halfway through it that we asked our tour guide what it was and he identified
it as “Flora” fruit. As the days passed,
we saw this fruit again and again in desserts ranging from something akin to
gelatin molds to a topping on something that resembled cheesecake. They were all delicious. Some later googling gave us a possible common
name, persimmon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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From a culinary point of view, every day was a new adventure
and despite my list, I’m sure that I’ve forgotten a few. More than that, every day I lost count of the
things that we saw on the buffet, could not identify, sampled, and still had no
idea what it was.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In all, we had a lot of fun sampling as many things as we
could (even if we never knew what they were) and our culinary world got a
little bigger.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Travel is all about adventure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Never be afraid to try new things.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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Often times, that’s half the fun of your entire trip.<br />
<br />
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John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-33613975348022544452015-11-16T16:32:00.000-05:002015-11-16T16:32:29.369-05:00The Forgotten 93 Percent<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbZmRq_b4PPPLXhyphenhyphendUkiTGX5Ck9gy9bzxnNZgaVnXaqet4Hxu9kHndep4Ke_jDXxbMfE533HrgmXzhFJxkoKG52Bt5Lx9cde8-6RuOZtcJ4nQXXqX9tyQtZ5pksa7tZ1rBXAtacOyQoT9/s1600/refugees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbZmRq_b4PPPLXhyphenhyphendUkiTGX5Ck9gy9bzxnNZgaVnXaqet4Hxu9kHndep4Ke_jDXxbMfE533HrgmXzhFJxkoKG52Bt5Lx9cde8-6RuOZtcJ4nQXXqX9tyQtZ5pksa7tZ1rBXAtacOyQoT9/s320/refugees.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Today, Governor John Kasich added Ohio to the list
of several other states that are refusing to accept even one refugee from the war
torn areas of Syria and other nations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This announcement is purely political and is entirely lacking in common
sense and human compassion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Judging by the Facebook posts I’ve been reading for
two days, I’ve just offended many of my friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t care.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Why? Because if you are a follower of Jesus Christ,
you are completely ignoring nearly every instruction that Jesus ever gave.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let me explain.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It is obviously apparent that terrorists have
infiltrated the flood of refugees landing in Europe and elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But while estimates of how many terrorists
might be among them range from a few to as many as 15 percent, most estimates
go no higher than 7 percent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still,
considering that there are hundreds of thousands of refugees, 7 percent is a
lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allowing 10,000 refugees into the
United States could mean admitting 700 terrorists.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That is unacceptable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So why do I think that Governor Kasich and a whole
host of other politicians have it wrong?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Because closing the doors on legal immigrants, even
in the face of this enormous threat, conveniently ignores too much human pain
and suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I get around to
Jesus, let’s first take a look at who these refugees are and why they are
fleeing to other countries.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The civil war in Syria isn’t just about one group of
radicals who are fighting against the government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We think that way because we think of the
Confederate States fighting against the Union, but that example is just
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Syria, there are literally
dozens of armed factions that are warring, not only with Syria’s government,
but against one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so thinking
that this is like the Rebs against the Yankees doesn’t really do it justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, imagine that every church that you
passed this week represented the headquarters of a different armed group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine that, in your community, the Baptists
are fighting the Lutherans, the Catholics are killing Pentecostals, and the Republicans
are at war with Democrats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only is your
neighborhood a war zone, every week or two, another group tries to capture it
from the group that captured it the last time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some towns have been blown up and shot up multiple times, churches have
been burned, women raped, and entire towns lined up in the streets and
murdered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is daily life in much of Syria.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> And so, not surprisingly, a lot of people, both
Christian and Muslim, have left their homes, their families, and all that they
own, to literally <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>walk</u></b> across
several entire <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">countries</b> in hope of
finding something better.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Are there “bad guys” mixed in with the “regular”
refugees?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But those of us who claim to follow Jesus are called
to see the world in a different way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
through the lens of Democrat or Republican, but through the lens of the Gospel
message of Jesus Christ.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> If we look at what Jesus taught, we won’t find words
like revenge, retaliation, or retribution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We won’t find instructions to hate our neighbor or to fear the
foreigners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, what we find are
instructions to be merciful, compassionate, loving, and helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our mission is to rescue the lost, heal the
sick, clothe the naked, and help others find hope and a future so that they too
might hear the message of the Prince of Peace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> We have every right to be concerned about the
possibility of allowing hundreds of jihadi terrorists into our country, but
that fear cannot allow us to slam the door on the 93 percent who are only
looking for a place to live that won’t get blown up next week.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It is convenient and easy for politicians to preach
from a pulpit of fear and xenophobia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But as Christians, we are not called to follow the teachings of John Kasich
or any other politician.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are called
to follow the teachings of Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus doesn’t expect us to be stupid or act
foolishly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We remember that Jesus teaches love, mercy, and compassion,
but he also said, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes
and as innocent as doves</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
(Matthew 10:16 NIV)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are called to be merciful, but to be smart about
how we do it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Governor Kasich and other politicians are looking
for easy, and popular, solutions but in doing so they sell Ohio, and the people
of the United States short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are smarter than they give us credit for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are more than capable of sorting through the
refugees and discerning which ones can be allowed in safely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It won’t be easy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But we can do it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And it’s the right thing to do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-86821906041080937482015-07-10T22:00:00.000-04:002015-07-10T22:01:43.656-04:00Helium, God, and the Church<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VCjU5f7ul9WC6d1v-UdhYu1jPADsXSzV_snWZRcZpJDu-6RLJEqJ9pkhE_cjOu7ubRkq51MI0MmxEa0DpwSjBh_6RDcVN3bPtjMXiMCioBTP4s52Wc_oygEvf78JuJ1vA1ItOxZUqR5Q/s1600/deflated_balloon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VCjU5f7ul9WC6d1v-UdhYu1jPADsXSzV_snWZRcZpJDu-6RLJEqJ9pkhE_cjOu7ubRkq51MI0MmxEa0DpwSjBh_6RDcVN3bPtjMXiMCioBTP4s52Wc_oygEvf78JuJ1vA1ItOxZUqR5Q/s320/deflated_balloon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of us want as little of God as possible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We don’t want to admit it of course, but God scares us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend Brian Baer once read a
meditation in our Sunday school class called “Just a cup of God please.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It said that God
is prepared to pour out blessings on us through a fountain the size of Niagara
Falls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we come prepared to collect
it in a tea cup because we’re afraid of what God might do with us if we had
more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other day I saw a yard sale sign with balloons attached
to it but the balloons had been there too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead of floating, they just sort of hung there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lifeless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I drove by, it occurred to me that our churches are a lot
like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are like a balloon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are a vessel that takes its shape by being
filled with the Spirit of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more
of him we contain, the more we begin to take the shape that he intends for us,
the more we look like what God intends for us to look.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
But to get there, we have to be stretched.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Balloons aren’t useful unless they are stretched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until they are stretched, and dangerously
close to bursting, they do not, they cannot, do the thing that they are
intended to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they aren’t
stretched, they just hang there… lifeless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That's exactly how many of us are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want God to come into the church, but too
much of God frightens us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being stretched is hard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It scares us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’re afraid of what might happen if we allow too much of
God to come into our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When balloons
are too full they fly away or they burst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’ve read the stories in the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When God fills people up, scary things happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life feels like it’s out of control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lives are changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God asks people to do things they’ve never
done before.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like helium in a balloon, when God comes in we get
stretched.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But if a balloon isn’t stretched by the helium in it, there
isn’t enough to overcome the effects of gravity that is pulling it down and it
just hangs there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lifeless.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Likewise, even though it might feel safer, when there isn’t
enough God in us to stretch us, then there isn’t enough of God to overcome the
evil in the world that drags us down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Without enough of God in the church, we look just like every other human
organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We don’t have enough God in us to take his shape.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that it’s scary.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being stretched is uncomfortable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being filled with God feels dangerous (and it is).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But if we aren’t filled with enough God to really stretch us…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>…we
will never fly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email notification for updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<br />John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-54495924070266001842015-05-01T11:10:00.000-04:002015-05-01T11:41:04.593-04:00Baltimore - A Rush to Judgement?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI1gxE6y-Q2uM7qA253KvsJDmqFXzM0Zg9qCLugD09B1SUYubkkChAFJz7dVxbuhhA6ZC8ahoYoByZld4pV_raCtBne7n0UlgUDD2SfWP5b6KxRJLRoMBXgd5aszBbY18QdU2-6kqYSVM/s1600/Gavel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI1gxE6y-Q2uM7qA253KvsJDmqFXzM0Zg9qCLugD09B1SUYubkkChAFJz7dVxbuhhA6ZC8ahoYoByZld4pV_raCtBne7n0UlgUDD2SfWP5b6KxRJLRoMBXgd5aszBbY18QdU2-6kqYSVM/s320/Gavel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wish everyone would shut up for a minute.<br />
<br />
But probably not for the reason you think.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I waited a long time to write anything about the riots in
Ferguson, Missouri because I wanted to try to understand the issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But this time, after watching and listening
to media outlets talk about what is happening in Baltimore I don’t want to wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am posting now, not because I think I
understand what is happening, but because I am convinced that almost no one
does.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every media outlet, every reporter, every politician, and a
great many bystanders have taken sides.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just like the Ferguson case, and the Travon Martin case, and
so many others, everyone seems to be absolutely certain that they know exactly
what is happening and why.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everyone is rushing to judgement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They judge the police.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They judge Freddie Gray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
judge the mayor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They judge the
President.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They judge the protestors,
the rioters (those are vastly different groups), they judge the victims of the
violence, and people are even judging the parents of the people in the
streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christians are often accused of being judgmental,
but this is ridiculous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone,
Christian and non-Christian alike seems to think that they know so much about
what is happening hundreds of miles away in Baltimore that they can stand in judgement
of people they’ve never met and who they know almost nothing about. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wish everyone would all shut up and listen for a change.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I watch and listen to the reporting from Baltimore, all I
seem to find is more questions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
What exactly happened in police
custody that led to the death of Freddie Gray?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Did Mr. Gray really have surgery on
his spine only weeks before his arrest?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Did that matter?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Did the mayor tell the police to
allow the mayhem to continue when it might have been stopped much earlier?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could ask questions all day but it seems clear that, so
far, there aren’t very many answers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And without answers, all the self-proclaimed experts (left,
right and center) should slow down their rush to judgement until they actually
have some facts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now there are too
many things that we just don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead of rushing to judgement, why don’t we listen instead?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all want justice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But we should be careful to find the facts so that there can
be justice for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There needs to
be justice for the police, the demonstrators, the rioters, the politicians, and
especially for the victims. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Investigating, finding, and sorting through the facts are all
things that will take time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While we wait, instead of judging everyone, why don’t we do
something helpful?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why don’t we try to find ways to help those who lost homes,
jobs, and businesses?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can our politicians
and academics find ways to reduce poverty and joblessness instead of just
pointing fingers at each other?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not
volunteer with some charity or aid group to clean up and rebuild Baltimore?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should all take the time to listen and understand people with whom we disagree.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead of pretending that we know exactly what is going on
and who is to blame, our time would be better spent trying to fix the problem
and help Baltimore heal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while we’re
doing that, we should talk less and listen more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead of judging, try donating.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And if you are so inclined, I’m sure that everyone involved
could use your prayers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email notification for updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-87791165487382078412015-03-27T11:59:00.000-04:002015-03-27T11:59:29.898-04:00Our Hardest Prayers<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMP2D2rv8lTyON5yVW3Ju3g24_OUudCmqVutpAn5AmokiOcoswe3e_WDlUPmIG9Fw0akPdjOYLreGTeV-gUNzy04_FOmnpR-SRM1t-sPsOe3p-07MCOzy6KXUlywdufNTcJpHpdRjV6WS/s1600/Prayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMP2D2rv8lTyON5yVW3Ju3g24_OUudCmqVutpAn5AmokiOcoswe3e_WDlUPmIG9Fw0akPdjOYLreGTeV-gUNzy04_FOmnpR-SRM1t-sPsOe3p-07MCOzy6KXUlywdufNTcJpHpdRjV6WS/s1600/Prayer.jpg" /></a></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">Could you pray for God to take your life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or your child’s life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or pray for cancer?</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">Our gut says no.</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">How do we pray for something that we *don’t* want to happen?</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">Everything in us resists.</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">But sometimes the prayers God desires are the prayers we do not want to
pray.</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">Surrender is necessary.</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">What do I mean?</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">Is God so vindictive and manipulative that he would want me to die? Or
take the life of a child?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or give someone
cancer?</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">Honestly, those are deep theological issues that we all struggle
with and I do not have a solid answer for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">Seriously, I don’t know.</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">I think that the answer is no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know that God is a loving God and I know that before the world was corrupted,
Adam and Eve weren’t supposed to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Death and disease and suffering are abnormal.</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">But on the other hand, in our world, these things exist and while God doesn't <u><b>give</b></u> us these things, sometimes,
for his own reasons, God chooses not to take hardship away from us.</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">And so the question is, when trouble comes, when we experience
hardship, and suffering, pain and even death… how should we pray?</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">Our natural reaction is to pray for God to rescue us from our trouble,
to take away our pain, and to save us from death and most of the time, that is
exactly how we pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, that
is not the model that we have been given.</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-weight: normal;">In John 12:27-28, shortly before Jesus was arrested, he said this to his
disciples:</span></h4>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup>27 </sup>“Now my soul is troubled,
and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this
very reason I came to this hour. <sup>28 </sup>Father, glorify your name!”</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
And
later that night Jesus prayed two times saying, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as
I will, but as you will.</i>” (Matthew 26:39) and then later, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He went away a second time and prayed, “My
Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it,
may your will be done</i>.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Knowing
that God has sent him to die, Jesus prays that the Father will use his
suffering to bring glory to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
lives as an example to us that our prayers might not always be for God to
rescue us from our troubles, but that, if God has prepared that trouble for us,
or has chosen to allow it into our lives, that our suffering would somehow
bring God glory.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
The
crucifixion of Jesus meant the death of God’s own child but God allowed it,
even planned it, because, in the grand scheme of things, in God’s master plan,
that pain, that suffering, that death, made the entire world, and the future of
everyone, better.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
God
brought glory to himself when Jesus was lifted up on the cross because that
action pointed all of humanity toward Jesus and toward God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we know, that whatever we do that points
others toward Jesus, likewise brings glory to God.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
And
so when we experience hardship, and suffering, pain and even death, even though
our natural reaction is to pray for God to rescue us, we must remember that is
not the model that we have been given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Praying
for rescue isn’t a bad thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before his
arrest Jesus was praying for exactly that when he said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” </i>But he
didn’t stop there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus continued by
saying, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yet not as I will, but as you
will.”</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
It
is okay for us to pray that God would rescue us, in fact, it’s normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we always need to remember that rescue
might not be a part of God’s plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
so, as we pray for rescue, we should also remember to pray that if God chooses
not to rescue us, that our trouble, our suffering, and yes, even our death
might, somehow, bring glory to God and point others toward him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
And
those are probably the hardest prayers we will ever pray.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email notification for updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-81343812709268790012015-03-18T09:08:00.003-04:002015-03-18T12:56:49.017-04:00Excuses, Excuses<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_XqPXjc3H1D8GDSMwZARujpXrGZJJ49lqKH2nzWWim02G9zydZLnCsmM-gVbT5kXUB-vPiMrHxImwEpkHTdLFR6N3PJUD_S8NWmTHuQheEyURTHNb5UXUXFtutPRhI5513amjCT7e5LM/s1600/Excuses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_XqPXjc3H1D8GDSMwZARujpXrGZJJ49lqKH2nzWWim02G9zydZLnCsmM-gVbT5kXUB-vPiMrHxImwEpkHTdLFR6N3PJUD_S8NWmTHuQheEyURTHNb5UXUXFtutPRhI5513amjCT7e5LM/s1600/Excuses.jpg" height="171" width="320" /></a></div>
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“I could never be a _______ because I once heard about a
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This kind of statement is all too common on social
media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been said about almost
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Sure, it’s funny to point at the Republican that didn’t know
that <a href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/03/15/republican-senator-tom-cotton-warns-america-iran-now-controls-tehran-capital-of-iran-video/">Tehran
is the capitol of Iran</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or the
Democrat who thought the island of Guam would <a href="http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/guamtip.asp">capsize if we sent too
many Marines there</a>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it isn’t
really fair to say that these people represent all Republicans or all
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Don’t judge an entire group by the actions of a few.</div>
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Because that would just be stupid.</div>
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John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-65723502755372329002015-03-13T11:35:00.000-04:002015-03-13T11:35:42.036-04:00Good News, Bad news<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjd-PO6N8RxWoKXMPBN229evppc6tnPQy8pzdGOuk2E3unBfAsV1CtmKhLJFGaD9fELY3uZOC1gt7uXqJydplXa4QBmYSzubp7lCiSK9tdQISyzykRwdovrd1qdjhLmyEToyVNvVBbHy8/s1600/Comedy+Tragedy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjd-PO6N8RxWoKXMPBN229evppc6tnPQy8pzdGOuk2E3unBfAsV1CtmKhLJFGaD9fELY3uZOC1gt7uXqJydplXa4QBmYSzubp7lCiSK9tdQISyzykRwdovrd1qdjhLmyEToyVNvVBbHy8/s1600/Comedy+Tragedy.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week I got a card in the mail reminding me that it is
time to make an appointment with John, the audiologist that programs my
cochlear implant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hardly seems like six months since I have seen him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once again, I am uncertain how things will go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the one hand, because whatever changes are
happening in my head are incredibly gradual, I don’t really notice that much
has changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, other people tell
me that they can tell that I am hearing better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the few places that I notice a difference is in meetings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it is in a small meeting, or in youth
group, or in a large room like the fellowship hall, I notice that I can hear
more than I used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that long ago,
I could barely make out anything in our youth meetings and almost nothing at
all in a big room like the fellowship hall, but lately I can hear enough to
keep up with some of the conversations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I still am not where I would like to be, but I can tell that things are
better than they were.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At least until last week.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right around Ash Wednesday, I noticed that it was suddenly
harder to understand the people around me and discovered that my hearing aid was
acting up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since receiving a cochlear implant, I have
two hearing aids and only one ear to wear them in, so I have a spare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, at one of my last visits my regular
audiologist, Walt, reprogrammed them both to fit my right ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when my hearing aid went on the fritz, I
just switched over to the spare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things
were kind of busy at work so I figured that I would just make an appointment
after things calmed down a little.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That worked for two weeks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But after two weeks, my spare hearing aid quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I emailed Walt on a Thursday and got an
appointment the very next Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
hearing aid didn’t work at all and the other works as long as the ear mold isn’t
attached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Walt thought that was
pretty weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any case, both of them
have been sent back to the factory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
means that the only things that I am currently hearing are coming through my
cochlear implant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that is my good news, bad news thing divides.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bad news is that I really can’t hear anything on my
right side without hearing aids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the
good news is that since I have an implant I can still hear something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I didn’t have the implant and both hearing
aids quit, I would be in deep weeds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other good news, and really sort awesome, is that even
hearing only through my implant, I am doing fairly well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can hear reasonably well in most situations
and have even been listening to the radio (a little) in the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, any place with a lot of ambient
noise is almost impossible, and conversation around the dinner table at home is
pretty difficult to follow, but I am relatively functional.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Six months ago, I’m not certain that I could have done this
well on my implant alone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I guess I’m a little excited to see John and have my
implant reprogrammed again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who knows how much better things might get?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
---------<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u><b>Join the Adventure!</b></u> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Earlier posts about my hearing adventure can be found <a href="http://pastorjohnpartridge.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_11.html">here: My Hearing Journey.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Read them all or just catch up on what you've missed! </span></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email notification for updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-78874781474827884452015-03-07T10:10:00.002-05:002015-03-07T10:10:52.323-05:00Six Ways to Get Unfollowed on Twitter<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxC9zSPt0-5six3AInQyIupWCO7bo1XqavZeShd3CiyWc-q9fYjG3GboelDQXt5aOovr3cpDKLYATqwMO0ADZ-nKasIys0BMIvWtuNY7yMA2OLvjKiyDGK7IhiT48tALoSj1TKlG1ZACYV/s1600/Dead+Chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxC9zSPt0-5six3AInQyIupWCO7bo1XqavZeShd3CiyWc-q9fYjG3GboelDQXt5aOovr3cpDKLYATqwMO0ADZ-nKasIys0BMIvWtuNY7yMA2OLvjKiyDGK7IhiT48tALoSj1TKlG1ZACYV/s1600/Dead+Chicken.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
People follow one another on Twitter (and unfollow) for a lot of
reasons, but in my book, these six things will get you unfollowed pretty
quickly.</div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Post too many times a day -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My general rule of thumb is that most people
can post five times a day. Even ten is acceptable if you have something
really good to say, or if there is some special event that you are live
tweeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But once you start crowding my
feed, you are a target.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Post too many times in a row – Some people post five or ten tweets in a row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it is a bunch of separate things
all sent at once, and other times someone strings a long post
into five or ten tweets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to
blog, write a blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way, if you
do it very often, I’m probably not going to follow you.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Post too many pictures – I know everyone says that pictures attract attention, but if
all you do is post a bunch of pictures, posters or memes on my feed, I’m
probably not going to follow you.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Post Off topic – I generally follow people
because I am interested in what they post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I completely understand that we are all human and a little “human
interest” is fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The occasional post
about your kids, or your nice dinner is okay, but if you say that your posts
are about science, religion, business or whatever, and spend most of your time
posting about something else, your days on my list might be numbered.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Post ads – I understand that many of us are on social
media to promote our place of business, books, or even ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if all I ever see are ads instead of useful content, I’m probably not going to follow you.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Post “click-bait” – We all have a variety of
interests and occasionally we find interesting things that we want to share,
but if the majority of your posts are links to “click-bait” advertising that
looks like “Wow! Look at this Crazy Stuff!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m probably not going to follow you. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm sure that missed a few.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What have people done that made <u><b>you</b></u> unfollow them?<span style="background-color: white;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white;">I tweet primarily about church, faith and religion, but also science, technology, the space program and the human condition. And of course, a few about my kids. Follow me <span id="goog_1627748947"></span><a href="https://twitter.com/PastorPartridge">@PastorPartridge</a></span></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></a><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span id="goog_1627748948"></span><br /></span></span>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
I </div>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-29048516908213181832015-02-20T12:23:00.000-05:002015-02-20T12:23:15.445-05:00Immigration: A Christian Dilemma<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9N9c1qkUS1flgkSX2g6LDi2b9F7uSv5wxCd4t7Ms6n8Mx05zoU6nSvuicISBdXFKHE0H-ANuBdWGWA7o1v8D8jGSneJplDHlEx3nVVktR7M4zY1Ckq4pyNaihLkGe3nSZf2VRqDfP69C/s1600/razor-wire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9N9c1qkUS1flgkSX2g6LDi2b9F7uSv5wxCd4t7Ms6n8Mx05zoU6nSvuicISBdXFKHE0H-ANuBdWGWA7o1v8D8jGSneJplDHlEx3nVVktR7M4zY1Ckq4pyNaihLkGe3nSZf2VRqDfP69C/s1600/razor-wire.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Should we build a wall at the border, or should we let
everyone through?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I scroll through my
social media feeds, I see posts by friends that seem to support both
extremes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some say that, as a matter of
security, out nation must seal the border.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Others say that as a matter of Christian compassion, we must care for
the foreigners among us and allow them in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what should a faithful Christian believe?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is there a “right” answer?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Honestly, I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I do know, is that both extremes miss the
mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recognize that both “sides” are represented by
people of faith who believe in the message of the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But at the same time, each group ignores vital
and valid points that are made by the other.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the interests of full disclosure, I am the product of an
immigrant family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My grandparents came
here from Germany, as did my Mother-in-law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our family is certainly sympathetic to the cause of immigrants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even so, I understand that the discussion
pulls us in different directions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are some points of discussion worth
considering:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>As followers of God, we are called to be the
voice for the voiceless (Proverbs 31:8) as well as to care for the foreigners
among us (Exodus 22, Jeremiah 22, Ezekiel 22, Zechariah 7)</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>There are limited
resources with which to care for them and a limited number of volunteers who
can provide care.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Border crossings that
avoid official checkpoints, cross deserts and other inhospitable territory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, men, women and children die
crossing the border.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Unscrupulous people, who are hired to guide
others across the border, often abandon their charges or sell them into various
forms of human trafficking.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Whenever the chance of success is higher, or the
rewards for success become greater, more people attempt to cross the border.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Is it fair, or just, to those who are following
the law and applying for proper documentation, to allow undocumented immigrants
to flow across the border?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Is it fair, or just, for native born citizens to
compete for employment against undocumented migrants?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>There are valid local and national security
concerns related to some of the people who are crossing the border.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it justice to put others at risk by
allowing known criminals into the country without a background check?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Clearly, we are called to be compassionate and to care
for the foreigners among us,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> b</span>ut the
most compassionate, caring, and just thing to do may not be found at either
extreme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Building walls</span> and
returning undocumented migrants results in injustice, but opening
the floodgates and allowing everyone in creates a different kind of
injustice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making it easier
to cross the border will increase the number of people who die crossing it. And the failure to regulate who is crossing, will drive migrants into the hands
of human traffickers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the waiting list for legal documentation can drag on
for years, how are those applicants harmed by migrants who are given such
documentation after crossing the border in the dark of night?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have seen similar waves of immigration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were waves of Irish, Germans, Czechs, Chinese,
Vietnamese, and others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps with this
wave of immigrants from Central America, we might reconsider an
old idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if we built a new “Ellis
Island” on our border with Mexico?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
would be a place where migrants would be welcomed, cared for, and kept safe, but
also a place where they could be documented, we could conduct background checks, and verify
that they met other requirements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At Ellis Island, migrants were tested for disease, and
were required to provide documentation that they had employment and a place to
live in their new country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While most
migrants passed through Ellis Island in a day or two, my grandfather was
detained for a week because the man who was supposed to verify his employment
was delayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was finally approved for
entry after that man sent a telegram which verified his status.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once again, I don’t know what the answer is. Most likely, there is no single answer.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
But each extreme carries us toward injustice. </div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Justice and compassion demand that we try to find a way <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>between</u></b> these conflicting
demands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-61719345147072582962015-02-07T12:42:00.001-05:002015-02-07T13:01:33.422-05:00Snipers and Burning Pilots - God Weeps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGDXNMa_1iLmicd6hScFkHcL_zWr1ZY01J_y6izXOpAbiipAWSYbzXamZV_z5yS2aKTKnVxRLtCvVSDLHz-z8VyPtfKnKB4GTlA6OJ9ySL9BcevgzyRV1hUXfu7ZDxcCCczps8g3DIzjg/s1600/Sniper+target.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGDXNMa_1iLmicd6hScFkHcL_zWr1ZY01J_y6izXOpAbiipAWSYbzXamZV_z5yS2aKTKnVxRLtCvVSDLHz-z8VyPtfKnKB4GTlA6OJ9ySL9BcevgzyRV1hUXfu7ZDxcCCczps8g3DIzjg/s1600/Sniper+target.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
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Lately there has been a great deal of publicity and social media
chatter about the movie, American Sniper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course everyone is also talking about the Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath
al-Kaseasbeh, who was burned to death by ISIS fighters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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I struggle with these things.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent ten years in the Army Reserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For years I collected and read books on
military history and one of the books that I liked was about the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Marine-Sniper-93-Confirmed-Kills/dp/0425103552/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423245804&sr=1-1&keywords=marine+Sniper">Marine
sniper, <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Carlos Hathcock</span></a>, who
was the “most lethal” sniper during the Vietnam war and whose record held until <a href="http://www.amazon.com/American-Sniper-Autobiography-Military-History/dp/0062238868/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423245971&sr=1-2&keywords=marine+Sniper">Chris
Kyle</a> broke it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always admired
the courage and fortitude of men like Carlos Hathcock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time, seeing a helpless, caged man
burned to death (I haven’t actually seen it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just can’t bring myself to watch a man die) stirs
an incredible anger in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A part of me wants revenge.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But as much as we have made heroes out of men like Carlos
Hathcock and Chris Kyle, and martyrs out of men like Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, we
ought to stop and think about what God wants.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We know how these things make us feel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But how does God feel?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While it is true that our God is a god of Justice, and while
it is true that God has sent armies to destroy evil and to avenge wrongdoing,
God is also a god of compassion, mercy and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In cases like these, clearly, we find that
there is tension between the world that exists and what God wants.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But even if, in the darkest sense, we assume that God
desires for evil to be destroyed and that, at least by our definition, ISIS is
that evil, what do we know about God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do not pretend to know the mind of God.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God did not speak to me from Mount Sinai.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is not my place to declare that God wants to kill or
destroy ISIS regardless of their violence and evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we have learned anything from history, we
should know that it is not the place of human beings to go to war under the
assumption that we have been “sent by God” or that we are doing the “will of
God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unless God speaks to me in a clear and audible voice, I am
not likely to change my opinion on that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I think that the message of scripture tells us quite
clearly how God feels.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God weeps.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God loves the people of his creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God loves the Jews, and the Christians, Buddhists,
Atheists, Muslims, and everyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God claims all of us as his children.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And God desires for every one of his children to come to
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, after all, is the message of
scripture and especially the message of Jesus and the New Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God loves us so much that he was willing to sacrifice the
most valuable thing he had, his own son, in order to rescue us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God loves humanity so much that he was
willing to set aside his God-ness, come to earth in human flesh, and suffer and
die as one of us, all so that we might have the chance to live forever in his
home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so I honestly don’t know how God feels about Chris Kyle
or Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh except that he must feel like any other parent who
watches their children fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God loved
Chris Kyle, and Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, and the men they killed, and the men
that killed them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every one of them, whether they were Americans, Jordanians, ISIS
fighters, Christians or Muslims, were his beloved children.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And with us, God watched them die.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so, although I cannot say whether God sent Chris Kyle to
impose some kind of “divine judgment,” I do know something else that is
certain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just as any parent who watches a child die, when God watches
the horror that is war…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God weeps.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-21269234752397533352015-01-20T16:29:00.002-05:002015-01-20T16:29:44.611-05:00Twelve Toxic Attitudes that Kill Churches<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR1PZBAUfBmchwOH_9-7al0X9QSQEBDyD3trAjWr4pSqheETSKBecuEv5ISS6DP3OLslPAkOWsJWERgNE6BY5hrWwszoaD-TtaiHM-1-VD2d8vD1MvuGqvrimkvn97z91RJWhnJR-kvjz/s1600/Poison+-+Toxic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR1PZBAUfBmchwOH_9-7al0X9QSQEBDyD3trAjWr4pSqheETSKBecuEv5ISS6DP3OLslPAkOWsJWERgNE6BY5hrWwszoaD-TtaiHM-1-VD2d8vD1MvuGqvrimkvn97z91RJWhnJR-kvjz/s1600/Poison+-+Toxic.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have witnessed ugliness in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both as a layperson and as a
pastor, I have witnessed attitudes so unhealthy that they become toxic to the
health of the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most often these
attitudes are limited to a handful of people, but occasionally these attitudes become
a part of the church culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much
damage is done by these attitudes depends upon how many are present and how
many people adopt them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like any poison,
the more there is, the sicker the patient is likely to become.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want churches to be healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My hope is that this list will spur a conversation within the church so that we can move toward health.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We don’t want to be challenged – We don’t want
to hear about how God is calling us to ministry, or to missions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t want to be told that we should pray
more, or read the Bible, or study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Challenging sermons tell us that we can do better, and that makes us
feel like we aren’t good enough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We don’t want training – Whenever someone mentions
training we know that they want us to do something new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are trained, we will be expected to do
more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asking us to get training means
that you think we aren’t doing enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly,
we don’t want to do anything that we aren’t already doing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We don’t want to hear about “evangelism” or
“outreach.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- We’re all friends here,
we’re comfortable with the way things are and we really don’t want to meet new
people who might want to change things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We don’t want to go door to door, or pass out tracts, or witness to our
friends, family or coworkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know what
the Bible says we should do, but that would make us uncomfortable.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We don’t want to change – Change makes us
uncomfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t want to build
anything, we don’t want to remodel the classrooms, or move to a bigger (or
smaller) building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t even want to
change the order of worship or try different music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We don’t to be too “spiritual” - We don’t want
to live differently, talk differently, act differently or memorize scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fit in the way we are and we don’t want
our neighbors and friends to think that we’re “Jesus freaks” or zealots, or
radicals or anything.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We don’t want new technology – We don’t use the
Internet so we don’t really care if the church uses a webpage, Facebook,
Twitter, or any of that online stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
don’t want flat screens or projectors in the sanctuary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it doesn’t benefit us, the pastor and
staff don’t really need to waste their time on it.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We don’t really want new members – We <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>say</u></b> that we want to grow because
we know that we’re supposed to, but we don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If new people come, they’ll have new ideas and want to do things
differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would love to have new
people who are just like us, but we don’t really want anyone who is different
because they might want to change things. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We don’t really want to go deeper - We know that
our pastor wants us to spend time in prayer, read the Bible and attend Sunday
school or Bible study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He calls this
“going deeper” but we’re afraid that if we learn too much, God will ask us to
change.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We don’t want to feel bad about ourselves – We
don’t want the pastor to talk about money, or giving (and certainly not
tithing) because it sounds like we aren’t giving enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t want to hear what the Bible says
because we’re afraid that we won’t measure up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We don’t want to hear about how rich we are, or how poor people live
because we might be expected to do something to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In general, we don’t want to hear anything
that might make us feel like we aren’t what God wants us to be, or that we
could do better, because we don’t want to feel bad about ourselves.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We expect the pastor and staff to do what we
tell them – The pastor is not our leader, teacher or coach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To us, the pastor is just another
employee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have to do what they
ask, but we expect them to do exactly what we tell them to do, to preach what
we tell them, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>not</u></b> to
preach what we tell them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Church growth is not our responsibility - We pay
the pastor to do things like visitation, evangelism, and outreach so we don’t
have to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Growing the church is their
job, not ours.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>We want a chaplain instead of a pastor - We want
someone to tell us that we’re okay just the way we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want someone who will tell us that we are
good people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t want to take care
of others; we want someone to take care of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We want someone who will be there when we’re sick, make us feel good on
Sunday, pray over our covered dish dinners and, when the time comes, conduct
our funerals and... close our church.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What do you think?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you seen these attitudes in your church?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are there others that should be added to the list?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
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<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-31347474381148986792015-01-08T15:08:00.000-05:002015-01-08T15:16:28.884-05:00What is the Difference Between Islam and Terrorists?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRfEMyv2NRVDoorLMntA-48VCaJTwYhYCLdLcvNdmSXSpWrusO2bdn4kGe5sAWYUJI-0uKyee7lrInQiHDPCU9mJ7VR9z4xVR9LA-dA5Eu-jm7XiMuNohssBmprMddNWyNu5o0tKSzq0t/s1600/Islam+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRfEMyv2NRVDoorLMntA-48VCaJTwYhYCLdLcvNdmSXSpWrusO2bdn4kGe5sAWYUJI-0uKyee7lrInQiHDPCU9mJ7VR9z4xVR9LA-dA5Eu-jm7XiMuNohssBmprMddNWyNu5o0tKSzq0t/s1600/Islam+face.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
In light of the murder of journalists in Paris this week, I came across this excellent article on understanding the relationship that radical Islam has to mainstream Islamic teaching (thanks to my friend <a href="http://www.allanbevere.com/2015/01/understanding-relationship-between.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+allanbevere%2FROss+%28Allan+R.+Bevere%29&utm_content=FaceBook">Dr. Allen Bevere</a>). It is well written and extremely informative. Before you form an opinion on radical juhadists you really need to read this.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Challenging Radical Islam</h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="sub-title">An explanation of Islam’s relation to terrorism and violence</span> </h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by <span class="author">John A. Azumah</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="author"> </span>January 2015</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The world is being subjected to horrific images of religious violence.
The Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria records its beheadings. Boko
Haram in Nigeria parades hundreds of kidnapped schoolgirls. Al-Shabaab
in Somalia attacks a shopping mall in Nairobi. These barbaric acts can
make us feel helpless, fearful, angry, and even guilty, because there
seems to be little we can do to stop them. Meanwhile, commentators
traipse from one television channel to the other, presenting their
analyses. Some condemn IS and Boko Haram but assure viewers that their
acts have nothing to do with true Islam. Others opine that IS and Boko
Haram do represent Islam’s true face. Neither perspective is helpful.
Both distort the nature of Islam and its relation to terrorism and
violence.<br />
<br />
Evangelical views on Islam understandably hardened after
9/11. Ted Haggard, past president of the National Evangelical
Association, said, “The Christian God encourages freedom, love,
forgiveness, prosperity and health. The Muslim god appears to value...<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.firstthings.com/article/2015/01/challenging-radical-islam">(Click here to read the full text) </a><br />
<br />
<br />John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-89970177598834708652014-12-31T14:12:00.001-05:002014-12-31T14:26:03.763-05:00The Scandal of Christmas<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ibySwk6FvdFGXkfS1vBjhkBqDlp8ADbgZjD9OrpRNFBW9ysyjvuh173FVZZfTTd7_H4T3SLL3pUXA0rDYknX1q92-SDEVgZXOZJinqZm_fCBlCtY4oubY5VqAyqb_vj6lcqlbrR1HGJn/s1600/Crazy+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ibySwk6FvdFGXkfS1vBjhkBqDlp8ADbgZjD9OrpRNFBW9ysyjvuh173FVZZfTTd7_H4T3SLL3pUXA0rDYknX1q92-SDEVgZXOZJinqZm_fCBlCtY4oubY5VqAyqb_vj6lcqlbrR1HGJn/s1600/Crazy+baby.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Christmas is a scandal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We may have shined it up, but that first Christmas was nothing like we pretend. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We've made the manger look pretty and we added lots of twinkling lights and shiny decorations. But in all of our celebrations we should never forget the scandal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In
Matthew we learn that Jesus descended from Rahab
a prostitute, enemy, and foreigner who hid Israelite spies in the city of Jericho. Ruth, who was a widow and a foreigner from Moab. King
David and Uriah’s wife (Bathsheba), who were adulterers. David was also a philanderer and a murderer. Manasseh, who was the worst king Israel ever had. According to the Old Testament, Manasseh committed “detestable sins”, and was
“…more evil than the Ammonites.” And then of course there was Mary
and Joseph who were just flat-out poor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From
the story of Mary and Joseph we learn that Jesus
was sent to save his people from their sins. He
was to be called Emmanuel, “God with us.” This reminds us that we are
not alone. God has entered this world and lives among us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We remember that shepherds were
the outsiders and the outcasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
smelled bad. They touched dead animals and were often ceremonially
unclean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were very near the bottom
of the social order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, God chooses
to announce the arrival of his son, the son of the King of the Universe, to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">them</b> rather than to kings or priests.</span></div>
<div class="line" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; tab-stops: 13.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; tab-stops: 13.5pt;">
And then Simeon prophesied that <span class="text">Jesus, the promised Messiah of the Jews, had been sent by God as a
light to the Gentiles. Imagine that. Israel's Messiah, for whom the Jews had waited for hundreds of years, had been sent to save the the non-Jews, the people who were outsiders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, John the Baptist proclaimed
that Jesus was the creator of the Universe who became God in human flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus was the light that gives light to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>everyone</u></b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus
came and made his dwelling place among humans, he came to live among us, as one
of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John’s whole purpose was to
reveal Jesus so that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>all</u></b>
might believe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is the great scandal of Christmas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Centuries
before the arrival of Jesus, God was writing
a story that invited and welcomed outsiders, outcasts, foreigners, foul-ups,
criminals, and sinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everybody that
society looked down on, <u>God invited in</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everybody who thought they weren’t good enough, or rich enough, or who
just thought that they <u>weren’t enough</u>, Jesus came to open the door and
pay the price so that everyone could come into his father’s house.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The savior of the world was not born in the capitol city. The king of the universe was not welcomed by the powerful and the important. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The rich, the royalty, and the politically powerful weren't even invited.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Christmas story is filled with the rejects, outcasts, outsiders, screw-ups, foreigners, and everyone that the rich, powerful, popular (and even regular people) loved to hate. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
story of Christmas is about redemption and
transformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a story of
outsiders being invited in, a story of poor people becoming parents to a king, a story of the outcasts hearing the good
news long before the rich, the powerful and the popular. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The story of Christmas is an invitation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All of us who thought that we
weren’t good enough, or rich enough, or too messed up, or too sinful, or
whatever. All of us have been invited in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus announced to the world that God has set a place at the
table for everyone.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As
we begin a new year, remember that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>no one</u></b> is too far from God to be invited in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Look around. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Who are the people that are looked down upon, unpopular, poor, despised, outcast, or ignored? </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">The Christmas story invites them too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">That's the scandal.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every one of us</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
no matter who we are, and no matter what we have done, has a place at the
table.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even
me.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even
you.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Without the scandal, there is no Christmas.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We
are called to be like the shepherds, and Simeon, and Anna, and John the
Apostle, and John the Baptist, and the angels, and everyone else in this story,
Let us go out into the world and share the good news of Jesus, the light of the
world, so <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>all</u></b> might believe. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even the outcasts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u><b>Especially</b></u>, the outcasts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-58380610261602199442014-11-28T10:18:00.000-05:002014-11-28T10:18:06.928-05:00What Happens When We Die?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyXvqRK6aS8FCH90fm4yxCLytdIlhCkZveA9lKMQk2ChE8T1fPzP5FKVGM9d-_HRQ0hhmJDpHajyy_MfoTHoxuYbnNmTfY8v5cZ3ck5XFvSmWBI34hNLvcAoKSxfUsAHfTuYY-TknyTji/s1600/escalator-to-heaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyXvqRK6aS8FCH90fm4yxCLytdIlhCkZveA9lKMQk2ChE8T1fPzP5FKVGM9d-_HRQ0hhmJDpHajyy_MfoTHoxuYbnNmTfY8v5cZ3ck5XFvSmWBI34hNLvcAoKSxfUsAHfTuYY-TknyTji/s1600/escalator-to-heaven.jpg" height="320" width="304" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Question:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
What happens when we die? Do we go to heaven right away or is it
something else?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>Short answer:</u> We don’t know exactly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>Longer answer:</u> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Many people believe that Paul in 2 Corinthians
5:6-9, by saying “<i>Absent from the body and present with the Lord</i>” is
suggesting that we are, in fact, immediately transported to heaven. But
if you read the entire passage in context the argument is something less than
convincing. This is especially true when we read 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
where Paul says, “<sup>51 </sup><i>Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will
not all sleep, but we will all be changed— <sup>52 </sup>in a flash, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the
dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. <sup>53 </sup>For
the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with
immortality</i>. “ Which certainly sounds like whatever happens, waits for the
second coming and the day of judgment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> On the third hand, we have Revelation 6:9-10 at the
opening of the seals during the Great Tribulation and John says, “<i>When he
opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been
slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. <sup>10 </sup>They
called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you
judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> So here, <u><b>before</b></u> the second coming, are the souls of
the martyrs are in heaven under the altar of God. Where is everyone
else? I don’t know. But scripture never mentions any kind of “in
between” existence other than life on earth and life in heaven. This
picture in Revelation describes only the *<b>souls</b>* of the martyrs and not
the martyrs themselves so they seem to be existing without bodies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> On the fourth hand, James 2:26 says that “<i>"the
body without the spirit is dead."</i> So if we’re dead, then the spirit
has left, so where did it go? Ecclesiastes 12:7 says that at death “<i>the
dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who
gave it.”</i> And in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 Paul says, “<i>For we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with
Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him</i>.” Which indicates that the
souls of the dead live with Christ and return with him on the day of
judgment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> On the fifth hand, Jesus spoke of Moses, and Elijah
and Abraham in the first person as if they were people that he knew, who were
alive and able to carry on a discussion, not as people who were in any way
“asleep” of somehow “in between.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Also of interest is Jude 1:9 that hints that the
archangel Michael was guarding Moses body/soul from Satan as he was carried to
heaven and there are other references of angels “carrying” the souls of the
departed to heaven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In the end, there are two schools of thought. First
that upon death we fall into some sort of “soul sleep” or “slumber” during which
time we have no perception of the passage of time until that moment when Christ
returns, we hear the trumpet, and meet him in the sky. To me, the
evidence of scripture would seem to be strongly against this. The second
is that we return to God immediately upon our death, but whatever body we have
is not the body that will be given to us on Resurrection day. On that day,
we are told, that we will be like Jesus with a body that is clearly different
(and yet similar) from our earthly bodies. Bodies that will be without pain and
suffering and which will be immortal and imperishable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Scripture does not, in any one place, provide a clear
picture of what happens. I can find no evidence at all of “soul sleep” or
any sort of delay until Judgment Day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
me, all of the evidence points to us going to heaven immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
exactly that happens might be a little fuzzy, but I trust Jesus enough to trust
him with the details. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Note: I invited our church and my online
readers to write down any questions that they had about faith, the church, or
life in general. This is a part of that series.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Other questions and answers in this
series can be found <a href="http://pastorjohnpartridge.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_22.html">here: Ask
the Pastor</a> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To have Crossfusion delivered directly
to your email, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></div>
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John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-29963323761137834402014-11-25T12:20:00.000-05:002014-11-25T12:20:30.121-05:00Will You Help to Rescue a Generation?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHnMU-ox2RCIvMXxXA_lhzYpFtapCu4xsXpP0daFJDv02jyBBPOYlSp3IX1OlJ0s6cpSa3g0Ur4h5hmq-hlPO_SC3dXAB4_uByJkK0H_etIKiEJMeoT1URtE6Ve6IAc2PbP1dNeKtyauB/s1600/Life+buoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHnMU-ox2RCIvMXxXA_lhzYpFtapCu4xsXpP0daFJDv02jyBBPOYlSp3IX1OlJ0s6cpSa3g0Ur4h5hmq-hlPO_SC3dXAB4_uByJkK0H_etIKiEJMeoT1URtE6Ve6IAc2PbP1dNeKtyauB/s1600/Life+buoy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to ask for your help.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been thinking about an idea for ten years but,
particularly with the death of my father, I just can’t put it off any more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My parents grew up during the Great Depression.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I grew up, I heard a lot of stories from them, and from
my grandparents, about how they survived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both Patti and I learned how to save for a rainy day, and how to get by
when you don’t have much. Those lessons helped us to get through two years of
unemployment and the first few years in ministry when our budget was stretched beyond
the breaking point.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because many of you have learned those same lessons, during
the Great Depression, during your own lives, or by surviving your own
struggles, I would like to assemble your tips, advice, and stories into
something that, together, we can share with our children, our grandchildren,
our friends from Perry Helping Perry, and anybody else that could use some help
and wisdom to get them through the lean times.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To provide you with some ideas and provide a little organization,
here are some basic categories of that you might think about: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Saving for a rainy day</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Kitchen tips (cheap meals, money saving tips, or
whatever)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Cars (buying, selling, repairs, etc.)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>In the Laundry Room</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Clothes (children and adults)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Sewing and mending</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Gardening/canning/freezing</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Personal care (shampoo, shaving, haircuts, or
whatever you think of)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>In the Garage: Tools, Repairs, etc.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Vacation</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Date nights or dinner out (how to save a buck)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Gift giving, Christmas, Birthdays, etc.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Needs/Wants/Necessities</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Personal Stories</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that I am certainly missing a few things, but this is
just to get you thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that
you will write down some of the lessons that you learned from your parents, lessons
that you learned from the “school of hard knocks,” and any tips, or pieces of
wisdom, that you would like to pass along to your children or anyone else who
is struggling to get by.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Patti and I were able to get through that difficult period
of our lives because of the lessons that our parents taught and modeled for
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But many young people today did not
have the advantage of having such good teachers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That wisdom lives in people like you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope that you will share your tips, tricks, tidbits of
wisdom, and even your stories about how you survived those lean times and the
times when there was more month than money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your wisdom could make a huge difference in someone’s life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Won’t you please help?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-23007021081494810142014-11-21T13:19:00.000-05:002014-11-21T13:19:34.711-05:00Six Degrees of Social Media Separation<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh5ECsPJeAQLgPehfielzCsWEHrucBUv4GfLPNQqJpzcgI6j5Xlf4I6yAbMURzH0_LWXWUgDC0Y7Sz-JupywXPCtnWOp-Cris9MPJOW04RdyycGxcM-bPj1dK1pmPXKeezQbxrblqEkYn/s1600/connected-people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh5ECsPJeAQLgPehfielzCsWEHrucBUv4GfLPNQqJpzcgI6j5Xlf4I6yAbMURzH0_LWXWUgDC0Y7Sz-JupywXPCtnWOp-Cris9MPJOW04RdyycGxcM-bPj1dK1pmPXKeezQbxrblqEkYn/s1600/connected-people.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the last few decades, there has been much talk about “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_degrees_of_separation">Six Degrees of Separation</a>,”
which is the idea that any person in the world can be introduced to any other
person in the world, by being introduced through our networks of friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Statisticians have demonstrated that anyone
in the US can be introduced to almost anyone else in the US by going through
only two or three friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as often
as we hear such things, it is still amazing when it happens “in real life.”</div>
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This week I received a private message on Facebook from a
woman I never met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that was the
beginning (or possibly the end) of an unusual series of connections through my
life and through social media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
understand the connections that led to this message, let me go back in time to
high school.</div>
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After my eighth grade year, my parents moved to the south
side of Akron, Ohio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At our new church I
met Keith and Jamie Weaver, who would, within the next few years, depart for
Kenya, East Africa as missionaries through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/africainlandmission">Africa Inland Mission</a>
where they would serve for twenty five years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After I graduated from college and began working in Cleveland, I was
back at that same church and reconnected with Keith and Jamie during their
occasional visits home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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When the time came for them to consider a
return to the states, our church realized that no one (other than their
children) had ever had the opportunity to visit them in Kenya.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two women, Sandi, and my wife, Patti,
volunteered and along with our missions committee, we decided that we would
raise the funds to send them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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While Patti and Sandi were in Kenya visiting Keith and
Jamie, they met <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Steve-Peifer/e/B00DX6C0L0/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1">Steve and Nancy Peifer</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nancy was the librarian at <a href="http://www.rva.org/">Rift Valley
Academy</a>; Steve was the guidance counselor and also ran a feeding program at
local Kenyan schools (<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/Kenya%20Kids%20Can">Kenya Kids Can</a>).</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
With that as background, we return to the funeral
preparations for my father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as
it was available, I posted his obituary on my Facebook page and many friends,
including Steve Peifer, posted their condolences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day I had a private message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman who sent that message acknowledged
that we had never met. She had seen my name pop up when Steve had written on
the link to my father’s obituary and it had seemed familiar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She followed the link, read the obituary, realized
who my father was, printed it, and showed it to her parents.</div>
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What we discovered was that our fathers had sung together in
college, he had been the best man in my parent’s wedding and my father had been
the best man in theirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our parents had
exchanged letters and cards, but over the years had lost touch with one
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sent me a current photo of
her parents to give to my mother, and I sent a current address so that they
could send their condolences and reconnect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My Mom was a little stunned when I handed her the photo and explained
who it was.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that we live in a connected world, but it was still exciting
to see old friends reconnect because of two children on the Internet, two
missionaries to Africa, an obituary, and social media.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
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John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-76574100428112556622014-11-19T08:35:00.001-05:002014-11-20T07:22:06.693-05:00What's My Reputation? - Guest Blogger - Mark Partridge (my brother)For those of you who haven't heard through church or Twitter or Facebook or elsewhere, I lost my Dad this past week. In the last few days our family shared stories, shed tears and said goodbye. What follows is a story that all of us heard (with some variations) about Dad's experiences during WWII that my brother Mark shared online. Not only is it one of my favorite stories about my dad, it is deeply insightful and will make you think about who we are when we are out in "the world." With his permission, I share Mark's story with you.<br />
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
****************</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Guest post by Mark Partridge)</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70mAP-B-_puKqm-Xs6yTiZPHIgRNZDh23NdAhfyi-i3cOg8KXUwS9fkfqmvITv1BgHu8QhlbrLwVVyUNBAHa299fi-w5L1tDj0se5oTIKgQH5IO5GbUVLCckFpc_1MtEvh2sok9ytV0CW/s1600/Mark+Partridge+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70mAP-B-_puKqm-Xs6yTiZPHIgRNZDh23NdAhfyi-i3cOg8KXUwS9fkfqmvITv1BgHu8QhlbrLwVVyUNBAHa299fi-w5L1tDj0se5oTIKgQH5IO5GbUVLCckFpc_1MtEvh2sok9ytV0CW/s1600/Mark+Partridge+2014.jpg" height="200" width="114" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Partridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In honor of Dad, one of my favorite stories:</div>
<br />
During WWII,
Stanley, from a small family farm in Ohio, left high school early to
enlist in the armed services. When his classmates were donning caps and
gowns for graduation, Stanley was already in the uniform of the U.S.
Navy. Aboard a munitions ship in the South Pacific, the U.S.S Manderson
Victory, they tied up to battleships, cruisers, and destroyers,
re-arming them with every kind of shell and armament. While he never
talked <span class="text_exposed_show">much of the war, he certainly saw
it’s horrors up close; seeing their sister ship blow up in an immense
fireball when it hit a mine; coming under heavy bombardment during the
invasion of Okinawa. But for the crew of the Manderson Victory, perhaps
the most perilous time they experienced wasn’t during battle, but
during a storm. A storm that pitched the ship around so violently that
the racks holding the munitions in the hold began breaking; timbers the
size of railroad ties snapping like toothpicks. Shells rolling around,
clanking together - they were one spark away from meeting the same fate
as their sister ship. Up on the bridge, the Captain muttered something
about needing a “man who knows how to pray”. One of the officers heard
the comment, went and fetched Stanley, and brought him to the bridge.
Stanley said that during the entire war, this was the only time he had
ever seen fear on the Captain’s face. The Captain looked at Stanley,
said “I understand you’re a man who knows how to pray. I need you to
pray us through the storm,” and he handed Stanley the microphone to the
ship’s public address. And Stanley prayed.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8i0qQD9jmj-6Wjv-c7LK_RTMwaFM1sxWh8ASI2QlNHkiN47UShMmHLueibTv2Sq4t-5gxqmrGhjifWTO5MgjKd8yN1N4JFarYci7tw9zGGpn5uuN1IQ8XZbHG5WdlZEsnSFmPTV2e_4fZ/s1600/Stanley+I+Partridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8i0qQD9jmj-6Wjv-c7LK_RTMwaFM1sxWh8ASI2QlNHkiN47UShMmHLueibTv2Sq4t-5gxqmrGhjifWTO5MgjKd8yN1N4JFarYci7tw9zGGpn5uuN1IQ8XZbHG5WdlZEsnSFmPTV2e_4fZ/s1600/Stanley+I+Partridge.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Stanley I. Partridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="text_exposed_show"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<br />
We know a lot of stereotypes about sailors. We hear phrases such as
“cuss like sailor”, “drink like a sailor”, “a woman in every port”. And
if you took a teenager from a small farm in Ohio and dropped him
half-a-world away in the middle of a horrific war, you’d probably be
willing to cut him some slack if he picked up a few vices. But this
young man, far from home, had earned the reputation of “a man who knows
how to pray.”<br />
<br />
And so I remain challenged by the legacy of my dad.
When I’m at work, with friends, in various groups I socialize with, I
always ask myself,<br />
<br />
“What’s my reputation?”<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
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John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-15855661230693828222014-10-31T13:49:00.000-04:002014-10-31T14:19:22.750-04:00The Death of Grace?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dL4i_TrfQowNNLYXh7TYt7hnIycTAVBGgHJq_jFo5cTlmeO-1bWt2VDyiYEO7XfxnOt-f3SulRL5f6F_3_-CmE8lvNMwXwBjM_zTusdVB5lFgMZWGgxI05hHqAB2UA8gW4IXKc01YVOn/s1600/Dead+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dL4i_TrfQowNNLYXh7TYt7hnIycTAVBGgHJq_jFo5cTlmeO-1bWt2VDyiYEO7XfxnOt-f3SulRL5f6F_3_-CmE8lvNMwXwBjM_zTusdVB5lFgMZWGgxI05hHqAB2UA8gW4IXKc01YVOn/s1600/Dead+flower.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are witnessing the end of grace in the church that was
built on a foundation of grace.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are a United Methodist, you have almost certainly
heard of Rev. Frank Schaefer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An ordained
elder in The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church, in
2007 he chose to officiate at his son’s same-sex wedding in Massachusetts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, charges were brought against
him, a trial was held and he was suspended for 30 days so that he could
consider whether or not he could promise to uphold the “entire” Discipline of
the church (essentially a promise never to do this again).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 30 days he returned and said that he
could not promise to do so and the Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM) voted to
remove his credentials (the newspapers call this being “defrocked”).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa0HcWsNqrDve2qKRX039bQj6_qAtUpUgGqtR2ykQ51WJuku-LgLSJbQ5myfsL97M429SPPmkkMoosZuqr7KsG7FPcKrdo7ugAwlK7qDpbQ0noOGmcGSTx7Jw-mD2U3HOun8Z80ZWRpie/s1600/Frank+Schaefer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa0HcWsNqrDve2qKRX039bQj6_qAtUpUgGqtR2ykQ51WJuku-LgLSJbQ5myfsL97M429SPPmkkMoosZuqr7KsG7FPcKrdo7ugAwlK7qDpbQ0noOGmcGSTx7Jw-mD2U3HOun8Z80ZWRpie/s1600/Frank+Schaefer.jpg" /></a></div>
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</div>
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What follows is a weird sort of legal maneuvering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Schaefer appealed the decision of the BOM
essentially on the grounds that he was punished twice for the same offense, first
a 30 day suspension, and then the removal of his credentials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He won that appeal, and then this week, that
appeal was upheld by the Judicial Council, the church’s highest “court.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The basis of their decision is not really a
cause for celebration or concern on either side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really does hinge on a technicality and
does nothing at all to change church law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Judicial Council upheld Rev. Schaefer’s reinstatement on the grounds
that the original ruling (by the BOM) was poorly written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did not clearly state that Rev. Schaefer
would lose his credential permanently after the 30 day suspension even though
it was apparent from the beginning that this was their intention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so, Rev. Schaefer will have his credentials returned to
him, he will receive his back pay, church law is unchanged, and everything is
the same as before.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Except it isn’t.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rev. Schaefer might have won, but everyone else lost.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is reasonably obvious that the Board of Ministry never
intended for the 30 day suspension to be the only punishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 30 day suspension was intended as an act
of grace, a second chance, a recognition that we do things for our children
that might be unwise or against the rules, and a chance for Rev. Schaefer to
walk away with his integrity (and his credentials) by admitting that he loved
his son enough to break the rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps it was poorly written, but now it appears that an act
of grace is being punished.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An act of grace is now responsible for undoing the entire
trial.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so now, even though the poorly written decision was “technically”
responsible, grace will suffer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In future trials (and I have no doubt that there will be
more) those who make similar rulings will remember the trials and the appeals
of Rev. Schaefer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will want to
avoid being misinterpreted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will
want to avoid mistakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will want
to avoid being overturned on a technicality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There will be no recognition that sometimes people make
unwise decisions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There will be no understanding or sympathy because we love
our children.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There will be no second chances.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are watching the death of grace.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No matter which side you think is right, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
...when we lose grace, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
...we all lose.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-10224504991795318912014-10-29T15:25:00.001-04:002014-10-29T15:25:11.735-04:00Reprogramming My Head<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fwcGR76rX8DTEsBhs5CeIz_SrGSCSFheFdp_UfmbG3Bs69yNZlrNrAqnNBupDItPeN4surPFpMNHdA008vufedsBJ_nDWrQhbfgzbetIRQa6iRoogG2Us28tgtdrN1TmuUQmhbsYlqFM/s1600/Computer+chip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fwcGR76rX8DTEsBhs5CeIz_SrGSCSFheFdp_UfmbG3Bs69yNZlrNrAqnNBupDItPeN4surPFpMNHdA008vufedsBJ_nDWrQhbfgzbetIRQa6iRoogG2Us28tgtdrN1TmuUQmhbsYlqFM/s1600/Computer+chip.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A week or so ago, I returned to my audiologist, John, who
programs my cochlear implant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
little confusing when I describe it, because I still see Walt, the audiologist who
takes care of the hearing aid in my other ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anyway, we started out the way that the last couple sessions
started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John connected my implant to
his computer and ran through a series of tones to see how my brain was adapting
to the electrical impulses from my implant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But before we got very far, he took me down the hall to the
soundproof booths that are used for hearing tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, he re-ran the test that was required
to be approved for surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that
test, a voice reads random sentences and you have to repeat back any words (or
whole sentences) that you can understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This test is run one ear at a time, so I took off my hearing aid and
listened only with my implant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought
I did well, but John seemed excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
laughed because one of the sentences said something about the gecko that is on television
commercials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some reason, John was
very pleased that I had understood the word “gecko.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After he did the math and calculated the results of my test,
I understood why he was so pleased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the same test, prior to my surgery, I had understood 7 percent of the
words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, four months post-implant, I understood
70 percent of the words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder
people keep telling me that my hearing is noticeably better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the testing, John tried some more programming. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever he did was too much made everything
sound like my head was inside a garbage can, so he tried some other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along the way, we discovered that of the 12
electrodes that were inserted into my cochlea, two of them don’t seem to be
doing much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ten of them I can “hear” but
the last two, while I can “feel” them, I don’t really “hear” anything with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For each electrode, John turns up the
volume until I say that it is “uncomfortably loud.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for those two electrodes, there really
isn’t a “loud” and a “soft.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sort of
hear something, but it doesn’t really get louder as he turns up the input.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I notice, is that in one ear, instead of
getting loud, I can feel the volume pounding in my head much like you can feel
a loud bass thump from a big speaker at a rock concert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel it more than hear it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other electrode is similar, I don’t hear
it or feel it, but instead, at high “volumes” I can feel my head hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like I have a bad headache that pules
with the beat, on, off, on, off, on, off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the end, John turned off those two electrodes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His thinking is that if these electrodes aren’t
working by now, they aren’t going to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
likely, they are in a part of the cochlea that has more nerve damage and isn’t
really “talking” to my brain anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
any case, my implant can function with only four electrodes, so I should be
just fine with ten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I left, John finished
reprogramming everything using the ten working electrodes, as well as some
additional changes and enhancements that I now have to get used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t as much as he had hoped to do, but
we’re still moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John said
that for being only four months after my surgery, he felt I was doing very
well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so the adventure continues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not with giant leaps forward, but with baby
steps.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But forward is still forward.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Onward.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
---------<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u><b>Join the Adventure!</b></u> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Earlier posts about my hearing adventure can be found <a href="http://pastorjohnpartridge.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_11.html">here: My Hearing Journey.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Read them all or just catch up on what you've missed! </span></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To receive</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> email notification for updates to the Crossfusion blog, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-30482900891877164442014-10-03T15:20:00.000-04:002014-10-03T15:20:13.623-04:00Methodists vs. Catholics? (Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DBbAbzooGojtYioOUzfkDVjhbaqV6XSDT-C6f9DIz-Jnrls4oFeKszPU_QMjgE1kCUij7FNBM0JkQCTRJS5n97P0dQ2EqP5hyphenhyphen5fkbMLaao5tVh0S1rh7RhLh7nO0KEUG3JwgevpmblDP/s1600/house+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DBbAbzooGojtYioOUzfkDVjhbaqV6XSDT-C6f9DIz-Jnrls4oFeKszPU_QMjgE1kCUij7FNBM0JkQCTRJS5n97P0dQ2EqP5hyphenhyphen5fkbMLaao5tVh0S1rh7RhLh7nO0KEUG3JwgevpmblDP/s1600/house+fire.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<b><u>Question:</u></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Methodists vs. Catholics? (Part 2)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
This is Part 2 of a two part series answering two separate but
similar questions, “What is so different about the Catholic Church?” and, “Why
is there so much tension between the Methodist and the Catholic Church?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Part one can be found here: <a href="http://pastorjohnpartridge.blogspot.com/2014/10/methodists-vs-catholics.html">Methodist vs. Catholics? (Part 1)</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">----</span><br />
<br />
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<br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> Since there were
already hundreds of Methodist lay preachers in the colonies, John Wesley begged
his bishop to ordain some of them so that the members of the church could have
access to communion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bishop refused.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eventually, John Wesley took it upon himself to ordain
Thomas Coke as a bishop (even though he technically did not have that
authority), who then travelled to the colonies and ordained Francis
Asbury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this way, the Methodist
Church was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one intended for the
Methodist movement to become a church, but it did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, the Methodist Church structure,
belief and doctrine are similar to the Church of England (which today is known
as the Episcopal Church in the United States).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are not a congregational organization, but an ecclesiastical one,
which means we have a hierarchy where pastors answer to a bishop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because of the way that our church has separated from the
Catholic Church, our structures and beliefs, although quite different, are also
sometimes strikingly similar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even so,
there was a lot of bad blood between the reformers (like Martin Luther) and the
Popes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that in that era, the
Pope controlled the Holy Roman Emperor who, in turn, controlled the Army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In those days, there was no separation of church and
state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For generations, anyone who even
hinted at problems within the church could be arrested, their property seized,
they could be tortured or even put to death for believing anything different
than what they were told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nations who
chose (actually their kings chose) to become Protestant, were attacked by the
Empire’s Army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For hundreds of years,
wears were fought between Catholics and Protestants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the 30 Years War (1618-1648), part of Germany
fought against other parts of Germany with support thrown in from the kings of
France and Spain, as well as from the Empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During that time, 25-40% of the entire German population was killed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was also much bloodshed in England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Catholics and Protestants often got
along with one another, their rulers were not so kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As England’s Kings and Queens changed from
Catholic to Protestant and back again, everyone, including the priests, were
forced to convert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who did not, were
forced from their homes or worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was much bloodshed on all sides.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In any case, by the time of John Wesley, there were bad
feelings between the Church of England and the Catholic Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is evident in John Wesley’s writings as
well as Catholic writings of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But today, 200 years later, those bad feelings have faded and Catholics
and Protestants get along quite well (particularly here in the United States).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Technically, according to some Catholic
doctrine, anyone who is not a part of the “official” church of Saint Peter is
going to hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For our part, we deny
several key Catholic doctrines and emphasize that salvation if through grace
alone where the Catholic Church believes that both grace and works are required.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite our differences, we there are a great many
similarities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a similar
structure (although we do not have any “rank” higher than bishop and we do not
have a Pope).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have bishops who are in
charge of particular geographical areas, and we have one set of rules that
govern all of our churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today the “bad blood’ that once existed isn’t what it used
to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us have both Catholics
and Protestants mixed among our families and our friends and many Catholics and
Protestants are married to one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had a professor in seminary that did his doctoral studies in a Catholic
University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have even been times
that modern theologians, now having the benefit of being a few hundred years
distant, suggest that Protestants might reconsider some of the Catholic
teachings that were thrown out during the Reformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently, the Pope has invited evangelical
leaders to be his guests in Rome to discuss how we might work together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During my last pastorate, I became friends with Monsignor
Mark Froelich who was the local parish priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He and I were the only people in town who were members of both the
Kiwanis and the Rotary clubs and so we had lunch together twice each week (and
it didn’t hurt that he was a Cleveland Indians fan).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we are finding that our differences
may now be less than they were when our churches split during the Reformation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the end when we consider what the differences are between
the Methodist Church and the Catholic Church, the answer is both, “A lot” and, “Not
much.”</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--- <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Part One of this series can be found here: <a href="http://pastorjohnpartridge.blogspot.com/2014/10/methodists-vs-catholics.html">Methodist vs. Catholics? (Part 1)</a></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Note: I asked our youth to write down any questions
that they had about faith, the church, or life in general. This is a part of that series.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Other questions and answers in this series can be found <a href="http://pastorjohnpartridge.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_22.html">here: Ask the Pastor</a> </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To have</span></span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b> Crossfusion delivered directly to your email, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a></b>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
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<br /></div>
</div>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-750902478074164532014-10-02T14:57:00.000-04:002014-10-03T15:21:03.571-04:00Methodists vs. Catholics?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>Question:</u></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Methodists vs. Catholics?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Today’s question actually grew out of two separate but
similar questions, “What is so different about the Catholic Church?” and, “Why
is there so much tension between the Methodist and the Catholic Church?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to answer either question we need to
go back several hundred years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we
understand how we got to where we are, our differences and any tension can be
more easily understood.</div>
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Let’s go back to the early 1500’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that time, no one would have referred to
the “Catholic” church but just “the church” because there really <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>was</u></b> only one church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that was about to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1517, a German priest named Martin Luther
wrote 95 complaints about the way that the church was doing business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among these complaints was the way that funds
were being raised to build what is known as St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a fantastic achievement of art and
engineering but it was incredibly expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The man who was tasked with raising the money, John Tetzel, was an
unscrupulous man who would do anything for a buck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to raise money, he sold “indulgences”
which were forgiveness of sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a
price, you could buy forgiveness for relatives who were already dead, or even
for sins that had not yet been committed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you had enough money, you could buy forgiveness for having a mistress
(and keep her), or you could, quite literally, get away with murder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Martin Luther probably did not intend to cause the uproar
that he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His intent was to post his
list of complaints and start a dialog that would reform the abuses of the
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as fate would have it, the
printing press had recently been invented and instead of merely posting his
complaints on the church door, they were printed, translated, and distributed
all over Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, the one church
began to splinter into the Catholic Church and various groups of protestors,
known as Protest-ants.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now jump ahead to 1534.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>King Henry VIII is married to Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of the former
King and Queen of Spain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Catherine
was not giving Henry a male heir and, since England had recently had a civil
war over who would succeed the king, having an heir was a big deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Originally, Catherine was married to Henry’s
brother who had died young and she then married Henry in order to keep Spain
happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marrying your brother’s widow
required the Pope’s permission but for Kings and Queens, this sort of thing
could be managed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when Catherine wasn’t
having any male children, Henry thought that his marriage ought to be annulled
so he could marry someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An annulment
required the permission of the Pope but again, this sort of thing was not
entirely uncommon for royalty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Except for one thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Catherine of Aragon’s nephew was Charles V, the King of
Spain and the Holy Roman Emperor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Charles commanded an army which was just short distance from Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charles told the Pope that he would be (hint,
hint) very unhappy if Henry received an annulment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the Pope couldn’t keep both Henry and
Charles happy, he stalled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For several years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, Henry decided to break off from the Catholic Church
and create the Church of England, whose head was no longer the Pope, but the
King of England. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so although the
Church of England became a Protestant church, it retained many similarities to
the Catholic Church.</div>
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Skip ahead another two hundred years, and we meet John and
Charles Wesley, priests of the Church of England who felt that the church could
do better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an effort to renew the
church, they began a movement that became known as Methodism (because of their ‘method’
of holiness).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Methodist movement took
the church beyond the walls of the church into the countryside and the
inner-city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Wesleys and the
Methodists were concerned that the poor did not have access to the church and
the church didn’t care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That movement grew
and spread all over England and into the American colonies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then came the American war for independence in 1776. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although the Church of England was the largest in the
colonies, nearly all of the priests were British citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the war broke out, they left their
churches and went home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This left a
great many people without access to a priest, or to communion, or to baptism,
or a proper burial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that time, it was
believed that not having access to regular communion, or baptism, was enough to
damn you to hell. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since there were
already hundreds of Methodist lay preachers in the colonies, John Wesley begged
his bishop to ordain some of them so that the members of the church could have
access to communion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bishop refused.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--- </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Continued in <a href="http://pastorjohnpartridge.blogspot.com/2014/10/methodists-vs-catholics-part-2.html">Methodists vs. Catholics - Part 2</a>) </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Note: I asked our youth to write down any questions
that they had about faith, the church, or life in general. This is a part of that series.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Other questions and answers in this series can be found <a href="http://pastorjohnpartridge.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_22.html">here: Ask the Pastor</a> </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To have</span></span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b> Crossfusion delivered directly to your email, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a></b>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br />
<br /></div>
John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045788944130546331.post-55765315668461591582014-09-25T13:47:00.002-04:002014-09-25T13:52:10.328-04:00Youth Questions: Why Doesn’t the Methodist Church Modernize its Thinking?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPjCFh8CPZzk0vII7kWwRa883I-oLkY9L_8E9oY747iYonT1rPaUpyt3M5kWPi-QOOwxw9ZsXwHMe1G7KPc89KXcKXPgleBS7YNsbPA8ip2rRmCSxqEx5KwKanuTD57AiFWrj_RPEoB8r/s1600/DSC_1489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPjCFh8CPZzk0vII7kWwRa883I-oLkY9L_8E9oY747iYonT1rPaUpyt3M5kWPi-QOOwxw9ZsXwHMe1G7KPc89KXcKXPgleBS7YNsbPA8ip2rRmCSxqEx5KwKanuTD57AiFWrj_RPEoB8r/s1600/DSC_1489.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Question:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Why Doesn’t the Methodist Church Modernize its Thinking?</span></div>
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I’m not exactly sure what the questioner had in mind when
they wrote this, but the short answer is that we do, regularly, change the way
that our church works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The longer answer
will take a little while.</div>
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First, there are some things that we can’t change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we believe that the Bible is true and was
given to us by God, then we must be formed and shaped by what it says and it is
not for us to rewrite the Bible so that it says what we think it should.</div>
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Second, as United Methodists, our organization, structure
and doctrine all flow out of “The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist
Church.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not the Bishops who speak
for us, nor the Council of Bishops (we don’t have a Pope), but the Book of Discipline.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book is revised every four years
during our General Conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
General Conference is a democratic body of delegates who are elected by each geographical
area (called Annual Conferences) and each area sends a delegation based on the
number of church members in that area, much like we, in the United States, elect
members to the House of Representatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because The United Methodist Church is a global church, representatives
come from around the globe from every continent except Antarctica.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Almost everything is up for grabs when the General
Conference meets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nearly every page of
the Book of Discipline may be amended or even completely replaced with only a
small section that is unchanging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
beginning of the Discipline is a set of Restrictive Rules that specify those
sections that cannot be amended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
sections include the fundamental doctrine of our church that defines who we
are, our basic confession of faith, a few rules regarding bishops, the right of
clergy to trial by committee, and how we are able to spend the money earned by
through publishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all, from a book
with nearly 900 pages, less than twenty are unchanging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest are available for revision every
four years.</div>
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Who can suggest or propose a change?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Any member, or clergyperson, from any United Methodist Church, can write
a proposal to the General Conference to amend or replace any section of the
Discipline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to be sure that your opinion
matters, the Discipline requires that the General Conference consider every
single proposal that is submitted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of
these will be similar or propose changes to the same sections, and these will
be read, and incorporated into a single proposal by working groups of
conference delegates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every delegate
belongs to one of these working groups and each group is responsible for a working
out the proposed changes to a particular section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the working groups are done, these
proposals go before the entire General Conference for a vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The exception to this are those changes that
are editorial or are so totally uncontroversial, that no one feels the need to
vote on them, these are passed, as a group, by the consent of the
conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if any delegate feels
that any particular proposal should be voted on individually, they can ask that
that proposal be moved off of the “consent calendar” and brought to the floor
for a vote.</div>
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So, while we maintain core beliefs that are unchanging,
there is much of our “thinking” that is being “modernized” on a regular
basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among these things that are being
revised is the Social Principles, which is a separate publication from the Book
of Discipline, but which contains the official position of the church on social
issues from abortion and adoption, to the rights of women and youth and
everything in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is here, in
the Social Principles, that you will find the official church position on
divorce, the death penalty, population control, racial and ethnic rights, collective
bargaining, sustainable agriculture and a great many other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Keep in mind that The United Methodist Church is a church
made up of individuals that are very different, who come from very different
places and different cultures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
church has members from nearly every political affiliation you can imagine and we
don’t always agree. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I admit
that politics are sometimes played in the writing of changes to the Discipline
and the Social Principles, I appreciate that we are trying to do theology
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
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We are not a North American
church that is writing “rules” that must be followed by people thousands of
miles away, but we are one, global, church that is trying to discern, together,
what God is saying, and where he is leading us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </div>
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That process can be a little messy, but we are working it out, together.</div>
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<span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Note: I asked our youth to write down any questions
that they had about faith, the church, or life in general. This is a part of that series.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Other questions and answers in this series can be found <a href="http://pastorjohnpartridge.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_22.html">here: Ask the Pastor</a> </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To have</span></span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b> Crossfusion delivered directly to your email, <a href="http://eepurl.com/0BDSj">click here</a></b>.</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
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John Partridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271702233484025459noreply@blogger.com0