“Bitterness imprisons life; love releases it. Bitterness paralyzes life; love empowers it. Bitterness sours life; love sweetens it. Bitterness sickens life; love heals it. Bitterness blinds life; love anoints its eyes.”
-Harry Emerson Fosdick

Love wins.

whatever divinity we can lay claim

"Whatever divinity we can lay claim to is hidden in the core of our humanity and when we let our compassion go, we let go of whatever claim we have to the divine."
~Bruce Springsteen

when living water dies...

when living water is cut off from the source, it becomes stagnant and dies.
in that death it does nothing but churn within itself and become poisonous.
don't go near the water cut off from the source.

This summer I learned a lot from a friend. He was often quoting Augustine and Mother Teresa and the like to me during our many discussion of faith and the church.

One quote (from Augustine) that really jumped out at me was:
In the essentials - unity.
In the non-essentials - liberty.
And in everything - love.

Now, we all know that exact quote doesn't come directly from scripture. But I'm of the opinion that it's a good one nonetheless. And I think that the idea is definitely displayed in scripture. So with that said:

Too many times we get up ourselves about various "traditions" within the church that frankly don't matter. Traditions of, "smoking is wrong!" and "drinking is wrong" and "you have to serve communion every week!".

They cause disunity. (I'm not sure that's a word - but it is now.) Things that were never meant to cause division do.

I think it's time we start giving a little and not being so up ourselves and our theology that we write off anyone and everyone has a sinner merely because they don't adhere to the same convictions that we do.

Just because you think smoking is wrong doesn't make it a sin.
Just because you think swearing is wrong doesn't make it a sin.
Just because you think drinking is wrong doesn't make it a sin.

And on the same token, get off it when someone holds to their own convictions not to drink or smoke or cuss or [insert whatever here]. For some people it's permissable and for some it's not.

But when it comes down to it - it's not something that should divide.
So don't let it happen.

Freedom in Christ is something that we should be glad to have. But definitely not something to be waving around to excuse what we do. After all, it's not about you. It's ultimately about God.

Yeah, sure, you're free to do anything within the boundaries of the law given by God. But are the things you do pleasing to him?

"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake— the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everybody in every way.For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.-1 Corinthians 10:23-33

love, hope and faith

Thus, it is that love is not without hope,
hope is not without love,
and neither hope nor love are without faith.

__St. Augustine__

the New Covenant vs. the Old Covenant

I have been thinking a lot about the New Covenant vs. the Old Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:7-18). If you don't have a Bible handy, go to http://www.biblegateway.com and look it up.

It amazes me that over 2000 years after Christ died, a heartbreakingly large portion of the church still believes in a ministry where the Old Covenant of "death and condemnation" is still used as a viable option in today's society. Sure the "fire and brimstone" ministry might have worked on some scale but the fact remains that this type of ministry ends up hurting the cause more than helping it. We can no longer continue to reach out the the marginalized and outcasts among us with tracts and billboards telling them that they are going to hell in a hand basket. This type of ministry leaves people feeling hollow and resentful.

The ministry of the New Covenant brings life instead of death, meaning instead of insignificance, hope instead of despair. And that makes this covenant far outweigh it's predecessor.I think Paul said it best when he told the Corinthians to "Do everything in love." (1 Corinthians 16:14) I don't profess to have all of the solutions, but I think that's a good start.

There IS another way.

heaven below

Who has not found heaven below
Will fail of it above.
God's residence is next to mine,
His furniture is love.

__Emily Dickinson__

stop one heart

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

__Emily Dickinson__

our credo

Although this site isn't about us.... Here are a few things we stand for...

We believe that this world is not as it should be and that another world is possible.
We believe in a better way of living that brings the kingdom of God down in the here and now.
We believe that we are called to love God and love people, and that in all things love wins.
We believe in living a revolutionary life, living differently than the masses, and loving passionately and without restraint.
We believe that in living incarnationally, we are restoring a broken earth, mending broken hearts, and reclaiming all things to beauty and wholeness, subsequently making the world a better place.
We believe in living for others rather than ourselves and putting aside our own pride, comforts, and desires in order to serve those around us.
We believe in a world where the marginalized are no longer outcasts but are embraced in love.
We believe that Jesus is drawing all humanity to himself, reconciling the world to God through the willing sacrifice of flesh and blood.
We believe in forgiving those who refuse to forgive us, forgiving enemies who seek to steal, kill and destroy, and forgiving those who seem impossible to forgive.
We believe that all this brings into fullness an abundant life of joy, wholeness, and completeness in our being.