Oneness

23 04 2014

partnership_working

You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.  Ephesians 4:4-6 Message

 

As a family of believers of Jesus Christ, we are called together in unity. We are fellow travelers on the same road in service to God.  The journey requires us to nurture oneness and encouragement for one another. Creating bonds that will make each of us stronger and more able to stay on the road ahead. Even the lessons we learned as small children are important.  We are to “stay together”.  No one is wander off the journey to avoid being lost.   We are to “be nice” to one another; demonstrating kindness, patience and gentleness to each one in love.  We are “to hold hands” helping to stay connected to the family of God.  Along the journey, our love for one another is a powerful witness to others who will be compelled to join us as new believers.  The reward of oneness and unity allows each of us to reach our destination safely.

We can take a quick inventory today of those in your circle of travelers.  Who needs encouragement?  Who has wandered off the path?  Who could benefit from more patience, more kindness, more love?  Who could benefit from our prayers to stay on the journey?

 How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! It’s like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, Flowing down Aaron’s beard,  flowing down the collar of his priestly robes. It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon   flowing down the slopes of Zion. Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing, ordains eternal life.  Psalm 133 Message


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I was an Apple Pie

25 02 2014

apple pieHow wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! Psalms 133:1

One of my first (and last) acting debuts was to play the “apple pie” role in my elementary school’s production of “Johnny Appleseed”.  It was conservatively a few decades ago, but I had forgotten all about this chapter of my life until recently.  In wishing a childhood friend happy birthday, I discovered a picture on social media with me in my apple pie costume and the whole class cast.  Viewing the picture, transported me back in time to my elementary school auditorium and the crazy costume that I wore to tout the many contributions of Mr. Appleseed to our country.  I laughed as I looked at the familiar but now distant faces of friends that I walked to school with or ate lunch with or simply shared a classroom with over the seven years I spent there.  I remarkably remembered everyone’s name in the picture and had some estimate of where our childhood houses stood.  I remember nicknames, some family history but most of all the strong sense of community that I shared with them.  It was seven blocks from my school to my house.  I can recall crossing street names and Mr. Bell who served as a community crossing guard.  I remember houses that had a yellow and green “H” in the window that stood for helping hand.  These were safe places were students could stop and get help if needed.  It was truly a community.  I am thankful for these memories and for the person who posted the picture online.  It was a reminder of a blessed upbringing and motivation to learn about the neighbors in my present community. 


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