When Liz and I were at the Festival of Homiletics in Nashville last May, I was challenged several times spiritually.  As we sat at lunch with several pastors from across the nation, one mainline Christian denomination pastor shared how we should not preach against the Islam faith.  I asked her how she came to this conclusion.  She responded that her Muslim neighbors were wonderful, and that they represented the true Islam faith.

 

I asked her if they had invited her to their prayer services at their mosque.  No.  Has she taken classes at their mosque to study their faith?  No.  Has she studied their holy book, The Koran?  No.  Have they discussed their faiths together?  No.  She repeated again that her Muslim neighbor friends were nice, and we should not preach against them and other world religions.

With Liz patting my knee to keep me from overreacting, I shared that I had been in prayer services in a mosque, I have taken classes at a mosque, I have Muslim friends with whom I have discussed our beliefs, and I have read The Koran.  And even with my wonderful Muslim friends, I am still considered an infidel.  And what is the Gospel of Jesus Christ to her?  Why should we bother to pray and witness to the whole world as Jesus commanded us to do so?

Then she replied, “Oh, you must be one of the conservative, evangelical, fundamentalist, right-wing Christians.”  Liz pulled me away.

During that same week, I had discussions about immigration laws, homosexuality, the authority of the Bible, progressive theology, etc.,  where Liz patted my knee, or I patted her knee from overreacting.  I am glad we went to Florida for a rest afterwards.

I do not like the label “conservative, evangelical, fundamentalist, right-wing Christian.”  I am a believer in Jesus Christ who saved me from myself.  I do not believe that the Christian faith is black and white.  There are too many gray areas.  John Wesley reminds us to have a balance between Scripture, Reason, Experience, and Tradition.  I believe we should be able to dialogue with each other but be informed!

This leads me with the Holy Spirit’s guidance to preach on a series of controversial topics this fall.  I have finished the Rev. Adam Hamilton’s book, Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White.  The Rev. Adam Hamilton is the founding and senior pastor of the 14,000 member United Methodist Church of the Resurrection outside Kansas City.  I will be using material from this book and other books to preach about gray area topics.

I ask for your prayers, for your attendance, and for your dialogue.  As Christians, we are called to be a light to the world – Jesus’ light.  You should be informed.  And not just from the sermons – you are called this fall to get into Bible discussion groups.  We need to be informed.  Are you serious about your faith in Jesus?

Help me, Lord, to keep in Your Truth -

Pastor Ralph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Qigong Tai Chi Class

Are you new to Tai Chi and wondering how to get started?  Mark your calendar for September 15, 2010, at 7 p.m. in the Family Life Center.  Come and learn about this ancient art with Certified Qigong Tai Chi Instructor, Michael R.  This will be a free orientation for all participants. 

A  six week session will then start on September 22 and will end on October 27, 2010.  It will be held on Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m.  The cost is $30.  The second fall session will begin November 3, 2010, and will end on December 15, 2010, for Christmas break.

Qigong Tai Chi is a powerful Health Maintenance Technique and Moving Meditation allowing the practitioner to balance body, mind and spirit.  According to the Mayo Clinic, scientific research has shown that Qigong Tai Chi offers numerous benefits beyond stress reduction, including:

· Reducing anxiety and depression

· Improving balance and coordination

· Reducing the number of falls

· Improving sleep quality

· Slow bone loss

· Lowering blood pressure

· Improving cardiovascular fitness

· Relieving chronic pain

· Improving everyday physical functioning

Please plan to attend the orientation session on September 15.  No experience necessary! For further information, please call the church office at 440-355-4561.

E.A.S.E.

E.A.S.E. (Exercise with Arthritis made Simple and Easy) is on summer break, but will resume every Thursday beginning Sept. 9 at 9:30 a.m.  Marilyn Offenberg and Nancy Dunlap are certified E.A.S.E. instructors who will guide you through an hour-long program of seated and standing exercises that are easy on your joints.  This is a FREE exercise class.

As the regular Bible Studies and Sunday School classes wind down for the summer, Pastor Ralph is offering a Summer Bible Study on Monday nights, beginning June 7 from 7-8 p.m. in the Family Life Center. 

A series of DVDs will be shown on the big screen featuring the Holy Lands as taught by Bible teacher Ray Vander Laan.  These videos help all to understand the locations, the contexts, and the meanings of Scriptures.  You definitely will have “ah-ha” or “God moments.”  If you miss a Monday night, you will not be out of sequence.  There will be short discussions afterwards. 

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Adult Discussion Group at 8:45 a.m. Sunday mornings in the library.  Come and join us!