Further Up/Further In
A blog about faith, spirituality, and the Kingdom.
-
Christ is risen!
Today is Trinity Sunday, the only Sunday in the Church calendar devoted to a theological doctrine! The doctrine of the Holy Trinity shows us the community and love that exists within G-d.
Today we meditate on and worship G-d in G-d’s three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Today we worship the Father, loving creator of all things. Today we worship the Son, our holy and righteous King Jesus. Today we worship the Holy Spirit, the giver of life and the one who unites us, bringing us back into the life of G-d.
The great mystery of G-d. Three but one.
-
Post reblogged from Simply Orthodox ☦
I shall worship the God, who holds His cupped ear even at cemeteries and listens, to hear whether anyone is crying out for resurrection or for the One who resurrects
-St. Nikolai Velimirovic
(Source: athos.weblog.nl)
-
Post reblogged from Simply Orthodox ☦
We should try to live in such a way that if the Gospels were lost, they could be re-written by looking at us.
- Met. Anthony of Sourozh
-
Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-
Quote reblogged from Come Thou Fount
So yes, memorial day leaves me conflicted. I want to stand in solidarity with those who have lost loved ones in wars defending the American way of life. I want to respectfully acknowledge the depth of their sacrifice and acknowledge that I personally benefit from their sacrifice. But I also want to revolt against the demonic arrogance of violent-tending tribalism, manifested on all sides of any war, that makes bloody wars seem unavoidable. I want to scream, “There is a much better way to live. It’s the way of Jesus. It’s the way of self-sacrificial love. It’s the way of non-violence.”
God bless the families of our fallen soliders. God bless the families of the soldiers on the other side. God bless the families of the innocent victims caught in the cross fire. And God bless all of us by influencing our leaders to end this war, and every potential future war. Maranatha.
Greg Boyd (via matthewzane)Truth
-
Today is Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Churches across the country are meeting to sing patriotic songs, wave little flags, and remark on the story of America. Freedom is a buzz word in American pulpits today, as is probably liberty. There’s a chance that the pledge of allegiance is being said (possibly coupled with the pledge to the Christian flag, though it should be noted that this is done after the American flag). All these things will be justified with a handful of awkward Biblical proof texts. The birth of America is celebrated today; born and washed in the blood of the glorious dead. It’s all quite a remarkable and moving image and line of rhetoric.
Today is also Pentecost Sunday. Today we as Christians remember and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. On the first day of Pentecost the Church Universal was formed; the people of G-d come together from all nations. Today we should be singing hymns of thanks and praise to the Holy Spirit for binding us together and bringing us into the people of G-d! Instead of a pledging allegiance to a flag, be it American or other, we should pledge allegiance to the slaughtered lamb King Jesus. The story of the Gospel, the story of Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection, must be told today. The Church is born today, washed in the blood and spirit of our murdered and resurrected King Jesus. A king who is not gloriously dead but most certainly gloriously alive.
Today is not about America, it is about Jesus. Today we don’t celebrate the closed off borders of a country but the open doors and open arms of the Church. Today we mourn all those who have died, for both Church and country, but we remember that it is about Jesus and not America. All nations, including America, will fall. Nations don’t resurrect, but Jesus did.
Sometimes I just wonder when we’ll starting trying harder to be good Christians as opposed to good Americans
-
Which Christian tradition are you part of?
Asked by Anonymous
This is kind of a complex question to answer. I grew up in a Baptist Church (BGCT, not SBC thank goodness) but have kind of hopped around since I’ve been in college. I’ve attended BGCT affiliated Baptist Churches, Greek Orthodox Churches, Anglican Churches, Catholic Churches, and contemplative ecumenical non-denoms. It’s been a great four years and I’ve found things in all of these churches that I sincerely love and other things that I disagree with.
In about a month I’m starting a job at a Presbyterian Church. This may come as a shocker to my readers who know how I am not even close to being fond of the Reformed tradition. That being said, it’s a wonderful church with lots of great possibilities that could open up because of being there. If you really need a label, I intend to join the church and will be a non-reformed Presbyterian.
If I were to put a label on it myself, one would have to combine Greek Orthodox, Anabaptist/Mennonite, Anglican, Catholic, and a few other traditions that I’m fond of and make up a name. Personally, I like Ecumenical.
-
How conservatives in the media celebrate the cause of Christian groups who refuse to offer birth control on religious grounds, but demonize Christian pacifists who refuse military service and fight American militarism and nationalism. Selective religious liberty anyone?
