Comments for Ekklesia Project http://www.ekklesiaproject.org Fostering conversations about the Church among theologians, pastors, and congregations. Sun, 05 May 2013 11:53:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Courage to be Whole by barb blom http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/blog/2010/05/courage-to-be-whole/#comment-32417 barb blom Sun, 05 May 2013 11:53:35 +0000 http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/2010/05/courage-to-be-whole/#comment-32417 Like the syro honicia woman, the text never says that Jesus did the healing. In the syrophoniciam woman, he says "your faith made you well" Maybe its less about waiting for Jesus to heal us, (or someone else, "if only my boss would give me a raise, everything would be better" or if only my husband would help out more") and more about us taking responsibilty, or being "response able" to the "way" of Jesus and when we do, that will be the Sabbath, the day we finally rest inGod,s grace Like the syro honicia woman, the text never says that Jesus did the healing. In the syrophoniciam woman, he says “your faith made you well” Maybe its less about waiting for Jesus to heal us, (or someone else, “if only my boss would give me a raise, everything would be better” or if only my husband would help out more”) and more about us taking responsibilty, or being “response able” to the “way” of Jesus and when we do, that will be the Sabbath, the day we finally rest inGod,s grace

]]> Comment on Our Place Redeemed by Jenny W http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/blog/2013/04/our-place-redeemed/#comment-32122 Jenny W Thu, 02 May 2013 15:14:38 +0000 http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/?p=4416#comment-32122 Beautiful, Kyle. As I've been reflecting on the text, I've been realizing that not only is Christ's peace/shalom cosmic and corporate, but that Christ's love is cosmic and corporate, keeping Jesus's words is done with the support of acommunity to which we belong, and the Holy Spirit makes his home *among* a body of people. The not-belonging-ness of today's culture stands in sharp contrast to the scriptural vision of peace, obedience, and love, both in the now and the not-yet. Beautiful, Kyle.

As I’ve been reflecting on the text, I’ve been realizing that not only is Christ’s peace/shalom cosmic and corporate, but that Christ’s love is cosmic and corporate, keeping Jesus’s words is done with the support of acommunity to which we belong, and the Holy Spirit makes his home *among* a body of people. The not-belonging-ness of today’s culture stands in sharp contrast to the scriptural vision of peace, obedience, and love, both in the now and the not-yet.

]]> Comment on Courage to be Whole by Cynthia Hallas http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/blog/2010/05/courage-to-be-whole/#comment-31912 Cynthia Hallas Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:01:43 +0000 http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/2010/05/courage-to-be-whole/#comment-31912 I really do like your insights into this, Kyle! I really do like your insights into this, Kyle!

]]> Comment on Courage to be Whole by Cynthia Hallas http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/blog/2010/05/courage-to-be-whole/#comment-31911 Cynthia Hallas Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:00:59 +0000 http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/2010/05/courage-to-be-whole/#comment-31911 Although the text implies that Jesus healed this man, it doesn't actually say that. It simply says that Jesus told him to get up, take his mat (which would subsequently get him into trouble - the lectionary really needs to continue the story!) and walk. As others have pointed out, the man does not say "yes" to Jesus, or ask to be healed; he just complains. Although the text implies that Jesus healed this man, it doesn’t actually say that. It simply says that Jesus told him to get up, take his mat (which would subsequently get him into trouble – the lectionary really needs to continue the story!) and walk. As others have pointed out, the man does not say “yes” to Jesus, or ask to be healed; he just complains.

]]> Comment on Our Place Redeemed by Dale Ziemer http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/blog/2013/04/our-place-redeemed/#comment-31899 Dale Ziemer Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:35:21 +0000 http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/?p=4416#comment-31899 Hold on to me as we go As we roll down this unfamiliar road And although this wave is stringing us along, just know you're not alone, I'm gonna make this place your home. Settle down,.. it'll all become clear pay no mind to the demons, they'll fill you with fear. Troubles - they might get you down. If you get lost you can always be found Just know you're not alone I'm gonna make this place your home. (- Jesus and Phillip Phillips Hold on to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along,
just know you’re not alone,
I’m gonna make this place your home.
Settle down,.. it’ll all become clear
pay no mind to the demons, they’ll fill you with fear.
Troubles – they might get you down.
If you get lost you can always be found
Just know you’re not alone
I’m gonna make this place your home. (- Jesus and Phillip Phillips

]]> Comment on A Cheer for an Invisible Parade by Fred http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/blog/2013/03/a-cheer-for-an-invisible-parade/#comment-27067 Fred Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:14:09 +0000 http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/?p=4269#comment-27067 Jesus was of course a prophet who appeared, as if out of no-where. He was an outsider who appeared and taught on the margins of the tradition of Judaism as it was in his time and place. He was angrily critical of the brutal power of the Roman State, and of the ecclesiastical establishment too. Indeed the ecclesiastical establishment conspired with the Roman State to have Jesus executed. That having been said do you really think that if Jesus happened to re-appear in 2013, that he would be found, or even welcome at the Vatican, or the principal seat of power of any of the main-stream churches either in the USA or anywhere else in the world. Would he be welcome at the soon to be convened Vatican conclave to choose the next Pope? Of course not! Jesus was of course a prophet who appeared, as if out of no-where. He was an outsider who appeared and taught on the margins of the tradition of Judaism as it was in his time and place.

He was angrily critical of the brutal power of the Roman State, and of the ecclesiastical establishment too. Indeed the ecclesiastical establishment conspired with the Roman State to have Jesus executed.

That having been said do you really think that if Jesus happened to re-appear in 2013, that he would be found, or even welcome at the Vatican, or the principal seat of power of any of the main-stream churches either in the USA or anywhere else in the world.

Would he be welcome at the soon to be convened Vatican conclave to choose the next Pope?
Of course not!

]]> Comment on Difficult Freedom by Fred http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/blog/2013/03/difficult-freedom/#comment-27064 Fred Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:02:10 +0000 http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/?p=4288#comment-27064 All beings require Divine Compassion, Love, and Blessing, the thread of Communion with the Living Divine Reality made certain and true, and directly experienced. By contrast sin is the presumption of separation from the Living Divine Reality, and such heart-felt Divine Communion. There is no Real existence until sin is transcended. All actions and all states of knowledge and experience are empty, painful, problematic, and sinful until the presumption of separation from the Living Divine Reality is utterly transcended. There is no truly human life without such heart-felt Divine Communion, or the submission/surrender of the entire conscious and functional being to the Absolute Divine Reality within which it appears, on which it completely depends, even for the next breath. Without that Divine Communion, there is no Real humanity, no True responsibility, and no Real freedom. Without such Divine Communion the individual is simply a functional entity living the fear-saturated mostly unconscious adventure of functional relations. There is no sacred or Divine plane to his or her awareness. Sin is the worst cancer in the universe. It is the worst sickness, the most horrific disease. Its implications cover the entirety of everyone's life. The human world is filled with its symptoms and reeks with its torments and potentials, coming from all directions, most of which people (in their individual and collective unconsciousness) cannot even see. All beings require Divine Compassion, Love, and Blessing, the thread of Communion with the Living Divine Reality made certain and true, and directly experienced.

By contrast sin is the presumption of separation from the Living Divine Reality, and such heart-felt Divine Communion.

There is no Real existence until sin is transcended. All actions and all states of knowledge and experience are empty, painful, problematic, and sinful until the presumption of separation from the Living Divine Reality is utterly transcended.

There is no truly human life without such heart-felt Divine Communion, or the submission/surrender of the entire conscious and functional being to the Absolute Divine Reality within which it appears, on which it completely depends, even for the next breath.
Without that Divine Communion, there is no Real humanity, no True responsibility, and no Real freedom. Without such Divine Communion the individual is simply a functional entity living the fear-saturated mostly unconscious adventure of functional relations. There is no sacred or Divine plane to his or her awareness.

Sin is the worst cancer in the universe. It is the worst sickness, the most horrific disease. Its implications cover the entirety of everyone’s life. The human world is filled with its symptoms and reeks with its torments and potentials, coming from all directions, most of which people (in their individual and collective unconsciousness) cannot even see.

]]> Comment on A Cheer for an Invisible Parade by Lazarus B Thotobolo http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/blog/2013/03/a-cheer-for-an-invisible-parade/#comment-26472 Lazarus B Thotobolo Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:02:21 +0000 http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/?p=4269#comment-26472 I love how the fig tree is given a 2nd chance for a year to grow fruits, that's how Gracious God is to us, while lest we 4get that we are the fig tree given a time to bear fruits! Gods favour is on us to let us change just like the Niniveans whom Joana preached to them and they repented and were spared like this tree! I love how the fig tree is given a 2nd chance for a year to grow fruits, that’s how Gracious God is to us, while lest we 4get that we are the fig tree given a time to bear fruits! Gods favour is on us to let us change just like the Niniveans whom Joana preached to them and they repented and were spared like this tree!

]]> Comment on Saying “Yes” and Saying “No” by Lazarus B Thotobolo http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/blog/2013/02/saying-yes-and-saying-no/#comment-25488 Lazarus B Thotobolo Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:48:39 +0000 http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/?p=4221#comment-25488 The no Christ Jesus said was in aa form of making the simplest way to be ruler of the universe difficult, He had a chance to have rule over humans He chose to make the way to be ruler difficult in order to make it easy for us to enter heaven. Christ said no to temptation for us to say Yes to him and follow in His example, we need to say Hell No to short-cut in reaching our goals! The no Christ Jesus said was in aa form of making the simplest way to be ruler of the universe difficult, He had a chance to have rule over humans He chose to make the way to be ruler difficult in order to make it easy for us to enter heaven. Christ said no to temptation for us to say Yes to him and follow in His example, we need to say Hell No to short-cut in reaching our goals!

]]> Comment on Saying “Yes” and Saying “No” by Caught My Eye #1 | The Life Mosaic http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/blog/2013/02/saying-yes-and-saying-no/#comment-25053 Caught My Eye #1 | The Life Mosaic Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:31:12 +0000 http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/?p=4221#comment-25053 [...] Pastor Kyle Childress caught my eye with his article, “Saying ‘Yes’ and Saying ‘No’ explaining that one of the most important things a pastor needs to know is how to say [...] [...] Pastor Kyle Childress caught my eye with his article, “Saying ‘Yes’ and Saying ‘No’ explaining that one of the most important things a pastor needs to know is how to say [...]

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