Welcome to the new year. Welcome to new friends. Welcome new ides. Welcome new insights – revelations – growth – enlightenment. Life is good! I am having a wonderful time here in the fun of the sun in southern California. My pup loves it, too. So does my husband. Back home in Montana I am told they had one hundred mile per hour winds today. Yuck! Cold I can take. Snow I can appreciate. But raging winds? No thanks! I am happy to be here.
Thanks for coming to visit my blog today. I will try to find time each evening to share with you a few of the fresh insights that this new year has offered.
Come walk and talk awhile. Let me share my first couple stanzas from last Sunday’s sermon notes – taken at Bloom in the Desert Ministries in Palm Springs. Rev Kev is quite the pastor. As I recorded his words through my poetic filter, I heard him say:
We welcome all who welcome all.
We open our hearts to you.
We see ourselves from the inside out.
We love as God loves you.
We gather in the presence of God.
We are His Light.
We hear the Word, receive Good News,
Imagine the fun of Snoopy’s flight…
And then he launched into a Snoopy, Linus, Red Baron story to illustrate other points he was teaching and preaching, but my mind took flight. Rev Kev read the scripture about Jesus’ baptism, the meaning and importance of baptism, and the way in which we mortals put our own spin on things. We over-think. We over-define. We see one another, too often, from the outside – make judgements, never give ourselves the chance to really see one another as God sees us. We limit ourselves and others in the process.
Once upon a time Bob and I left a church because the minister, Reverend Diane, decided to marry her female partner of a decade. How do you react to that? Hmmm…?
Come walk with me. Talk with me. Churches are splitting over this issue. Families are splitting over this issue. People are being threatened and killed over this issue. What would Jesus say?
Rev Kev introduced us to his husband. “We welcome all who welcome all.”
Bob and I talked as we walked in the desert. TazE, our sweet Boston Terrier, was a great listener.
Welcome! Come walk and talk with us. See you tomorrow?
Comments on: "Welcome" (7)
Happy New Year, Jan! I’m going to open my mouth and let whatever happen. I have long believed it was “wrong” but … my journey of love has brought me further than I ever thought possible. 😉 Jesus…He is the key to all of this and He would say 😛 — that we missed his point when He said to LOVE. I’m not sinless and God still loves me. Why on earth would He? It is no different because none of us are over the other–none superior or better. Oh well, I said it–sort of. Being the best I can be without comparing myself to anyone else is about all I can ask of anyone. I hope it will be a great year! 😀 Blessings to you…and glad you are there and not in Montana. – Amy 😀
Thank you for opening your mouth and weighing in. Touchy topic, isn’t it? We all are a learning, leaning, growing, work in progress 🙂
Thank you for responding, Amy. Good to hear from you. Blessings to you! Hope your Martin Luther King Day was a beautiful Sunday. 🙂
and I wish you and yours the best that is yet to Be…
Thank you for your wishes…I appreciate them…
a wonderful post you have shared….
Take Care…You Matter…..
)0(
maryrose
Thank you for the return wishes and comments on the post, MaryRose. Bless you! 🙂
Another heartfelt and thought-provoking post. My favorite kind! Your poetic filter always brings forth such wisdom. Thank you Jan. And yes, the ultimate question to return to is What would Jesus say (or do)? I especially loved this: “We over-think. We over-define. We see one another, too often, from the outside – make judgements, never give ourselves the chance to really see one another as God sees us. We limit ourselves and others in the process.” Like that Church’s statement of ‘We welcome all who welcome all’ I agree that I am drawn to others who do not judge ‘from the outside’. I am concerned with a person’s character, fidelity, trustworthiness, and love – among other ‘inner’ qualities. No wonder I like coming here so much! Your love shines through your words Jan. Big hugs, Gina
Thank you for dropping by. Good to see you! Happy Valentine’s Day!