message of diversity

 

Great message yesterday ... Embrace diversity - One body in Christ !

The challenge resonates ... Not only are we supposed to listen and agree, we are also supposed to live that way. That's when it becomes tough - we are all shaped and influenced by our peers & environment & eductation & upbringing and ... and ... and ... Its often tough to see beyond our own 'little world' and explore & embrace what's out there - it can be downright scary. Yet we are called to do just that !

The Twin Cities area is abundant with diversity and there are many ways to get involved & show support. Yesterday afternoon, the GBLT community celebrated Minneapolis Pride, one of the largest festivals in the nation. I walked through Loring Park and was amazed ...

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6874975&version=4&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Another ongoing celebration of diversity is Minneapolis Mosaic - a unique festival of the arts going on all summer. Check it out sometime ...

http://www.minneapolismosaic.com/schedule.html

Claudia

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I have an aquaintence

On July 3rd, 2008 mlock said:

I have an aquaintence battling cancer right now and am blessed that he shares his daily reports and reflections on a Caring Bridge site. The word that is in EVERY entry he shares is, diversity and how much he cherishes it. It's been a buzz word in my life since grade school, I know it's a good thing. But now I'm really starting to experence the depth of what diversity brings to our lives.

It is defintely not always easy but it is often fun! And we are always blessed when we go toward each other and open up to what each person & experience has to teach us, give us. The neverending doses of mercy and unconditional love God provides is the oil that makes it possible - and almost unavoidable when we really let that mercy sink in.

Thank you Claudia and Monica for your words. It's good to be Jacob's Well with you (And all of you reading this!) and 'figure this out' together!

diversity

On July 1st, 2008 merickson said:

Judge: Disruptive autistic teen can be barred from church

I copied the above headline from the STRIB today.  Diversity comes in all shaped, sizes, races and abilities. As a mother of a child with PDD which is a form of high-functioning Autism I can honestly say that I am not surprised by this at all, upset and scared by it of course, but not shocked.  Our son, Trenton is a smart, sweet and caring boy, if you know him you will concur.  However, part of the disability is the sudden outbursts for not being able to handle change, aniexty about noises or new places and sometimes not knowing how to handle social interaction.  Sometimes he breaks my heart and sometimes I cheer for him but I will always include him in everything we do as a family.  We left our last Church because out of the blue they told us that our son was not welcome in the Children's worship any longer. No specific reason, just that he was being aggresive, no warning, no reaching across the table to ask what they could do to help or even asking what they could do to make it easier for him. Just a simple email stating that he wasn't allow to attend any longer.  I admit, I was angry and I had some heated conversations and I lost some dear friendships and for a short time I was mad at God.  I felt like giving up on Church, if he couldn't belong at Church, where could he belong?  That is the one place I never thought he would be judged.  Sure school is tough, camp is tough, going to friends houses is hard but Church, that should be an easy place to fit in.  So I got mad at God because it was easy.  Ah, that didn't last long because he reminded me that we are all human, make mistakes and need to forgive in order to move forward and heal.  So I found Jacob's Well and visited for about a month before I brought my son. I remember sending an email to Greg and Heidi and being scared to bring up the fact that my son has this diagnosis, what would they say, could we all be rejected again?  My heart skipped beats and then came the reply "we have many different Children at JW, some with the Autism diagnosis, let's figure this out together, he is always welcome here".  I am still nervous sometimes but he has done well and I am glad that the community has been open to accepting our son and our family the way we are.

Peace,

Monica

What will our biggest challenge of diversity be?

On July 3rd, 2008 Pastor Greg said:

It is great to hear everyone's reflections and some positive stories. I give enormous thanks that Jacob's Well has lived this out, even if in only small ways. May they be the seeds planted for a greater harvest!

I often try to speak about God's proclivity towards diversification (almost to the point of chaos, it seems) and yet God's interest in pulling us various creatures together. When I do my head and heart is aware of who is in the congregation listening, and what this message means to them. It is freeing and frightening at the same time. Then I think about all the people who aren't here. What about their varied culture, background, beliefs, preferences, schedules, etc is keeping them from being with us?

I also wonder what our biggest challenges of diversity are or will be. We have, for now, wrapped our arms around Trenton, and I could name various other situations. But there are many other challenges out there. This is one of the places Jesus comes in really handy. Not only do we have the example of a the biggest and most open heart as the basis of our faith, but a promise that he will open and enlarge our hearts as well through our walks of faith.

It's good to be doing this together.

The Ark

On July 3rd, 2008 merickson said:

I think you are right, God's Proclivity toward diversification is almost chaotic in a sense.  If he wanted one type of person, one type of animal he could have just put 2 or 4 things on the Ark and been done with it. If the climate were the same we might all look the same, etc....God put Jesus on this Earth at a time when the lines were strongly drawn and families were torn apart by cultural wars and land division. I think that Jesus was put on this Earth for many reason's but one was to show love for everyone, the sick, the poor, the humble, the feared even the tax collectors and of course the soliders or even murderers and robbers. That is diversity, to bring the wicked and the humble together so they can see eye to eye and maybe, just maybe open their hearts enough to see that they are all not that different.  I of course could be wrong, I am no theology student, that is for sure.

Monica