The Advent season is upon us! We each get to journey through the fields, across the meadows, following the Christmas star to the coming Christ. The first Sunday is focused on hope and our anticipation for what is about to take place. Hope moves us forward with an understanding the world is about to change with the coming of Jesus. It symbolically tells us that we too can change into who we hope and want to be in this world. We are not stuck in this life we have but have the ability to become something different and alive with hope. In this four week journey to the manger may we ponder what will be born within us. What new creation will come to light inside of us when we come across the face of the Christ child? May the miraculous presence of God be among you this Christmas as the living hope touches our heart and souls.  


Enjoy this video of "A Living Hope" which represents the start of our journey to the Christ child this advent season. 

Merry Christmas!  May you move forward with hope this week! 

What do you find hope in this Christmas season?

My wife and I were able to vacation to Iceland a few years ago.  We learned about the country, the people, their origins, and of course the food. One interesting thing we learned was the Icelands use of names. They do not use family names but only go by their first names.  What would be called their last name is made up of their fathers or mothers first name with the addition of (son) or (daughter).  Hence a persons name could be Jon Magnusson indicating Jon's fathers name was Magnus. If another person has the same name then they would add their paternal grandfather's name as well. I enjoyed hearing how the country had kept this tradition throughout the years which formed part of the overall country's culture. I know last names in the US are often passed down and hold significant meaning for our heritage and to have a different perspective was good. This interesting tradition got me thinking about the importance of names in particular the scripture Isaiah 43:1. 

There is a comfort in someone using your first name. It's personal, down to earth, and lacks the formalities of tradition. To me, friends and loved ones use that name showing authenticity and genuineness. They know and understand who I am deep within behind the niceties of life. Deep relationships are built knowing who the other person is and calling them by their name. It is in that name where identity is known and created. The identity we have formed through the contexts of life that we have found ourselves in.  Somewhere there is a true self who if we searched for each one of us can find that is already known by the divine.  


As indicated in the scripture above God calls each of us by name and calls us God's own. We are God's beloved children. Just as the stars in the sky we are God's creation and expression of life. How precious it is to think that God knows my name, sees my inner self, and knows who I truly am through all the guilt, shame, and facades present. It is in this personal, genuine calling that I am known and loved for all that I am and can be, without judgement.  What a special thought to have?  To know no matter what I do there is a God that continues to uphold the love of creation beholding the people of this world. 


We are never alone! God is there and will always be there with you. That's the message today. If you are struggling with something, feel alone, rejected, or outcast, know there is a Jesus that is constantly standing with you saying, "you are mine".  Love surpasses understanding and even if we cannot conceptualize it, God's love is there. All it takes is your belief!


Please reach out to me or another christian organization if you would like to talk, pray, or whatever you need at this time.  


To reiterate this message check out this incredible song by David Haas titled, "You Are Mine."

May you hear that voice calling you by name saying "You are mine, you are loved, you are not alone."

Thank you to all those following along. We appreciate your support and kindness for this continued ministry.  

This week look in the mirror and tell yourself, "You are loved."

Our guest blogger this week is Kyle Joyce. Kyle is a full-time teacher getting ready to go back to school this fall where he teaches restorative justice. He is happily married to Kristine Shipley. They both attend the Bethel Community of Christ congregation in Kansas City, KS.  Kyle is a Seventy in the church. Kyle and Kristine live in Kansas City, KS with their three dogs, foster son, and very soon, their first biological child. We are very grateful to have Kyle share his thoughts and hearts with us today.  

“Be patient with one another, for creating sacred community is arduous and even painful. But it is to loving community such as this that each is called. Be courageous and visionary, believing in the power of just a few vibrant witnesses to transform the world. Be assured that love will overcome the voices of fear, division, and deceit. Understand that the road to transformation travels both inward and outward. The road to transformation is the path of the disciple.”
​~Doctrine and Covenants Section 161:3c-d
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“Listen carefully to your own journey as a people, for it is a sacred journey and it has taught you many things you must know for the journey yet to come. Listen to its teachings and discover anew its principles. Do not yearn for times that are past, but recognize that you have been given a foundation of faithful service, even as you build a foundation for what is yet to be. As a prophetic people you are called, under the direction of the spiritual authorities and with the common consent of the people, to discern the divine will for your own time and in the places where you serve. You live in a world with new challenges, and that world will require new forms of ministry. Do not be discouraged. You have not been promised an easy path, but you have been assured that the Spirit that calls you will also accompany you.”
​ ~Doctrine and Covenants Section 162:2a-c, 3a

​​Being a disciple in the 21st century means that we are invited to embrace tension.
 
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Whoa! *Embrace* tension? Mostly we try to alleviate it, quickly come to a resolution, run and hide from it, and/or pretend that it doesn’t even exist. Whether we like it or not, tension is and always has been part of our existence and, without it, we don’t learn or grow. Tension is a natural and historic part of our faith movement. So, it is not a matter of whether there will be tension or not in our lives – it’s a given that there will be – the question is how will we live in it and how will we use it in positive ways.
 

Tension exists within all aspects of our lives: in our relationships, our jobs, our communities, our nation, our world, our faith movement, and beyond. Tension arises out of the gap between our current reality and our desire or vision. As disciples, we have a natural inclination and motivation to resolve this tension.

​This gap exists for each of us as individuals and as a faith movement full of prophetic people. Think about the boldest dream or vision you have or have for the church – now compare that with our current reality. I’m betting there is quite a gap? Can’t you just feel the tension already? Maybe even disappointment, frustration, anger, annoyance, or even sadness? Think of another disciple that you know. Think of the commonalities and differences between the two of you. It becomes a lot more complicated, doesn’t it? Cue “Unity in Diversity” and “Blessings of Community” sermon.
 

Personally, I have many applicable examples of tension around church topics. However, one example most of us can relate to and understand is our recent World & National Conferences. I can testify that God has big dreams for Community of Christ. The tension that I frequently encounter is how quickly I feel that we should move towards Zion when others believe we are already moving too fast. I believe we are moving incrementally toward Zion (but would like to move faster) while others may feel that we are moving further from Zion. Whew, talk about tension! Cue “Faithful disagreement” sermon.
 

How do we live in the tension between what is (what we are doing right now) and what we envision could be (what God is calling us to become)? One way we could deal with the tension is to limit our vision. That would reduce the gap and therefore reduce the tension, but it also reduces what we might attain. That is certainly a strategy we disciples often adopt, because tension can be uncomfortable and even painful. The alternative is to change our current reality and move it closer to our vision or desire to reduce the tension in a more positive direction. Tension is a process or structure for promoting change between what is and what could be.
 

I truly believe that is what God desires of us. This is how we create and achieve Zion, Heaven on Earth. God desires that we use the tension to grow and use tension in creative ways to promote good outcomes. God knows that we live in the tension all the time – and God lives in it, with us, too. God is in every moment and every event in all of creation and so God is in our tension, too – not just as observer, but as inspirer, guide, partner, and collaborator. And in our struggle with the tension, God always approaches us with an attitude of immense love, compassion, and forgiveness. God is an immensely present force in our creativity, in our expressions of love, our preaching, our prayers, our meetings/gatherings (even online), and our pursuit of peace and justice.
 

Look at what we can learn from the early Christian church and even our very own church history. We are WHO and WHERE we are today because of a history full of disciples in tension. Disciples of the past worked with and through tension with blind hope and faith that the future would be better because of it. Was it difficult? Were there some uncomfortable conversations? Was there a lot of passion when they spoke? Did people go home mad, upset, angry, and believing that they were right and the other person was wrong? I’m certain all of those situations occurred, even among the best disciples.
 

You all should know that I believe Jesus (fully human and fully divine) was very political, subversive, and even socialistic. To me, Jesus was all about turning things upside down. He overturned cultural norms, challenged the authorities, undermined the establishment, and generally shook everything up. He was a (good) trouble-maker, a dissident, and a thorn in the side of the establishment. His stated mission was to bring an upside-down Kingdom that would be good news for the poor and oppressed (Luke 4:18).
 

Can you imagine the tension with following Moses because he claimed that a burning bush told him that God would free you from slavery? As slaves, it wasn’t wise to upset Pharaoh! You don’t just confront corrupt systems of power without paying for it...sometimes with your own blood.
 

Can you imagine the tension with being one of the 12 disciples and following this radical man and his teachings during that time? Watching Jesus practice civil disobedience (Mark 2:23), associating with socially marginalized (Luke 5:29-32), modeling upside-down economics (Luke 3:10-11), preaching non-violence instead of militarism (1 Maccabees 13:49-51 & 2 Maccabees 10:1-8), and consequently his death as a dissident which changed everything...forever. Again, you don’t just confront corrupt systems of power without paying for it...sometimes with your own blood.
 

Can you imagine the tension in following Emma Smith into the reorganization after her husband was murdered and the church fell into disarray? Emma knew that you don’t just confront corrupt systems of power without paying for it...sometimes with your own blood.

​It’s not always easy or comfortable. But it is worth the effort. Conflict and tension hold within themselves the possibility of blessing and of new outcomes not previously envisioned. Tension requires an openness to the Spirit of God, difficult conversations, restorative practices, and the ability to compromise. There is always tension. There is always the need to live with it and work with it respectfully. So, don’t run away from the tension – embrace it! Learn and grow from it. Lean into it and learn to use it peacefully, engaging with God, and in community with others.  
 

​“Lift up your eyes and fix them on the place beyond the horizon to which you are sent. Journey in trust, assured that the great and marvelous work is for this time and for all time.”
​~Doctrine and Covenants 161:1a

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In 2018, Steve Veazey gave a powerful International Youth Forum (IYF) address. What he said, even to this day, spoke to my soul. In that address, he proclaimed: “People will try to discourage you from going beyond the seen horizon. Some don’t like new challenges, new understandings, and necessary change that come with increased clarity. They say ‘we’ve already arrived. There is nothing more to discover.’ I say ‘Don’t believe them!”
 

If I’m being honest, I frequently get caught looking “beyond the horizon” because I enjoy “new challenges” and “new understandings”, which can cause tension when some feel that “we’ve already arrived”. I welcome the tension to learn more about and work with those neighbors and how we can move forward together. To be a disciple in the 21st century requires and asks a lot of us. It might even cause some discomfort. We are called to create a better future that we cannot see, only imagine. There is no map, no instructions, and no promises. We do have each other, though, and that comes with the good and the tension. We can live harmoniously in the tension within ourselves, in our relationships, within our communities, in Community of Christ, and beyond. We are creating and leading the way.
 

God, the Eternal One, has been with us in our past, continues with us in the present, and already is waiting patiently for us in the future. My prayer is that we have the strength, discipline, and awareness to recognize it, even in tension.

A big thank you to Kyle for sharing his thoughts about discipleship and the need for us all to work in and through the tension of our lives.  I ask that all of you keep their family in your prayers especially during this upcoming life change in September.  

This week envision the future and what you want it to be..your spiritual life, church, relationships, etc.  Notice the differences and decide how to move forward.