Memorial Day and Pentecost
Two people were looking at their town, where they had both spent their entire lives. Then one asked, "If you were all-powerful, what would you do?" The other replied, "I'd build walls around the entire town, so great that nothing would endanger this beautiful city."
The first old friend pushed his lips together and responded, "I'd lift the town high above all danger."
We humans seem to build walls of full of laws and controls around our communities and churches believing they will hold back the flow of evil.
But God lifts a person up by the Spirit, far above the reach of humanity’s destructive forces.
Prior to Pentecost God would reach down to one person or group and lifted them above the tides of destruction, as needed.
At Pentecost God let the Spirit loose for every child of God. No longer do we need to be over run with evil. The Spirit will always lifts us higher.
Our dock in the river is a platform, and the buoyant force beneath it, keeps it afloat.
We (Church) are like that dock. The outer area is where we enjoy, care for and expand our lives. God gives us, the church, a buoyant force - Holy Spirit. Thru the Spirit we ar able to rise above the common level of life. We are able to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. We can live high above the troubled waters of life.
Paraphrasing Gal 5:19-26, The acts of human nature are obvious: sexual transgression; love of idols and mysticism; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, gangs, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, etc..
But the Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. To live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Let us not be conceited, provoking and envying each other.
A sunken dock has no life. It is no fun!
A Church without the Spirit has no life. It has no fun!
A spiritual church is more powerful than a religious church.
A patriotic nation is more powerful than an oppressor nation.
Citizens who want a free lunch and have a sheep like attitude are the backbone of an oppressor nation.
Patriotic soldiers who give their lives (physically and emotionally) in the defense of freedom are the backbone of a truly patriotic nation.
Legalistic (my way or the highway) worshipers of laws are the greedy self-centered backbone of a religious church.
Spirit filled people who put God above all things are the backbone of a spiritual church.
Religiosity and Oppression cost you everything.
Patriotism and Pentecost cost you nothing.
Religiosity and Oppression are the Hallmarks of Navelgazers.
Patriotism and Pentecost are the Hallmarks of Stargazers.
Are you self centered or God centered? This Sunday let the Spirit of God fill you at worship and then Monday celebrate Memorial Day and fill your thanks for all of patriotic men and women who gave their lives in defense of freedom. It is time for the Stargazers to be lifted up in our churches and our nation!
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