WJD? Forums: Recent Topics

WJD? Forums: Recent Topics http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.com/forum/bbpress/ WJD? Forums: Recent Topics en Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:28:17 +0000 adminforum on "Change - WJD Devotion for 3 February 2010" http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.com/forum/bbpress/topic.php?id=281#post-294 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:55:56 +0000 adminforum 294@http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.com/forum/bbpress/ ‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” 29He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. 30The father* went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. (Matthew 21:28-32 NRSV) This week is the Creating Change conference in Dallas, Texas (USA). This conference, organized and hosted by NGLTF, "is the [US] nation's pre-eminent political, leadership and skills-building conference for the LGBT social justice movement." Thanks to one of our local campaigns, WJD will be present there. We all experience change. Sometimes we change for the better and, unfortunately, sometimes we change for the worse. The parable Jesus told offers us examples of both. One son changed his mind and went, the other changed his mind and didn't go. Prominent in the parable's message is that the one who went, regardless of his first response, did honor his father. Likewise, those of us receptive and willing to change have the chance to do the same. Creating Change is not primarily a religious conference. Yet, by being present, God's faithful enjoy the privilege to bring change and receive change to better themselves and our world. As you go about your work this week, stop every now and again and offer a prayer to God (an example is below) about the changes effected in Dallas. May good be the resounding change that echoes from those halls and into your (our) life. Blessings, ~WJD Team PRAYER Holy and Most High Counsellor, You ask us to change toward Your will, to offer ourselves to the greatness to which You call us. As our siblings gather this week, fill their hearts with the change You would have for them. Embolden them with the courage and strength to bring that change to the rest of the world. Infuse us with passion to make the changes happen. As we, in our small corner of Your vast creation, ask the question "Would Jesus Discriminate?", honor us with insight and gospel about the whole of Your diverse creation: human. We are in Your sight and yearning to be of Your mind. Amen. revjoecobb on "Thrown Down - WJDevotion November 12, 2009" http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.com/forum/bbpress/topic.php?id=280#post-293 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:14:07 +0000 revjoecobb 293@http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.com/forum/bbpress/ As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” 2Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” – Mark 13:1-2 Have you ever considered how much effort goes into building? Conversely, how much effort does it take to tear down? One of the disciples is admiring the newly built temple, massive in size and structure. It is an awesome sight. But Jesus warns that the Temple will be leveled. All that’s left today is a portion of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. The structures we build, whether they be sanctuaries or temples, are temporary. God is present within, but not confined. Endings are part of the spiritual life, and our living as followers of God’s loving way invites us to focus our growth on the eternal. Prayer: God, May our awe be transformed to things eternal. Amen. revjoecobb on "Done - WJDevotion October 31, 2009" http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.com/forum/bbpress/topic.php?id=279#post-292 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:28:28 +0000 revjoecobb 292@http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.com/forum/bbpress/ “Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” – Revelation 21:5-6 We all like a good ending. But without a strong beginning, and lots of living in between, the ending is only as good as the story before it. When God says, “It is done!”, we have traveled this path in our own lives, living our own beginnings, stories and endings. We are part of the “in between” in God’s unfolding story of grace, and we are contributing to the continuing story. Our faithful witness guides others. We are pilgrims, together, on this journey of faith, of what is trustworthy and true. Prayer: God, Be with us in our beginnings, endings, and all our in-betweens. Amen. revjoecobb on "See - WJDevotion October 30, 2009" http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.com/forum/bbpress/topic.php?id=278#post-291 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:27:43 +0000 revjoecobb 291@http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.com/forum/bbpress/ And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” – Revelation 21:5 Revelation’s description of heaven gives us a glimpse of the Divine being seated on a throne, at a distance, saying “I am making all things new”. Yet, what if this throne is in our hearts? Isn’t Jesus the one who said, the kingdom of God is within you? And doesn’t the vision of Revelation say that God’s home is in us and our home is in God? God is within making all things new. We can feel it, see it, and make it so in our living and our loving. Prayer: God, help us see with the eyes of our hearts, what you are making new. Amen. revjoecobb on "Away - WJDevotion October 29, 2009" http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.com/forum/bbpress/topic.php?id=277#post-290 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:27:09 +0000 revjoecobb 290@http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.com/forum/bbpress/ “he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:4 As God dwells with us, every tear is wiped away. The things of the old world, the things that signify pain and endings in our living (death, mourning, crying and pain) will be no more. As difficult as these moments are, they add meaning and depth to our lives. In the very acts of pain, mourning, death and crying, we are made new. Our tears are cleansing, refreshing and renewing. So, this vision is both something to look forward to, and to embrace right now. God is with us to wipe away our tears. God is with us in death and in our dying, until there is no more dying. God is with us in our mourning and our grieving, until these too have passed away. Prayer: God, the first way we look at death, pain, mourning and crying passes away. In you we receive new vision for living. Amen.