Just a reminder that next Wednesday, Aug 26th, we won’t be having a meeting that night.  Pass the word to anyone who might need to know, and who doesn’t always read this stuff or get announcements.

Also, I read an interesting blog post about how Christians interface with new technologies like Facebook.  It’s really worth the read.  For any of you Facebook users out there…we started an Eastgate group…go join it!

This Sunday, we’ll be looking at Colossians 3:12-17.  Read it here in the Message.

Paul began this discussion by telling us what attitudes and motives we shouldn’t be guided by.  In the next few verses, he describes the kind of life we should wear.  In v12, Paul again hearkens back to the “because of this, then this should happen” premise.  Because we are included, safe and loved by God, he describes how we should handle our “self-life”…that is, the kind of attitudes we want to cultivate as individuals.  All of the things Paul mentions are only possible to operate from when we feel secure about ourselves. 

If we don’t feel secure about ourselves when it comes to our outer appearance…it effects the way we dress, doesn’t it?  If we feel overweight, we don’t usually like to wear tight clothes.  But if we feel good about how we look, we are more bold in our clothing choices…even willing to show off more of who we are.

That’s what Paul is getting at…when it comes to our inner person, we are in GOOD shape.  We are loved, accepted, set aside like a favorite by God.  If we could really come to grips with that, how would it effect the way we pursue life? 

In v13-14, Paul extends beyond the individual, and describes how we want to interact with other people in general.  Obviously, he repeats Jesus’ command to be forgiving…and then he talks about love.  To quote Tina Turner, “What’s love got to do with it?”.  What is Paul saying about love in connection with human interfacing?

Finally, he gets specific in terms of community, and addresses how the church should dress…not in clothing styles…but in LIFEstyles.  What attitudes should we wear, according to v15-16, when we gather as a church community?  What seems to be the most important thing in this description?  Does it fit your experience with church?

Wrapping it up, Paul sweeps his hands and encompasses all of life in v17.  Everything…everything we do, he says should be done in the “name of Jesus”.  What does this mean?  Does this mean when I go to the bank, and ask for a deposit slip I should say “I need to deposit funds, in the name of Jee-yah-zus!”   Seriously…what is it to do life in Jesus’ name?

Stuff to ponder-fy.

See ya’ Sundee.

As we come back to our study in Colossians this weekend, we’ll be reading vs 11-23.  Of course, here it is in the Message. 

As we started chapter two, we looked at the extremes we want to avoid when it comes to our efforts to live out the teachings of Christ.  We want to avoid the extremism of isolation…our maturity is developed in the context of community.  We want to avoid learning for the sake of learning…our goal is to live what we learn.  And we want to avoid the extreme of turning Christianity into a cause…God revealed Himself through Jesus, that’s the core of our message and mission.

OK, in vs 11-12, Paul talks to the Colossians about circumcision.  Circumcision was the primary evidence of a man’s identity with the Jewish people, the people of God.  It was a ritual that was required under Mosaic law in order for a person to be sure he was a part of God’s team (which, when choosing teams, gives a whole new meaning to “shirts and skins”….heh heh…but I digress).

Paul says that the means by which we are now made God’s people has nothing to do with rituals we perform with our abilities…but then he goes right on to describe baptism…which is a ritual that we perform in the church.  What’s the difference between these two rituals?  What comes out as the focus in baptism?  So then, what is it that makes us right with God, according to Paul?

Then in v13-15 Paul shows that the law as actually against us (v14)_…that is, because we couldn’t keep it, it was always evidence that we were sinful.  It’s Jesus’ death on our behalf that takes away our sin and gives us a clean slate.  So, if we have a clean slate…what more do we have to do to be right with God?  Go to church more?  Get our doctrine straight and compatible with accepted orthodoxy?  What is required of us in order to be part of God’s family?

In v16-19 Paul says some strong stuff.  Has anyone ever put you under pressure to tithe?  Anyone ever given you the stink-eye because you went fishing instead of to a church service?  Have you ever felt condemned by people who brag about their times of prayer or ecstatic experiences?  Do you ever feel totally inadequate in your faith when you hear someone rant about what a Christian should wear or drink or who a Christian should vote for?  What does Paul say about that stuff?  If we allow those outward things to control our sense of value and worth…what happens to us?  Don’t get distracted by shadow puppets…look for the real thing.

Then in v 20-23 Paul identifies the biggest folly of all these extremes.  A false notion that was perpetuated then and is still prevalent today.  What is the best we can hope for if we live our lives in conformity to strict outward regulations?  What will it result in?  What good does it do?

I love this passage.  It was one that I “grazed” on for months after coming out of the legalistic system I’d been involved in.  If you’ve struggled with feeling like you can’t keep all the rules right…if you’ve felt condemned by people or preachers who seem to have it all together and look so holy…this passage is for you.  Take it in in deep lungfuls…breathe the sweet air of freedom.  Once you start breathing that air, you can remember how to really live.