Thanksgiving 2012

Today Facebook is covered in status of people being grateful for their families. My grandfather died two days ago and I can’t help but think about my family and what family means to me.

Family (dictionary.com): a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not: the traditional family.

b.

a social unit consisting of one or more adults together with the children they care for: a single-parent family.

2.

the children of one person or one couple collectively: We want a large family.

3.

the spouse and children of one person: We're taking the family on vacation next week.

4.

any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children, uncles, aunts, and cousins: to marry into a socially prominent family.

5.

all those persons considered as descendants of a common progenitor.

The thing is none of these definitions work for me. Three years ago, two days after Thanksgiving my dad and my step-mom kicked me out of my family because of my sexuality. The rest of my family followed their lead and I have spent the past two years creating a new family.

My definition of family is a little different than the one put forth by dictionary.com

Family: A group of people closely related by love

This year I am thankful for the people who have come into my life and for all of the experiences I have had both the good and the bad.  This year I am thankful for nonconventional families.

This year I am thankful for my nontraditional family. Geoff, Sara, Doug, Maria, Dale, and LouLou thanks for accepting me unconditionally and for being the best family I could possibly ask for.

On Earth

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.

 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)

Notice the words, “your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth” On Earth. That chunk of rock in space that we just happen to live on.

So what does it mean to create the Kingdom of God on Earth? What would it look like if the Church Universal worked together to create the Kingdom of God on Earth?

I wonder what would happen if the Church stopped making the purpose of Church attendance and money and made the purpose of the Church community and restoration.  I wonder if attendance would just naturally increase if the Church left the four walls of the sanctuary and became active in the community. I wonder what would happen of the Church Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself” seriously. I wonder what would happen if the Church took seriously its charge to care for the Earth. I wonder what would happen if the church stopped serving structures and started serving people.

After all Jesus said, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35 ESV) and “ It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28 ESV).

In his book, “If the Church Were Christian” Philip Gulley says, “In the first story of the Bible, after God created the world, God gave humans the responsibility of caring for it. Old gospel tunes not withstanding, this world is our home and our responsibility. To shirk that duty in order to focus on a world we have no verifiable proof even exists is misguided. Yet many Christians still contend that preparing people for an afterlife should be the church’s chief priority and willingly commit much energy and money securing entry to heaven even as people suffer and starve for lack of basic necessities.”

It is almost Advent. I love Advent/Christmas/ Epiphany. The reason for my love is hope. Jesus came to restore our broken world. Jesus actively brought the Kingdom of God to Earth. This Jewish Rabbi understood that Heaven is not only this far off place, but that it could be a present reality. As a follower of “The Way” I am committed to bringing the Kingdom of God to Earth.

I want to leave you with some lyrics from one of my favorite songs, “You gave your life to make a difference.  You gave your life to make a change.  You welcome all to your table, you’re calling us to do the same.  I want my life to make a difference.  I want my life to make change.  I want my life to do some good here.  I want my life to make change.” Rachel Kurtz- Make A Difference

go in PEACE. live PEACE. be PEACE.