Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Sharing Our Stories

We all have a story. It is the story of our life -- where we started, where we have been, what we've encountered, what dreams we have, what disappointments we've experienced, what hopes we have. sacred space is a place to share our stories with one another.

For this coming Saturday, February 24, we will take time to share our stories -- and then ask the following question as well -- "Where have we or do we see God in our stories?"

I think this is an important question. Especially, as last week's blogpost asks -- if God was one of us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth -- then how do we experience/encounter God today if not through our lives, our stories in which God reaches out to us. If God indeed does encounter us, then there have to be clues in our lives, in our stories that help us see God. -- so "where do we see God in our stories?"

Looking forward to connecting with those who come to engage in this time of sacred space together. See you Saturday.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

What If God Was One of Us?

sacred space begins this coming Saturday, February 17th. We will be meeting at Cafe Barista (in the strip mall on the corner of Route 83 and Morton Drive in Lake Villa, IL) from 9 - 11 am.

We will be meeting regularly every Saturday morning (unless another time will work better for the group that gathers) from 9 - 11 to engage one another as we explore together life in the way of Jesus. You can come when you wish and stay as long as you'd like.

Every week there will be something presented to focus and guide our conversation with one another. For Feb. 17th, we will use Joan Osbourne's song, If God Was One of Us to guide our focus. If you are there, besides talking with one another, you can post further ideas on this blog. If you can't make it, but would like to be a part of the conversation, you can share your ideas here as well. The focus is on exploring together life in the way of Jesus.

For February 17

This first session explores Jesus as God among us -- for that is the claim of the earliest writers who wrote about Jesus -- that Jesus from Nazareth is God as a human being. This is more than Greek mythology, rather these writers make the historical declaration that Jesus from Nazareth is God in human flesh -- God actually being one of us.

Here is the flyer that will be available to guide our conversation:


If God Was One of Us
Joan Osbourne

If God had a name, what would it be
And would you call it to his face
If you were faced with him in all his glory
What would you ask if you had just one question
And yeah yeah God is great yeah yeah God is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home

If God had a face what would it look like
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in jesus and the saints and all the prophets
And yeah yeah god is great yeah yeah god is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
He's trying to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody calling on the phone
Except for the pope maybe in rome
And yeah yeah God is great yeah yeah God is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if god was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Just trying to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to heaven all alone
Just trying to make his way home
Nobody calling on the phone
Except for the pope maybe in rome

Conversation

What is Joan Osbourne trying to say with this song?
What is she saying about God?
What do you think of her thoughts on God?
A Thought

Christmas celebrations were a little over a month ago and the claim of Christmas is that God did become one of us. God did not just take on human form, like a mask or a costume, but God actually became a human being and lived among us. This God who lived among us is identified as Jesus from Nazareth.
What kind of human being was God? Was he very much like you and me – the same passions and needs? Yet, he lived in a way that did not manipulate people to get what he needed. His life was about connecting with us and helping us see what life could be. And so as Jesus got up in the morning, washed up, ate breakfast, worked, hung out with his friends, talked and helped people in his neighborhood, he also lived out the way life was meant to be lived. He invites us to discover his kind of life by walking with him.
Further Conversation

What would be different if God was really one of us?
Where do we see Jesus today?
What would it be like if Jesus lived next door?
What would Jesus touch in our lives if we spent time with him?
What would it take to live life the way Jesus did?