No one has ever gone up into the presence of God except the One who came down from that Presence, the Son of Man. In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up—and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.
This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.
Pray As You Go
Sacred Space
Lent is a time of inward reflection and repentance, so this week we are reflecting, focusing, and praying about our neighbors and neighborhoods.
Monday
Lets make things real easy today. Go out side! One thing that we do in the winter in Spokane is hibernate and hideout. Hiding usually means that we are hiding from some one or something. We all voluntarily hide from the cold in the winter months but involuntarily it becomes our neighbors. Take twenty minutes or so to be outside and be aware of the world around you. You can just sit on the front step, start working on the yard, smoke a pipe, stretch, throw on a coat and have a conversation with your friend on the porch instead of the living room. Its almost spring…its not that cold.
Tuesday
Take twenty to thirty minutes and simply go for a walk in your neighborhood. Walking helps us slow down, even if you are going speed walk or power walk, and see the things we miss along the way. Say hello to people who are out and about.
Wednesday
Third place community – a place where people gather that is not work or home, and for our purposes and to go a step further a place that is not a church building. Find the closest third place community (you can do more than one) to where you live. If possible, go in and ask some questions or just say hello, make some kind of connection with who and what happens there. Before you drive or walk off, take some time to bring these people before God and pray for them.
Thursday
As a church, we live in the west central neighborhood. It would be easy to just “go to church” at a building in a needy neighborhood. It would be something completely different to be the church in a needy neighborhood and be their neighbors. So instead of walking around your neighborhood this time, go be present in the
God has called us as a church to live in west central. As we all know, church is not a building or something you “go to.” Its people, it always has been. So, today spend some time being present in the neighborhood God has called us to. There is are restaurants and bars, there are grocery stores, there is a community center, there are parks, there are sidewalks for walking, or you could just sit out front or the porch build. Introduce your self and interact with people where can and pray for everyone you meet (praying for people behind their backs is okay). Remember we are not out proselytizing, we are out giving attention to a neighborhood that needs attention (where that leads is totally open).
Friday
As globalization grows, the less we are aware of the local economy. All political and economic arguments aside, local business owners are our neighbors. Find a local business and support it, at least today. This is probably going cost than going to Walmart or Safeway or Red Robin,
Saturday
Assuming that you have some time on your hands, having it be Saturday. Grab some people and go for a drive across town. If you live on the west side of town head east, if you live on the south hill head to the north side, go somewhere you have never gone before or generally avoid. We live in the relatively small city/region of Spokane. There is a downtown core, the surrounding around and even some suburbia beyond that. Filled with all kinds of residential areas, business districts, recreational activity, crazy cool landscapes and tons and tons of people. Its easy to hide in the norms of life, but lets live within the greater community of Spokane and not hide in our houses or stick to our side of the block
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