This last month in worship, we have asked each other to share responses to three important questions.
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1) What do you WONDER about? i.e. Faith questions?, reflections?, doubts?, etc.
2) What do you WORRY about? i.e. What keeps you up at night?, anxieties?, relationships?
3) What do you WISH for? i.e. What are your dreams, passions? Hope? If money were no object, would you travel? change jobs? or ...?
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(You can still answer these online at: www.bit.ly/LUMC-3Questions. Please add your response today!)
The responses have been very helpful and insightful into the struggles happening in our congregation.
Thank you all for participating in our “three questions.” Your answers have been very helpful.
Here are a few we’ve received so far (grouped by question but in no particular order):
1. We WONDER about:
Forgiveness, Tough love vs. Unconditional love. Lawlessness. Selfishness/insensitivity. Our families. How to accept Christ. Doubt God’s love of us. Science vs. Faith. Why is there so much hate. Is Heaven real? “Why me? (both good and bad).
General Faith questions. Rejection of Religion and Spirituality. God’s happiness. Book of Revelations. Heaven – being with Christ. Our children’s future. Islam.
Keeping my faith. Staying Clean and sober. Astounded at all God does and has done. End of the world.
2. We WORRY about:
Family issues: health & illnesses (especially of children), family safety and health, alcoholism, mental illness, isolation/estrangement getting along with each other.
Evil in the world. Terrorism. Current lack of national leadership. Weariness from worrying about the world.
Relationships. Feeling good enough. Future of my children. Children on drugs. Anxiousness about faithfulness. Money. Tragedies around the world. Declining churches. Problems of welfare.
The end times. Values of our government-our culture. My relationship with God, my spouse. Crime. Reaching people in a fast paced world. Decaying morals and a Godly lifestyle.
3. We WISH for:
Peace in families, community and world. Reasonable explanation of the meaing of life. Morales and Values.
Church to be relevant to the young. More personal education. Travel. That every member of my family is happy and fulfilled. Bringing my family together.
Ways to ‘pay it forward.’ End of racism in America. More time with family. Finding a job. To help my family, church & charities. To be surrounded by my loved ones.
Shelter and food for the homeless. More time in silence with God. Publish my writings. Health and happiness. Start a small business. Move to the Central Coast. Health to all.
That our children have faith in God. Hope in the future. More time to cherish what I have.
To be less jealous, less negative, less critical, more loving, more considerate, more like Jesus.
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There was a clear balance between the personal (my family, my self, my community) and the world around us (our community, our nation, our world.)
Much of it was personal: drugs, estrangement, family problems. Health, Happiness, growing closer as a family. Much of it was seeing similar situations and struggles in those around us and looking for ways to help.
There was also significant anxiety and worry about our present time: the hate and self-centeredness in our world, our lack of leaders, a feeling of helplessness. In addition there was an anxiousness, wonder and concern about our future, the future of our children, our ultimate future with Christ in Heaven.
What comes next....
As the year unfolds, we’ll be addressing some of these in Sermons, classes and outreach activities. I encourage you to look around our church, your neighborhood, your workplace, your school and see if there are groups and individuals addressing your concerns.
Please take advantage of our upcoming Classes starting Sept. 10. There is a wonderful class on “REAL LOVE” along with one on basic faith questions: “ALPHA.”
Our DISCIPLE Bible study (I) is a great overview of the bible from Genesis to Revelation. (And Disciple IV will include an in-depth study of Revelation for those who have had Disciple I.)
By the way, each year we will offer Disciple I along with one of the 3 others Disciple classes. Next year we’ll offer Disciple II, then Disciple III in 2016, etc. Watch for other studies as well.
A new and exciting addition to our classes and groups will be two Hispanic oriented “GRACIA” faith study and “GRUPO y AMISTAD” crafts group.
(You can read about these classes and sign up for them at: www.bit.ly/2014-LUMC_Adult_Classes )
Please let God guide you into increased faith, love, knowledge and wisdom! We are all here to help each other on our spiritual journey.
What scripture has stayed with you this week?
What have others learned about Jesus Christ because of you?
How goes it with your soul?
Grace and Peace,
Terry
Pastor Terry
*Be sure to check out all the activities listed on our website: www.LancasterUnited.org that are especially designed to strengthen families in a difficult world.
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