"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:26
Despite what the new "I" culture may lead us to believe we cannot get through this life along. None of us is a rock or an island unto ourselves. We are relational creatures called to be in relationship: to nurture and be nurtured, to love and be loved. These last two weeks have seen our interconnectedness play out indifferent ways. The pain and injustice beginning with the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO and continuing with riots and peaceful protests has rippled throughout our nation. When one member suffers we all suffer- and so we, as Christians are called to examine our own prejudices and to stand against racism (both personal and systemic) and injustice wherever it occurs. At the same time we have seem an overwhelming number of people come together to raise awareness of and fund to research a cure for ALS. We remember and stand in solidarity with over 30,000 (just in the US!) who suffer from this debilitating disease. I hope you will join with me in prayer for the family and friends of Michael Brown and for our nation as we seek to dismantle the systemic racial injustices still too prevalent in our communities. Please join me in raising awareness about and fund to overcome ALS. As Rev. Dr Martin Luther King stated, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." May justice roll down like waters for those suffering from racial injustice and ALS.
~ Pastor Eric

"It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." ~ Matthew 15:11
Every day we are told what or what not to eat: eat more omega-3 fatty acids, eat less salt, eat more quinoa, eat less sweets, don't eat gluten, don't eat carbs, don't be too fat or too skinny. While a lot these messages are well intentioned, they lead to a lot of anxiety about health and self-image. The Pharisees took this one step further and equated right eating with being in right relationship with God. For Jesus, being in right relationship with God is not demonstrated by what you eat as much as it is with who you eat with. Relationship with God starts with right relationship with those around you: neighbors, friends, family enemies and ourselves. See others and yourself as God sees you: a beloved and good child of God. Love one another in the self-sacrificing way of Jesus. Don't worry about what's on the menu, but about who is at the table and more importantly who isn't. Who needs to be invited? Who needs to be reminded of God's love? How will you be the agent of that divine invitation and blessing?
~ Pastor Eric

"Blessed are the Peacemakers for they will be called the Children of God." ~ Matthew 5:9
"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." ~ Matthew 5:43-44
"With God all things are possible" ~ Matthew 19:26
While I am writing this the killing, rockets and bombs between Israel and Gaza have temporarily stopped and there is hope that both parties will reach a more lasting cease-fire soon. While I give thanks for the end of this latest war which resulted in over 1800 Palestinian deaths (85% were civilians) and over 65 Israeli deaths (64 were soldiers) as well as thousands injured, homeless and traumatized, I know that this is not peace, but merely a pause in a cycle of violence which goes back to 2006 (between Gaza and Israel) and even back to the 1930 and the end of World War I. Yet, I believe peace is possible.
I am confident that there will be no true peace between Israel and the Palestinians without reconciliation. The two peoples are too intertwined culturally, historically and geographically - they are inseparable, and yet there can be no reconciliation without liberation: Liberation form fear, liberation from occupation, liberation from despair and hopelessness for Israelis and Palestinians. 
What can we do to be agents of liberation and reconciliation? How can we become the peacemakers and children of God? We begin by seeing Israelis and Palestinians as brothers and sisters, by valuing each and every human life, and by declaring that the killing of innocents is always unacceptable. We need reject fear and ideology which moved us to demonize a particular religion, culture or people and we need reject the notion of victimhood that promotes fear and preaches security over humanity. We begin at home by challenging those off-hand comments that demonize Israelis (or Jews) or Palestinians (or Arabs or Muslims) by oversimplifying the conflict or justifying the deaths of innocents. We look deeper into the obstacles to peace and seek to overcome them by engaging with our elected representatives and on-the-ground mission partners (Faye and John Buttrick). We never lose hope. 
We need to have hope: hope for justice in which Israelis and Palestinians can life self-determined lives free of occupation and the fear of violence. Hope for liberation from victimhood, oppression and the illusion of violent security and retribution. Hope for a deep and abiding peace in the sure knowledge that with God all things are possible.
~ Pastor Eric