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To the Village: Jan. 27, 2007
Upcoming Events
(Saturday) Feb. 3 (6:00pm): Movie Night and Discussion at the Crawford’s House. They will be showing Luther: A biopic which examines Protestant reformer Martin Luther's personal battles, and his transformation from a simple monk into leader of the Protestant movement--and, in the eyes of the Vatican, an ecclesiastical terrorist. (Yahoo movie reviews)
(Monday) Feb 5: Funniest Isaiah - Study call Jeff McConnell for more details
(Friday) Feb. 16: Drumming Circle at the Seneca House (6:00pm): Dinner is provided – Kids are welcome – the discussion will include budget info, building info, a wireless model for church, prayer, etc. I am very excited about this meeting. If it is at all possible, please be sure to attend.
Pilgrim Groups start the first or second week of February. If you sign-up, someone will contact you about which group you are in.
Thoughts from Eric
In 2 Corinthians, Paul makes some interesting comments about God. In verse three he states:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
Paul says that God is the father of mercies, probably better translated compassion, and the God of all comfort. The word translated comfort is often translated encouragement. It means to call near. I started thinking about how I experience the compassion of God. There are some grand theological ways that our faith says I can see and experience his mercies. On the cross we see God’s great compassion expressed for mankind. Jesus takes the suffering of the world on to himself. A lot of times I hear and read about Jesus’ suffering, and it just doesn’t do it for me. I just don’t feel like God cares for me, or at the very least, not sure how he is “comforting me.” But the longer I am a Christian, the more I’m convinced that a good portion of God’s compassion is communicated through the Church. The comfort offered to me by other Christians is God’s compassion and mercy poured out through his people.
Later in chapter one of 2 Corinthians, Paul says that we are able to comfort one another because we have been comforted by God himself. Recently, a few of us were discussing the unexplainable mystical experience of God - this way of knowing and experiencing God, but not being able to explain it, or even wanting to. When I read in scripture that God has compassion for me, and that he is calling me near to him – somehow I’m transported to a dusty road somewhere in the Middle East, and Jesus is waiting for me . . . telling me that he is proud of me and he loves me and that my suffering is his suffering. | 
