{"id":3280,"date":"2016-06-05T12:44:43","date_gmt":"2016-06-05T12:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/?post_type=ctc_sermon&#038;p=3280"},"modified":"2018-01-09T16:01:58","modified_gmt":"2018-01-09T16:01:58","slug":"raising-the-dead","status":"publish","type":"ctc_sermon","link":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/sermons\/raising-the-dead\/","title":{"rendered":"Raising the Dead"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"qtranxs-available-languages-message qtranxs-available-languages-message-es\">Disculpa, pero esta entrada est\u00e1 disponible s\u00f3lo en <a href=\"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/3280\" class=\"qtranxs-available-language-link qtranxs-available-language-link-en\" title=\"English\">English<\/a>. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.<\/p><p>Lectionary:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Luke 7: 11-17<\/li>\n<li>1 Kings 17: 8-24<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I&#8217;d like to introduce you all this morning to a special artifact from our home that is of vital importance for dressing up as a fairy princess: the magic wand.<\/p>\n<p>A couple of weeks ago, I helped little Miss Two dress up in a pretty dress, and put a little crown on her head, and this little wand in her hand. \u00a0She was parading round the house rather happily and looking at herself in the mirror, admiring her princess self when she exclaimed \u00abIs broken\u00bb.<\/p>\n<p>As any good mother, I asked what was broken, and was informed that her wand was broken \u00abIs not working\u00bb, followed by the words any mother wants to hear about a magic wand \u00abfix it mummy\u00bb. \u00a0Since she knows that broken cars are taken to a \u00abcar shop\u00bb to get fixed, she made mention of a\u00bbwand shop\u00bb in her request for fixing her broken wand. \u00a0Now, I don&#8217;t know how other mother&#8217;s do it, but we&#8217;re miles away from Diagon Alley, if I were even able to find platform 9 3\/4, and there are no elves from the Little Kingdom that I can call on to fix the fairy wand, and I have no special abilities where expectations of what a magic wand is suppose to do are concerned.<\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t know about you, but I&#8217;m still left wondering what was supposed to have happened when she waved her magic wand and what it failed to do.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Oh! to have the simple faith of a child that can believe anything is possible and doable! \u00a0Matthew 18:2-4 calls us to become like children,<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span id=\"en-NLT-23706\" class=\"text Matt-18-3\"><span class=\"woj\">\u201cI tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.<\/span><\/span> <span id=\"en-NLT-23707\" class=\"text Matt-18-4\"><sup class=\"versenum\">4\u00a0<\/sup><span class=\"woj\">So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Mark 10: 14-15<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>14\u00a0But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, <span class=\"words-of-christ\">\u201cLet the children come to me; <\/span><span class=\"words-of-christ\">do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.<\/span> 15\u00a0<span class=\"words-of-christ\">Truly, I say to you, whoever does not <\/span><span class=\"words-of-christ\">receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So, today I want to deal with an issue that I struggle with in my Christian faith: are Christians able to raise the dead through faith? In fact, are we supposed to believe in signs and wonders, like healing the sick and making the blind to see? \u00a0Is there a place for raising the dead\u00a0in today&#8217;s modern world or is it just relegated to fables and myths and Game of Thrones? \u00a0If it is beyond our ability and powers, how should we live our lives as Christians? \u00a0What should we learn from today&#8217;s readings that we can really take out into this world and be the salt of the earth?<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve spent the better part of a week reading various points of view on raising the dead. I&#8217;ve discovered groups such as a group of Evangelicals who call themselves the \u00abDead Raising Team\u00bb. I&#8217;ve read about Saint Patrick&#8217;s 33 cases of raising the dead in Ireland, in order to convince the many pagans of the day to convert. \u00a0What is amazing about Saint Patrick is that in 30 years he converted an entire island (Ireland) to Christianity, when previous missionaries had been unable to convert towns, and he gave all glory for this to God and the moving of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n<p>But when it comes to raising the dead, as Christians, we&#8217;re skeptical.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/aleteia.org\/2014\/11\/26\/raising-the-dead\/#sthash.uimla2Oo.dpuf\">As one writer put it<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u00abLevitating saints, sure. Weeping icons and statues, yep. \u00a0&#8230;\u00a0The dying healed through the intercession of the saints, of course. The world is filled with miracles. &#8230;. We\u2019re supernaturalists, but most of us live by the normal (supernatural) means of grace. We go through life in the usual and sometimes God disrupts things with a special benefit.\u00bb<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>While I would love to believe that we could all participate in the supernatural, my rational thinking gets in the way, and I&#8217;m left searching for practical and rational ways that I can transform this world.<\/p>\n<p>Most of what I&#8217;ve read about Luke 7 speaks to Christ&#8217;s compassion for the widow who has lost her only son, in a society where she would have been left completely unprotected and without any rights.<\/p>\n<p>How are we to react as Christ when we see those in need and hurting? \u00a0As Christians, we are called to have the same compassion for our fellow man. We are called to look beyond just what we can see, and commit to life-changing actions in the lives of others. But do you have the time, energy &amp; commitment for that?<\/p>\n<p>The principle of compassion is the very heart of Christ. The ministry of Jesus flowed from His heart of compassion toward those in need. \u00a0Compassion is a word of action. It is not observing from the sidelines; it is the heartfelt care for another with both the intent and action. \u00a0The compassion of Christ carries the notion of tenderness and affection.<\/p>\n<p>The uniqueness of Jesus&#8217; ministry rests in His concern for persons \u2014 He truly loves people and considers them worthy of respect and compassion because of what they are \u2014 bearers of the divine image of God.<\/p>\n<p>John challenges us to look to the needs of others,<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cBut\u00a0if anyone has the world\u2019s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him,\u00a0how does God\u2019s love abide in him?\u00a0Little children, let us not\u00a0love in word or talk but in deed and\u00a0in truth\u201d\u00a0(3:17-18).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Loving others is one of the many ways we put our faith into action.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cPeople do not care how much you know, until they know how much you <strong>care<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"concepts\">So, how can we put this compassion into practice? \u00a0If we can&#8217;t do the supernatural, what can we do that will make life-changing differences?<\/p>\n<div class=\"concepts\">I&#8217;d like to finish up with some practical examples of how we can help others to find new life and meaning, through compassion.<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li class=\"concepts\">Be considerate and present: \u00a0Practice having old-fashioned conversations (by that, I mean, without your phone), where you can give each person your full attention \u2013 use direct eye contact and keep your ears open to their needs.<\/li>\n<li class=\"concepts\">Do a body and feelings check regularly: \u00a0Check the motivation behind your words, actions and decisions.\u00a0Always check in with your thoughts before they become words or actions to be sure your motivation is pure. If you catch yourself about to say or do something that isn&#8217;t coming from a place of integrity, or if it&#8217;s untrue, unkind, or unnecessary, think before you act. Every word and action generates a reaction. Be sure your ripple effect is positive and one that promotes a culture of compassion.<\/li>\n<li class=\"concepts\">Be affectionate: \u00a0Don\u2019t forget the power of touch, especially for children, who thrive on feeling accepted as whole people. Give hugs and pats on the head or a squeeze of the hand.<\/li>\n<li class=\"concepts\">Communicate warmly: \u00a0Let your genuine interest in helping the other person show through heartfelt communication. You can make a world of difference by simply listening and talking in a warm, patient manner.<\/li>\n<li class=\"concepts\">Acknowledge people&#8217;s existence: Say good morning, good afternoon or hello to the people you walk past all the time &#8211; the concierge, the door man, the security guy, the homeless man that you prefer to ignore so he won&#8217;t ask you for cash, the elderly lady walking so slowly she&#8217;s slowing the pedestrian traffic. Get to know people.<\/li>\n<li class=\"concepts\">Practice acts of kindness: \u00a0Go out of your way to be kind. \u00a0Try \u00a0a 30-day kindness challenge. \u00a0Plan random acts of kindness &#8211; hold the door! (Put your arm around and comfort that Game of Thrones fan that just burst into tears, because I just said to hold the door!)<\/li>\n<li class=\"concepts\">Show empathy: \u00a0Empathy is showing that you understand another\u2019s feelings or emotions; you identify with the situation and care enough to place yourself in another\u2019s shoes.\u00a0If someone is upset or acting unusual, consider why before you judge or get annoyed. There\u2019s probably a backstory that would make you react differently. And when someone does share, you don\u2019t have to have a perfect answer. You can just say, \u201cI don\u2019t know what to say, but I\u2019m here for you.\u201d<\/li>\n<li class=\"concepts\">Allow your heart to break: \u00a0Be aware of what&#8217;s going on around you. When you open your eyes to your world, you can often see more clearly where compassion is needed. \u00a0The world is full of what seem like intractable problems. Often we let that paralyze us. There are some people in the world that we can\u2019t help, but there are so many more that we can. So when you see a mother and her children suffering in another part of the world, don\u2019t look away. Look right at them. Let them break your heart, then let your empathy and your talents help you make a difference in the lives of others. \u00a0Be the difference you want to see in this world!<\/li>\n<li class=\"concepts\">Be an encouragement: \u00a0Be the person that holds others up, motivates them, brings them cheer.\u00a0Instead of dwelling on everything people do wrong, use your voice to tell them what they are doing right and encourage them to continue working towards their goals.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Let us pray:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"concepts\">Creator God,<\/div>\n<div class=\"concepts\">Give us compassion and humility in our hearts. Let us be kind, gentle, generous, loving, giving and forgiving wherever we may go. Allow pride to never get the best of us as You fulfill our dreams. Help us not to have a boastful tongue against our brothers. Let humility invade our souls.<\/div>\n<div class=\"concepts\">In Jesus&#8217; name. Amen<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Disculpa, pero esta entrada est\u00e1 disponible s\u00f3lo en English. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.Lectionary: Luke 7: 11-17 1 Kings 17: 8-24 I&#8217;d like to introduce you all this morning to a special artifact from our&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4837,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","ctc_sermon_topic":[25,199,198],"ctc_sermon_book":[216,114,63],"ctc_sermon_series":[],"ctc_sermon_speaker":[62],"ctc_sermon_tag":[218,148,220,217,22,9,213,221,40,219,146],"class_list":["post-3280","ctc_sermon","type-ctc_sermon","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","ctc_sermon_topic-faith-2","ctc_sermon_topic-missions","ctc_sermon_topic-service","ctc_sermon_book-1-kings","ctc_sermon_book-john","ctc_sermon_book-luke","ctc_sermon_speaker-beth-anne-gray","ctc_sermon_tag-belief","ctc_sermon_tag-children","ctc_sermon_tag-communication","ctc_sermon_tag-compassion","ctc_sermon_tag-death","ctc_sermon_tag-faith","ctc_sermon_tag-jesus","ctc_sermon_tag-listening","ctc_sermon_tag-love","ctc_sermon_tag-raising","ctc_sermon_tag-teaching","ctfw-has-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/3280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ctc_sermon"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3280"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/3280\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3284,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/3280\/revisions\/3284"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_topic?post=3280"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_book","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_book?post=3280"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_series","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_series?post=3280"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_speaker","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_speaker?post=3280"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_tag?post=3280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}