The Journey to the Cross: Stop #2 The Bump in the Road

So Jesus resists temptation in the wilderness, but the temptation didn't end there. I would imagine that one of the hardest things Jesus faced would be that those closest to him chose not to follow his teaching. John 6:66 says that "from this time, many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." A few days earlier, there were 5,000 people following Jesus. Today? Not so many.

The road to the cross is unconventional and it is not easy. It calls us to ready our hearts for the good days and the bad days. Sometimes we will resist all of the temptations of the world only to find that the crowds have deserted us. Following Jesus takes us from the wilderness to the desert and ultimately to the cross. And there will surely be bumps in the road along the way. Jesus' disciples said "This is a tough teaching, who can accept it" (John 6:60)? The journey is tough and unconventional, and as such, reminds us that we are following in the footsteps of Christ, who suffered terribly.

So when have you encountered speed bumps in your journey? How did you deal with them?

We will be meeting this Thursday in the Guilford College Community Center at 7:00. Hope to see you there!

The Journey to the Cross: Stop #1: The Wildnerness

As we enter into this season of Lent, we are reminded rather quickly of Jesus' 40 day temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Think about this: if Jesus gives in to even one of these temptations, there is no cross. It's a deal-breaker. He resists the temptations, but the journey is just beginning. We have a tendency to think that if we can just get over the temptation hurdle, life will be easy. But the journey is just beginning, and it leads to the cross. So what are you packing in your packs to help you resist temptation along the way?

We will be meeting in the GCUMC sanctuary this Thursday at 7:00 (Guilford is on spring break), so help us spread the word!

The Unconventional Journey to the Cross

This week marks the beginning of Lent, which is the traditional season of repentance that calls us to remember that Jesus died for us on the cross. It is a call to prepare our hearts and minds as we anticipate the resurrection. The Porch intends to take this call seriously as a worshipping community, so we will be going on a journey. A journey that takes us to various places: the wilderness, the valley, the garden, the prison, and the temple. Pack your bags, because this journey is unconventional, as the journey to the cross should be. Prepare for the unexpected, and remember that the journey doesn't always end where we think it should!

Can anyone and everyone belong?

Is it true? Can anyone belong to God? The Porch has been wrestling with this question lately, and we hope that Thursday's worship will help provide some answers. We are returning to the Guilford College Community Center, so bring an open mind and heart to worship.

Thin Places (The Porch 2/24/11 Bryan Jr. Auditorium)

Celtic Christians have long believed in what they call "thin places." These are places where the boundary between heaven and earth are especially "thin." Essentially, a "thin place" is anywhere where one can experience God's presence more readily. I think about Mt. Sinai as an example of a thin place in the Old Testament. God spoke clearly to Moses through a burning bush and then when delivering the commandments some years later. Elijah also is able to hear the still small voice of God on Mt. Sinai, suggesting that the mountain has some sort of special connection to God.

I don't believe that thin places have to be an actual physical place like Mt. Sinai. Jesus came to earth as the incarnate word of God so that the full revelation of God could be completed. He was the ultimate thin place. Our challenge is to find the thin places in our lives where we can best experience the resurrected Christ! Does that happen in a church? While singing hymns? During communion? In moments of silence? Through serving others? While observing God's creation?

Where are the thin places in your life?

PORCH Feb. 10

Can't wait to see you guys tonight at The Porch at 7pm in Founder's Hall!!  Bring your torches.... proverbial torches that is ;)

And just some good food for thought... check out this video about creativity...

Keeping the ball rolling

Wondering what to do now that Traffick Jam is over? Come to The Porch this Thursday in the Community Center at 7:00 to figure out our next steps. Be thinking of ways that The Porch can be intentional about fighting human trafficking on a regular basis. What can we do?