July 17th, 2006- 2nd Bible Study Whol – i - ness with Myself, Others and God.

Host: Paul & Debi Stromberg

Topic - Living Sacrifices: Bible Verse: Romans 12: 1 - 8

It was a perfect summerevening temperature in Paul & Debi's backyard garden in Happy Valley. We gathered around the smoked steelhead, fruit, salad, bread and cheese and talked in no special order about the ELCA San Antonio youth trip, vacations, family news and gossip. We split into two groups after we finished eating. The group I was in set up by the pool, hummingbirds, and rabbits. Then we talked about what living sacrifice meant.

The discussion started in a light vein, with questions about how peer pressure affects/affected how we dressed and behaved. It quickly moved into how we, as Christians, conform or not to society. It was an introduction to the discussion ahead.

When we reached questions about God’s will for our lives, and how we come to understand it, Susan laid out her uneasiness with balance between her work and home life. Like many of us, at least I talk for myself; Susan did not view her work as her most important contribution to the world or what God wanted from her life. Sarah came up with a quote, listening to the discussion, around what Susan was concerned about, “Follow the deepest desire in your heart to discover the world’s greatest need for you”. It is a great line, it is inspiring and still there was another side to the question laid bare by the pool. Other things were kept hidden in our hearts.

What we talked about, and what we left unsaid, was close to the heart of a matter. Debi laid out the idea of how hard it is to see our own gifts, like those mentioned in verse 6-8 in the reading. We are too close to see our strengths. and they come so naturally. we tend to take them for granted. Debi and Susan are part of a bible study group where, at one meeting, participants helped one another see their gifts clearly.

What Susan said seemed to be true of the group. She expressed a common perception many of us have about our work. We look at our days and are likely to minimize the feeling of God working through us.

I thought Paul would express confidence that his work was making a difference, since he helps people to see; yet he aspires to something more. He talked about working in another country and really making a difference that no one else may make in the lives of the people he could help.

It is hard to see your life from God’s perspective.

Paul and Faith each talked about their experiences in other countries with lifestyles not like the ones we have in our community. We talked about God’s will for those with abundance in their lives and their relationship to the marginalized. Sarah had an intense look on her face. She talked about moving from knowing what is right into action. “Christians can be good at just flapping their gums”, she said.

What was left unsaid (or barely said) was the fear, uncertainty and responsibility that gives us pause at life’s great decisions. Following passion is uncertain. Trying to deal with the marginalized quickly becomes overwhelming unless it is compartmentalized and dealt with in an effort that we feel we can control and direct. Life teaches us about scarcity as well as abundance and we learn to be ant as well as grasshopper regarding what is given to us and how we share it.

We closed by singing “Open The Eyes Of My Heart” and “Shout To The Lord”. Another time of sharing filled our hearts.

Romans 12: 1 - 8

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.