weekend

have been away n a residential weekend with a whole bunch of people and the passage that was used most during the weekend was the story of the emmaus rd. Or could it have been called something different as was suggested this morning?

I have always felt there was something quite special about that passage, I think it is because the two people who 'suddenly recognised' Jesus, were ordinary folk - not even disciples - but who would have been confused, frustrated, worried, in denial, given up...etc..., but Jesus appeared to them... Jesus was appearing to people in different setting, not just in the temple, synagogue - in fact not EVEN in the religious places...So why do we expect Jesus to be there now, and why do we expect people to come to the buildings to find Christ, to get to know Christ.

So many people in todays society do not want a relationship with God our creator, redeemer, sustainer, because it doesn't mean anything, there is no hard evidence, so why do we expect them to come into a building that is alien to them - as alien as a betting shop is to me - and start trying to find out about God! Why are we not trying to empower people in ways that are relevant - Jesus came alongside folk in their contexts, do we?

It isn't easy and Christ is not the King who many people thought he was going to be, he was compassionate, fair and just. He also empowered women - who did Christ appear to first? It isn't easy and yet many pretend it is...Is the Christ we worship the Christ of the Gospel or the Christ we want him to be?

words from scandalon by Michael Card...

The seers and the prophets had foretold it long ago
That the long awaited one would make men stumble
But they were looking for a king to conquer and to kill
Who'd have ever thought He'd be so weak and humble

Chorus
He will be the truth that will offend them one and all
A stone that makes men stumble
And a rock that makes them fall
Many will be broken so that He can make them whole
And many will be crushed and lose their own soul
Along the path of life there lies a stubborn Scandalon
And all who come this way must be offended
To some He is a barrier, To others He's the way
For all should know the scandal of believing

Chorus
It seems today the Scandalon offends no one at all
The image we present can be stepped over
Could it be that we are like the others long ago
Will we ever learn that all who come must stumble
Repeat Chorus