Comments on: Really Alive

By: Phil Smith

Phil Smith — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 21:10:44 +0000

Nanette, thank you. Your carefully chosen words have gently helped me to question my understanding of Jesus resurrection, as I prepare to speak to a congregation divided by their chosen labels: from fundamental to progressive.

By: Nanette Sawyer

Nanette Sawyer — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:21:30 +0000

Thanks for your thoughts, Steve. I like your idea that we touch the eternity of love when we gather in community, sharing food, faith, prayer and song. Those things are very “real”!

I’m trying to shift my perspective away from the distinction between physical/spiritual, and think instead about the distinction between alive/dead. I think these are two different sets of distinctions.

One could be physically alive and/or spiritually alive.

One could be physically dead and/or spiritually dead.

And you could mix it up. One could be physically alive and spiritually dead, or spiritually alive and physically dead.

I think that changes the paradigm in interesting ways.

By: steve hoerger

steve hoerger — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:45:57 +0000

I do see this passage in Luke as a “made up” story to encourage believers not to give up hope. The risen Christ in this resurrection account represents the eternity in all of us. What Jesus was in touch with so deeply while alive, we also have within. It never ends and it’s always love. Being Luke the place we touch that eternity is in gathering for a meal together, reading the words of our ancestors in the faith, praying and singing, and then waiting for the Spirit to touch our lives and show us the direction we need to move.