Dear church family,

It's the fourth of July and I'm thankful to be living in these United States of America! Right, I'm not a federalist. While I'm on the subject, I'm afraid of the nationalistic fervor that filled many churches this past weekend.

The 'God and Country' bit scares me terribly. We have a citizenship in a 'kingdom' that gives us a closer kinship with fellow Christians - children of God - who are Iraqi, Palestinian, Chinese, African, Hispanic, Korean, etc., than we might have with the unrepentant citizenry even in our own town.

We had such a neat time at our Ice Cream Social. Daniel continued to bless us with introductions to some of his friends and acquaintances from Ecuador, Bolivia, and Korea. How rich and wonderful to listen to the vibrant stories of faith and commitment by these highly educated and highly motivated folks! I'm dreading the time when Daniel decides to move back to Honduras.

Penina is supposed to be returning from Kenya within the week. How wonderfully God has blessed us with such precious additions to our church family as Penina Mungania and Daniel Ruiz.

I hear of cultures clashing in settings of non-homogeneity...my experience is one of enrichment and vitality that is brought around the tables as this old boy from the hills gets to listen to dynamic young adults from Africa, Central America, Asia, South America, and yes, Arkansas.

There are no 'horizons in conflict' here! Jesus is on our horizon. Jesus is the great 'leveler' of societies and cultures and peoples. "In Christ Jesus there is no Greek nor Jew, male nor female..."

We need to be careful to consider prayerfully the plight of wonderful Christian people in vibrant churches who are Palestinian or Cuban or Iranian, etc,...sometimes our national policies do great damage to the cause of Christ in oppressed countries. It is "not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord of hosts."

I'm far more concerned with the health and well-being of Christians and congregations around the world than I am with the expansion of democracy around the world. Democracy doesn't make the scarlet of sinfulness white as snow, only Jesus...

Let's raise the banner of Jesus higher than the banner of patriotism. Paul served a multinational 'congregation' with his letters and he "determined to know nothing among (them) save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." Was he naive? Am I naive? Maybe, but we have a mandate! Go, teach, make disciples...where? Into all the world.

I have put a new "Worship Moment Online" on the church website: <http://www.christschurch.net/moment.htm>.

Love and be loved,
  jim

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james e. huffman
<http://www.christschurch.net>