April 2, 2017, Lectionary

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When we talk together about the tragedies that dry our bones, we can be ready together for the comedies of dry bones coming to life. Ezekiel 37:1-14

When You are silent, God, I look for You like a watchman looks for sunrise, like bones look for resurrection. My hope is in Your Word. Psalm 130

It's not the bodily needs and desires that are bad, but attending to them as highest law. The Spirit wants first place, and brings life. Romans 8:6-11

They said of Jesus regarding Lazarus, "Look how He loved him!" May they say that of Jesus regarding me. John 11:1-45

Thoughts about Listening

Communication first. Before bonding, before functionality, before looking good, before animation, there must be listening. Ezekiel 37:1-14

Find creative ways today to help others know your deepest desires and hopes. Psalm 130

Tending to body needs, my own or others', can be a path to spiritual growth. OTOH, it could be an obsession, blocking spiritual growth. Romans 8:6-11

If there is someone you blame for being absent from your life at an important moment, find a listener and tell the event in detail. John 11:1-45

Bible Reading Group Homework

1.    Do you know of any tragedies or disasters that brought profound good in the end? Talk and listen about these things.

2.    Read or listen to Ezekiel 37:1-14. What songs or art do you know of regarding this vision/story. What tragedies might have led to a whole valley being full of dry bones? What comedies might happen in their coming to life again? How does this picture your life, church, or community?

3.    Read or listen to Psalm 130. Create some additional metaphors for strong desire and longing, even in the face of apparent impossibility. How do you find hope in the Bible?

4.    Read or listen to Romans 8:6-11. This is in the section of Romans about life in the Spirit. In what areas of your life do you crave new life in the Spirit today?

5.    Read or listen to John 11:1-45. They lived in the tragedy for four days, plus whatever minutes or hours Jesus took to mourn and cry with them. Describe, draw, or dramatize their feelings of loss and sense of betrayal. Then in a mere few minutes they experienced profound turnaround of emotions. Describe, draw, or dramatize some of the comedic possibilities with such drastic change. For what are you inclined to blame Jesus? Can you trust Him to bring you profound good in those very circumstances?

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 1. ¿Sabe de alguna tragedia o desastre que al final trajo un bien profundo? Hablar y escuchar acerca de éstas cosas?

2. Leer o escuchar Ezequiel 37:1-14. ¿Qué canciones o arte conoce acerca de ésta visión/historia? ¿Qué tragedia podrían haber llevado a un valle entero lleno de huesos secos? ¿Qué comedias podrían suceder en su regreso a la vida? ¿Cómo representa esto su vida, iglesia o comunidad?

3. Leer o escuchar el Salmo 130. Crear algunas metáforas  adicionales para el fuerte deseo y anhelo, incluso ante la aparente imposibilidad. ¿Cómo encuentra la esperanza en la Biblia?

4. Leer o escuchar Romanos 8:6-11. Lo referente a la vida en el Espíritu, lo encuentra en la sección de Romanos.  ¿En qué áreas de su vida anhela hoy una nueva vida en el Espíritu?

5. Leer o escuchar Juan 11:1-45. Ellos vivieron en la tragedia durante cuatro días,  mas cualquier número de minutos u horas que Jesús tomó para lamentarse y llorar con ellos. Describir, dibujar o dramatizar sus sentimientos de pérdida y sensación de traición.  Luego, en pocos minutos, experimentaron un cambio profundo de emociones. Describir, dibujar o dramatizat algunas de las posibilidades cómicas con éste  cambio tan drástico.  ¿Por qué se está inclinando a culpar a Jesús? ¿Puede confiar en que Él   traerá un bien profundo en ésas mismas circunstancias?