Dear Friends,
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus is condemned to pushing a large boulder up a hill. Every time he reaches the top, the weight of the rock pushes him back, and he never manages to get it over the hill.
Are you exasperated pushing boulders of broken relationships, prejudice, violence, grief or some other life circumstance on life’s journey? We can overcome the inertia of boulders large and small that stand between our hopes, dreams, and aspirations to live a life of dignity, meaning, and purpose.
As people of faith, we know that the rock that sealed the grave of Jesus was rolled away. The tomb was empty because death could not hold him. We claim the power of the resurrection when the Risen Lord lives in our hearts and guides our thoughts and actions. Boulders in our path should not defeat or separate us from the love of God. The Apostle Paul declares:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:31-39)
This month’s First Friday Letter shares stories of xenophobia, the disasters in Indonesia, and a super typhoon in the Philippines and how churches are moving these boulders through the power of the Spirit.
In this First Friday Letter, you can also read about the re-launch of an ecumenical book, Bible Month, Camp Meetings, new church plants in the Congo, and how two Oklahoma Pastors plan to become debt-free.
May God empower you to push your boulders over the hill before you.
Shalom,
Ivan
