Fully Alive in God

Dao Island, Philippines (privateislandsonline.com) Melissa Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Esther 7:1–6, 9–10; 9:20–22; Ps. 124; James 5:13–20; Mark 9:38–50) John Donne said: “No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” [1] Or, we might say: we do not belong to ourselves. We are all in this together. And how we act individually always affects the people around us. One is never so aware of this fact as when one lives in a foreign country and one becomes a sort of ambassador for your whole country. When I lived in Chile and would ride the bus, I was a good head taller than most and frequently getting on the bus I would ask for the student rate, as I was a student. The only thing was, it was controversial among bus drivers as to whether international students should get the rate as they were not necessarily subsidized by the government, so it was always a dance, in situations like that one, between blending with ...

Dao Island, Philippines (privateislandsonline.com) Melissa Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard  (Ester 7:1–6, 9–10; 9:20–22; S. 124; Santiago 5:13–20; Marcos 9:38–5) El Poeta Juan Donne dijo: “Ningún hombre es una isla, entera en sí, Cada hombre es pieza de continente, parte del total.” [1] Nosotros podemos decir: no nos pertanecemos a nosotros mismos. We do not belong to ourselves. Todos estamos en esto juntos. Y como actuemos siempre afecta a la gente alrededor de nosotros. Como muchos de Ustedes saben, uno está mucho más consciente de este hecho cuando uno vive en el extranjero. Uno se convierte en un tipo de embajador de su país. When you live in a foreign country, you become an ambassador for your country of origin whether you want to or not. Cuando vivía en Chile y me fui en el micro, fui más alta que la mayoría de la gente alrededor de mí, y fue muy obvio que fui de los Estados Unidos u otro parte extranjero. Muchas veces, como fui estudiante, entrando...

https://csrd.asu.edu/healingracism M. Campbell-Langdell All Saints, Oxnard (Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23; Ps. 125;   James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17; Mark 7:24-37) “Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the LORD pleads their cause and despoils of life those who despoil them (Proverbs 22:22-23).” Wow, them’s fighting words! And in the book of James today we hear some choice words about how we shouldn’t overly value those with wealth over others who might darken our doors. Obviously in James’ context there was discrimination happening against those who were poorer. And the truth is that discrimination has a history going as far back as the human race. And it can be about race, social class, religion or any other of a myriad of differences. Today we hear from our Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and our President of the House of Deputies Gay Clark Jennings that we are celebrating a special day with our African Methodi...

https://csrd.asu.edu/healingracism M. Campbell-Langdell All Saints, Oxnard (Proverbios 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23; S. 125; Santiago 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17; Marcos 7:24-37) “No abuses del pobre por ser pobre, ni oprimas ante los jueces al indefenso, pues el Señor saldr á en su defensa y oprimir á a quienes los opriman” (Proverbios 22:22-23). Wow, ¡palabras fuertes! These are strong words. Y en el libro de Santiago hoy escuchamos que no debemos tratar mal a los pobres. La verdad es que la discriminación tiene una historia tan larga como la raza humana. Y esta discriminación a veces se trata de la raza, la clase social, la religión, o cualquier otro de una multitud de razones. Hoy día nuestra Obispa Presidente, Katharine Jefferts Schori, y nuestra Presidenta de la Casa de los Deputados Gay Clark Jennings nos dicen que estamos celebrando un día especial con la Iglesia Africana Metodista Episcopal. Aun llam é a mi colega AME aquí en Oxnard, Pastor Cox, para informarlo que nosotr...