Fully Alive in God

M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Ps. 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11) Genesis 3:1-7 3 The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?” 2-3  The Woman said to the serpent, “Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’” 4-5  The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.” 6  When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. 7  Immediately the two...

M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Génesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; S. 32; Romanos 5:12-19; S. Mateo 4:1-11) Génesis 3:1-7 3  La serpiente era más astuta que todos los animales salvajes que Dios el Señor había creado, y le preguntó a la mujer: —¿Así que Dios les ha dicho que no coman del fruto de ningún árbol del jardín? 2  Y la mujer le contestó: —Podemos comer del fruto de cualquier árbol,  3  menos del árbol que está en medio del jardín. Dios nos ha dicho que no debemos comer ni tocar el fruto de ese árbol, porque si lo hacemos, moriremos. 4  Pero la serpiente le dijo a la mujer: —No es cierto. No morirán.  5  Dios sabe muy bien que cuando ustedes coman del fruto de ese árbol podrán saber lo que es bueno y lo que es malo, y que entonces serán como Dios. 6  La mujer vio que el fruto del árbol era hermoso, y le dieron ganas de comerlo y de llegar a tener entendimiento. Así que cortó uno de los frutos y se lo comió. Luego le...

M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Deut. 30:15–20, Ps. 119:1–8, 1 Cor. 3:1–9, S. Matt. 5:21–37) Today we hear from Deuteronomy:  Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (Deut. 30:19b-20).” And then we hear from Jesus, via Matthew “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; … So… first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift (Matt. 5:21-22a).” The Sermon on the Mount just got real. Jesus is touching us where it hurts! You mean we don’t just have to follow the Ten Commandments ...

M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Deut. 30:15–20, S. 119:1–8, 1 Cor. 3:1–9, S. Matt. 5:21–37) Hoy escuchamos de Moisés en Deuteronomio: “Escojan, pues, la vida, para que vivan ustedes y sus descendientes; amen al Señor su Dios, obedézcanlo y séanle fieles, porque de ello depende la vida de ustedes y el que vivan muchos años en el país que el Señor juró dar a Abraham, Isaac y Jacob, antepasados de ustedes” (Deut. 30:19b-20). Y luego de Jesús en San Mateo: “«Ustedes han oído que a sus antepasados se les dijo: “No mates, pues el que mate será condenado.” Pero yo les digo que cualquiera que se enoje con su hermano, será condenado. … Así que,… deja tu ofrenda allí misma delante del altar y ve primero a ponerte en paz con tu hermano. Entonces podrás volver al altar y presentar tu ofrenda” (Mat. 5:21-22a). ¡El Sermón en el Monte se puso real! The Sermon on the Mount just got real! Y Jesús nos toca donde nos duele. Quiere decir que no solo tenemos que seguir los mandam...

Melissa Campbell-Langdell All Saints, Oxnard ( Isaiah 58:1-9a, [9b-12] ; Psalm 112:1-9, (10) ; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, [13-16] ; Matthew 5:13-20 ) God is Good. Am I right? But sometimes it is hard to feel that way. Sometimes God seems so far away. Sometimes we seem caught in an injustice or like we are believing a lie. A lie that says this is all there is. That God doesn’t care. There are times when we feel all alone. There are times when life just seems full of despair. And yes, we believe in eternal life. But I also believe in loving this life God has given us until the end. That’s faithfulness. But if we are in pain, or just so down we don’t know how to get up, it is hard to feel God is there with us. Sometimes some of us just want to give up. But that is why we go to church! Because then we hear these strong words from Isaiah. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.   And we know we are not ...

Melissa Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Isaías 58:1-9ª, [9b-12]; Salmo 112:1-9, (10) ; 1 Corintios 2:1-12, [13-16] ; Mateo 5:13-20 )   ¡ Dios es bueno! ¿Tengo razón? Pero a veces es muy difícil sentir esto. A veces Dios siente muy lejos. A veces sentimos como estamos atrapados en una injusticia o que estamos creyendo una mentira. Una mentira que dice que esto es todo. Que no hay otro mundo. Sometimes it is tough to believe that God is good when we hear the lie that this is all there is. A veces podemos sentirnos solos. Aislados. Que no hay nada bueno en la vida. Y s í , creemos en la vida eterna. Pero también yo creo en amar a esta vida loca que Dios nos ha dado hasta que termine. Esto es fidelidad. It is faithfulness to enjoy this life while we have it, even as we await eternal life. Pero si estamos en dolor, o tan deprimidos que no estamos seguros que las cosas van a mejorar, es difícil sentir que Dios está con nosotros. A veces queremos rendirnos. Pero ¡es...

  M. Campbell-Langdell All Saints, Oxnard (Malachi 3:1–4; Ps. 84; Hebrews 2:14–18; St Luke 2:22–40) “There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-38).” Beautiful Anna, great in years and sharing her wisdom with the young. Young and adult and all ages coming together to worship. I believe this is what makes God’s heart glad, and what makes us always glad to enter this and any dwelling place of God. I saw God this week in an unexpected place. Isn’t that always the way? I was with my Pepperdine Communitas Clergy Leadership Cohort, and we were transported to a school in Huntington Pa...