Blog - Extraordinary Connection

Devotion - January 16, 2021

1/16/2021

A reflection on peacemaking and how we can work for peace in the 21st century.

sharon

1/16/2021 02:08:08 pm

it is people like you that continue the divide. Check your bible. ALL lives matter. Jesus does not pick a race and say your better than the other or you are owed more than the other. Martin Luther King was about making peace, As was Abraham Lincoln and he too a white man to use your words was assassinated for being a peace maker. He freed the slaves and was a republican. By your rhetoric of black and white and having to articulate those words just adds fuel to the fire, and is the exact reason all this nonsense is going on in the world. There is no condoning violence at all and yet blm and antifa got a pass on the death and destruction they reigned upon our society. Also, for your information hundreds of thousands of white people , to use your words gather through out this past year with no violence. I do not appreciate you lumping white people as bad because of a few. That same notion can be said about black people, you can't say they are all bad because of a few . Many black scholars do not agree with your rhetoric that you use as a so called devotional. You are passing judgement and making inferences which are not only inappropriate but also inflammatory not only as a person but as an alleged church leader. This platform is not for your personal use to impart your personal opinions, it is for all people to hear the word of God.

Pastor Robert

1/16/2021 09:25:47 pm

Sharon, between this and your comment on the Longest Night service there is a pattern developing to your feedback. So there a few things that need to be said. First, a devotional is by its very definition a personal act of reflection upon God. Rev. Elizabeth is well within her rights and her pastoral authority to offer her personal thoughts on this website. Your comments about her being an "alleged church leader" are disrespectful and rude. Furthermore I, and the other contributors, stand by her comments as being reflective of the Word of God. God as revealed through Jesus Christ and the holy scriptures makes clear a preference for those who are marginalized and discriminated against. The scriptures, including Jesus' own words, depict peace being accomplished by the comfortable being made uncomfortable and the oppressed being lifted up. That people of color face systemic discrimination in this country is a well-documented and well-studied fact, This is not a matter of opinion, and if you want to argue this point then I suggest you take time to do more research from sources outside your normal sphere of influence. Finally, given the pattern of behavior demonstrated by your comments regarding race on this website I strongly encourage you to take Rev. Elizabeth's invitation seriously to examine your own heart. Why do you become so defensive and angry when racial justice is named? How can God heal that anger within your heart? If you are seeking support for your ideas on racial justice you will not find any here,

Rev David Gladstone

1/16/2021 05:07:53 pm

You have become a wise and prophetic voice. Thank you.

sharon

1/18/2021 02:50:32 pm

Pastor Robert,
You made my point exactly. I expressed an opinion twice in response to a post. You and Corey did not like my response so you responded in what you call an angry manner towards me. Please see my response to Corey in Blue Christmas. You can't honestly believe people are going to post on this blog and not expect any feed back whether it be positive or negative. As I stated previously in the Blue Christmas post, there is a wide range of ages on this site and you need to know your audience. Instead of there being a constructive dialogue between Elizabeth and myself you and Corey make this an attack No different than people on both sides of the coin with blm and antifia. Both Corey and Elizabeth are young and there is a lot for them to learn in their ministry. There are other young Pastors/Reverends on this site that do not offend the viewer with their personal view on social matter they intertwine it with Gods word to give pause for thought.. It is fine to address social issues from the pulpit, but when it comes across as being chastised for being born a certain way and being told one need to examine their heart by someone who does not know the audience is offensive., Save that rhetoric for diversity training Since I found that offensive I spoke up and always will speak up whether is it liked or not, unless of course this is one of those sites where no one is allowed an opinion.. I have been on this site from the beginning and have made many positive comments. There were 2 comments from the same person that I had a problem with and I spoke up. Furthermore, this is not the 1st time I found some of the content delivery offense but I let it go, but not these last 2 issue. As for a pattern, yes there is one. It is that I will always express my opinion when I feel strongly about an issue. I am not seeking support for racial justice for myself or anyone else. I am seeking God's word and not a far left version of it. Perhaps the 3 of you need to ask yourselves the same questions you posed to me.......Why do you become so angry and defensive when a contrary opinion is posed? How can God heal that in your heart? Why are you seeking support of racial justice on this site under the guise of devotional? Many of the speakers on this site, you included have addressed social issues over this past year that have not been inflammatory. My conscience is clear and my life is centered in God, it clearly is not the version you think is right.

Rev. Elizabeth

1/19/2021 09:11:47 am

Sharon,

I’d actually encourage you to check out some of my other devotions for this site as well. Really the Blue Christmas and this particular devotion are the only two places I mention Black Lives Matter, which I stand by. I would also ask that you not write off my devotions because of my youth. Yes, I am young, but that does not mean I don’t know how God speaks to me through the Gospel. Furthermore, as a Commissioned Elder I have a full vote of confidence from the Michigan Board of Ordained Ministry and Conference in my gifts to be a minister of God’s Word. I fully stand by my devotion, my ultimate call for us to be real peacemakers in this world, and my hopes that we can begin to examine our own hearts and minds so we can have true, good peace.

My suggestion to you would be to read the description of each devotion before watching and choose whether you want to engage with it or not. Prayers for you during this time. And I hope you continue to find meaning and hope in devotions produced by my colleagues. Thank you.

sharon

1/19/2021 01:26:20 pm

Can you please reach out to me via my email. I have written responses twice and they would not go through . I do not know if I have been blocked from the site or if there is technical difficulties.
You should have my email address as it asks for it. If you do not have it, please let me know. Thank you.

Pastor Robert

1/18/2021 09:02:21 pm

Sharon, I don’t know what point you think I’ve made for you, but your comments toward Rev. Elizabeth are not a “constructive dialogue” as you have claimed. You were disrespectful in telling her to check her Bible as if she doesn’t know what scripture has to say, and you were rude in questioning the legitimacy of her pastoral authority. Your comments do not reflect a desire for dialogue, but instead a desire to silence a viewpoint that doesn’t align with yours. Why are you entitled to your opinions but the same is not true of clergy who are trained professionals with apostolic authority in preaching and teaching the Word of God? People are welcome to provide feedback on this site, but rudeness and disrespect will not be tolerated. I’m also not entirely sure why you think speaking about racial justice is a far-left perspective? As I stated in my previous comment the reality of systemic racism in this country is not an opinion - it is a fact. Again I encourage you to do some research outside of your usual sources (perhaps the works of James Cone would be a valuable starting point) and to accept the invitation that Rev. Elizabeth extended in this devotional.

sharon

1/19/2021 01:38:04 pm

Pastor Robert, I have lost respect for you. This matter is between Elizabeth and I to work out and we will get it resolved amicable. Your involvement does not help in any regard but to prove you are hypocritical.. You preach one thing and do another. Not uncommon in organized religion. You are nothing more than a heavy handed Pastor brow beating someone for a different opinion with your pontifications. Do not continue to .respond to me as it will be viewed as harassment and reported accordingly.

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Devotion - January 16, 2021

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