God Who Dwells in an Unapproachable Light

by Francis Chan, Letters to the Church p.34-35: 

Sacred Mystery

There is no greater honor on earth than to be part of God’s Church. 

When was the last time you were awestruck by the fact that you are part of Christ’s body? Have you ever marveled at this privilege?

“For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.”  Ephesians 5:29-30

Every believer needs to stare at those verses long enough to be stunned. I mean really stunned. Paul referred to it as a profound mystery.  If achievement is your idol, you won’t make time for mystery. You will rush to the next sentence so you can finish this book rather than meditate on the miracle that you are a human being who is currently joined to God “who dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Tim. 6:16). 

“This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”  Ephesians 5:32

Slow down long enough to marvel. 

The sun is ninety-three million miles away, and you are unable to stare at it. You obviously can’t touch the sun and live, so how is it possible that we are currently attached to the One who shines brighter than the sun?  High angels cover themselves with their wings in His presence (Isa. 6:2), yet you are a member of His body.  Why would Someone so extraordinary choose to care for you like His own arm? 

Please tell me you didn’t just keep reading.  Please tell me you paused for even a minute to worship. You can’t be that busy.  It’s no wonder we aren’t known as those who “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible” (1 Peter 1:8).  We don’t make time to mediate on His mysteries. 

Where Can We Find Healing?

 Through Eucharist, we receive healing and are enabled to aid in the healing of others. Sozo, the root of the Greek word used in the New Testament for healing, is also translated as salvation and wholeness. Much of this healing is spiritual, but it also includes the healing of our thoughts and emotions, of our minds and bodies, of our attitudes and relationships. The grace received at the Table of the Lord can make us whole. As those who are being saved, we seek to bring healing to a broken world. The United Methodist Book of Worship describes this well: “Spiritual healing is God’s work of offering persons balance, harmony, and wholeness of body, mind, spirit, and relationships through confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Through such healing, God works to bring about reconciliation between God and humanity, among individuals and communities, within each person, and between humanity and the rest of creation” (page 613). Holy Communion can be a powerful aspect of the services of healing provided in the Book of Worship (pages 615–623). 

from This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion p. 10

George Carlin on Obscenity and Indecency

"The whole problem with this idea of obscenity and indecency, and all of these things — bad language and whatever — it's all caused by one basic thing, and that is: religious superstition," Carlin told the AP in a 2004 interview. "There's an idea that the human body is somehow evil and bad and there are parts of it that are especially evil and bad, and we should be ashamed. Fear, guilt and shame are built into the attitude toward sex and the body. ... It's reflected in these prohibitions and these taboos that we have."

--The Associated Press. George Carlin's Obit, June 23, 2008