tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17502166.post3254520290230701151..comments2023-11-20T16:12:28.118-05:00Comments on the unlikely orange: a strange purchasegreg milinovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04494018362755379449noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17502166.post-56276656327473795012010-09-21T16:29:39.017-04:002010-09-21T16:29:39.017-04:00A while back we had a conversation about me finall...A while back we had a conversation about me finally finding a hispanic church in Honduras that I enjoyed and where I felt an authentic community of believers. That was a big deal for me because during my time there I attended many communities that either mildly or wildly seemed quite inauthentic. <br /><br />Well... that first Sunday at this new church the guest pastor spoke on this story from Jeremiah. So within me I have special affection for this verse because the message he delivered was full of the desperation for God in this specific church community where I was attending. This community is full of the poorest, most taken-advantage-of, and most broken people on the island where I lived... and the message the pastor preached was one to have hope, to remember the deposit and cost that people have stored in the iron jars (or bronze? clay? I can´t remember how it is translated in English). That the peoples´ faith, their investments of time, their struggles to provide food and shelter for families, to store it all in and have faith that after the broken-ness, goodness will come.<br /><br />It goes back to our conversation of how we can be desperate for God. And this message of hope in Jeremiah, of faith to get through the hardship, that there is another side and that what is stored in the ¨safety deposit box¨ will be recovered, was extremely real and relevant for the people in this church. I still reflect on that sermon and the desperation of those people for God, and how they found God and peace in little things day to day. Pretty awesome stuff.<br /><br />Thanks for reminding me of it today! Take care!<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08939447995382433917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17502166.post-7417633237258084012010-09-21T11:07:04.310-04:002010-09-21T11:07:04.310-04:00This is how I felt when we left Michigan in 2001. ...This is how I felt when we left Michigan in 2001. Not saying goodbye, but we'll be back. I just knew we would be moving back here some day. I could feel it. Did we purchase land here before moving? No. But did we move back at a time when (and still) "younger" families are moving out of Michigan because there are no jobs? Yes. And we've met others who have moved [back] here. So in direct line with your post, I definitely see the strange purchase and because of the downfall of the market, we were able to apply to refinance our house yesterday. Yay!! Lower interest is going to save us thousands of interest. Amazing. <br /><br />In a different light, I feel this way with our youth group. Through the hormonal jr. high age years through the rebellious teenage years we (the leaders) strive to show that we will remain a rock for those youth. They come back after college and see that we're still there and I know that God uses that.Emolyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015660768317462193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17502166.post-66765765907184398162010-09-21T11:00:08.125-04:002010-09-21T11:00:08.125-04:00thanks for the feedback, Kim. i think you are abs...thanks for the feedback, Kim. i think you are absolutely right on with the application of this fascinating little story. and even in a broader sense, i think it may have something to say about our own investments into the kingdom of God (versus our investments into our own "kingdoms:" homes, toys, cars, clothes, fun, etc.). happy sermon planning! :)greg milinovichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04494018362755379449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17502166.post-70121108595327598262010-09-21T10:52:46.408-04:002010-09-21T10:52:46.408-04:00Wow! I've read this passage before, yet in you...Wow! I've read this passage before, yet in your framing of it with your own personal quandry over purchasing a home (or paint, which I understand!) it was eye-opening and mind-awakening! I was going to use a different lectionary text this week, but something is now pulling me to Jeremiah in light of your words - thank you! But to asnwer your question I think it definitly applies - in the culture and economic situation we are in I think many have lost their strength and faith to dream and hope that tomorrow will be better and that the Lord will still prevail. When the money pinches it is harder to have the faith to believe that which cannot be seen, it is easier to put our faith in what the economists and Wall Street predicts will or will not happen than in our Lord who makes all of that even possible. It will preach! <br />As for when to buy a house or not - cannot speak from a real estate standpoint here, but my husband and I bought a house at the Malaga Camp Meeting in South Jersey to use for vacation but also when we retire (a llloooonnnggg time from now) and it was one of the best things we have done - being able to totally get away without spending lots of money on hotels was/is a blessing!Kimnoreply@blogger.com