Stories

I’ve been thinking about “story” a lot recently; specifically our nation’s story.  We have a first African-American president in Obama and his been compared to Abraham Lincoln, which is electrifying as we celebrate 100 years of the NAACP (Feb. 12. 1909). Of course, tomorrow is Lincoln’s birthday (2/12/1809) and I’m reminded of the Gettysburg Address where Lincoln quoted Thomas Jefferson’s words found in the 1776 Declaration of Independence that read, “all men are created equal.” These are the same words Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the women’s movement leader, affirmed in the 1848 Declaration of Sentiments and that Martin Luther King Jr. cited in the 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech.  These words have long been apart of our nation’s story

As a church, Graceland People, believes everyone who calls themselves followers of Christ are called to minister, so we avoid titles and systems that elevate one person over another spiritually.  In the Kingdom of God and Graceland People we are all equals.

God has long used story to communicate his redeeming purpose.  Perhaps, the greatest gift of story in the Bible is of Christ but also the linear theory of history with its implication that life can get better and avoid decline and the idea of the equality and dignity of each individual that culminated in the statement that “all men are created equal.”

As a community we value everyone’s story.  We encourage everyone, anyone, who has a story to share it with others.  In the future we will posted such stories on our church network website at www.GracelandPeople.com.

If you have a story of life, redemption, or what God can do and is doing please share it with others – share it with me.  I would love to hear your story, become apart of your story so we can share a story together.

I look forward to reading your story.