Joseph Heller’s novel, “Good as Gold,” contemplates a different type of criteria for friendship in the question, “Who would hide me?” The question is asked from the viewpoint of a Jewish person living with the memory of Germany during Hitler’s regime. As that person weighs his relationships with his Gentile friends, the ultimate criteria of friendship becomes, “Would he risk his skin to hide me if the Nazis came knocking again?” The darker side of this friendship question is “Who would betray me? Who would sell me out?”

Jesus once entertained a similar question: “Who is my neighbor?” The lawyer asking the question was really wanting to know, “What are the limits of neighborliness? At what point am I absolved from my responsibility toward others?” The answer Jesus provided, in the form of the parable of the Good Samaritan, was not one the lawyer was hoping to hear. He concluded, based on Jesus’ story, that a neighbor is “one who shows mercy.” Jesus then replied, “Go and do likewise.”

Who is my neighbor? Who is my friend? Jesus and Joseph Heller both emphasize safety and protection as vital parts of neighborliness and friendship. The Samaritan who responds to the needs of the roadside robbery victim and the Gentile who welcomes in his vulnerable Jewish friend are both taking risks to provide safety and shelter.

One of the things Carrie and I tried to teach our girls as they made choices about friends was just this: pick friends who won’t betray you with on-again, off-again friendship. A true friend is someone who provides the shelter of friendship, even when it’s inconvenient or costly.

Jesus modeled this type of deep friendship. He told his followers that “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Then he lay down his life for them and for all humankind. The apostle Paul tells the Colossian believers that “your life is now hidden with Christ in God,” describing the effects of their baptism in sheltering them in Christ.

Two questions in conclusion. First, who would hide you? Who is hiding you in the shelter of their friendship? Second, who are you hiding? Whom are you welcoming within the mercy of your protective loyalty?

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Throughout the history of the Church, non-believers have objected to the Christian belief in Christ’s divinity. “Sure, Jesus was a good man, a worthy teacher, a courageous revolutionary. But quit with all that talk equating Jesus with God.”  If only we could!

I find it interesting that for many who are able to put their faith in Jesus as one who is co-equal with God, the harder issue has been to believe that Jesus was truly human. The Docetic heresy of the second century found the idea of a human Jesus repugnant, arguing that the Lord only “seemed” to be human, only “seemed” to suffer, only “seemed” to be one of us. Such an enfleshment would be “unthinkable” for a truly divine being. But the early Church pushed back hard against Docetism, rejecting it as a dangerous misunderstanding of who Jesus was. Why? Because the human side of Jesus matters deeply to a vital faith.

One reason for the Church’s pushback was theological and philosophical. Many Greek philosophers considered matter to be inherently evil, which caused them to disparage the human body in favor of the human spirit. Plato had argued that the human soul longed to be free from the body like a bird from a cage. But Christians, in line with their Jewish forbearers, understood that the whole universe, including humans and matter, was created by God, and was therefore good. John’s teaching that the “Word became flesh” was understood as God’s affirmation of the human body. Against early false teachers, 1 John 4:2-3 argued, “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.”

Another reason for the Church’s rejection of Docetism was practical and pastoral. When humans are going through great trials and temptations, it is extremely helpful to know that Christ our Lord knows and understands. The writer of Hebrews encouraged his readers to approach God’s throne boldly because Jesus sympathizes with our human weaknesses, having gone through his own testing. As such, Jesus is a high priest who intercedes on our behalf for God’s grace in our times of need. Dietrich Bonhoeffer would later reflect that “only a suffering God can help.” In other words, for humans who have endured great suffering, the understanding that God has taken on human form and has stood in solidarity with human suffering on the cross makes a tremendous difference. God is not removed from our struggles. God came near. May we affirm with great gratitude that Jesus Christ is both fully divine and fully human!

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Charles Steinmetz was called the “Electrical Wizard” by his coworkers when he worked for General Electric in the early days of the 20th century. After he retired, his fellow engineers at GE were mystified by the breakdown of a complex of machines. After some futile attempts at repair, they invited Steinmetz to come in as a consultant and diagnose the problem. After surveying the machines for several minutes, he used a piece of chalk to place an “X” at one particular juncture of one of the machines. It turned out that this was the exact spot of the breakdown.

A few days later, Steinmetz sent his bill—for $10,000, a staggering amount considering the few minutes the job had taken. The engineers asked him if he could provide a breakdown of specific costs. Steinmetz complied, as follows:

“Making one cross mark…………$1.00
“Knowing where to put it……$9,999.00”

Knowing where to place the “X” is a much needed skill in our world. I think about Jonah the prophet in this regard. God called him to deliver a message of judgment to Israel’s despised enemies, the Assyrians. After initially trying to avoid God’s call, followed by some divine persuasion, Jonah went to Nineveh and declared the word of the Lord. To Jonah’s dismay, the entire city repented, turning from their evil ways! So God relented of his plans to bring calamity upon the city.

God’s change of plans angered Jonah, who told God, “…I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.” Essentially, Jonah says to God, “I knew you’d botch the job! You’re too indulgent of these wicked people!” Jonah is furious because of God’s “inability” to put the “X” in the right place, to mete out grace and judgment in the correct measure. But it turns out that Jonah is the one who doesn’t understand the heart of God.

Jonah understood the Scriptural teaching about justice and wanted judgment applied lavishly… to his enemies. But what he lacked was insight into God’s priorities when it comes to meting out divine justice and divine grace. The oft quoted confession that Jonah references, “You are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,” affirms the priority of grace in all of God’s dealings with creation. God’s relationship with the world is not equal parts grace and wrath. While God will exercise judgment when need be, God is always willing to relent and show mercy upon the repentant. May we seek to mirror this divine priority of grace, not by ignoring God’s call to justice, but by understanding that the heart of God is toward the repentant.

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Join us in person or via YouTube for lessons about God’s work with the following people throughout history:

• Jacob
• Jonah
• Self-assured scribe with Jesus
• Mary
• Job
• Peter

In each of these scriptural stories, we discern that when it comes to God and God’s ways with us, there is always more than meets the eye. God has a way of breaking out of the tidy theological boxes we construct, of caring for people we’ve decided we could write off, of calling us out of complacent grooves. I am prayerful that as we journey through this Lenten season, we will be reminded that there is always more to learn about the Holy One, always more to appreciate, always more to see. Augustine once wrote, “If you understood God, it would not be God.” This quote reminds me of the word “ineffable,” an adjective that means “too great to be expressed or described in words.” I believe that when we speak of God, we speak of the One to whom our words can gesture but never fully contain. May this Lent help us love more deeply the Lord of life whose judgments are unsearchable and whose paths are beyond tracing out.

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Lent For Everyone. Participate with a group from CVCC in “Lent for Everyone” with daily scripture readings and devotionals by NT Wright, available via the YouVersion Bible app. Contact Jack Williamson for an invitation.

Bowls of Hope Painting Party. Many Mansions, a major provider of low-income housing within our immediate community, has an annual fundraiser by selling Bowls of Hope. Around 20 in our congregation gathered to prepare bowls on February 26 for the annual Bowls of Hope Fundraiser.

Baptism Class. We’re offering a 3-weekbaptism class in the children’s worship area for all who are preparing to be baptized as well as those who are interested in learning more about baptism.

2023 Lip Sync Mission Trip Fundraiser. This year’s Lip Sync took place on March 12 and was an evening of fun all. Donations made at this event will go toward funding the trip to Mexico to build a house for a family this summer. Please pray for God’s work with the team as they prepare to go as well as for the family in Mexico who will be receiving the house.

Springfest. Springfest is an annual youth rally put on by the Westside Church of Christ in Bakersfield, CA. The theme this year is SEEK. One of the key themes that we see throughout the entire Bible is the way God is seeking a relationship with us. He pursues us even when we fall short because of his great love. When we understand how much God loves us, it moves us to seek a heartfelt relationship with him. If you are a 6th-12th grade student, we’d love to invite you to a powerful weekend of worship, service, and teaching from God’s Word. The cost is $25 per person which offsets hotel costs and food. Please register here for the youth rally.

Many Mansions Spring Fair. Many Mansions, the premier provider of low-income housing in our community, is sponsoring their annual Spring Fair for their resident children on Friday, March 31 from 3-6pm. The church is collaborating with Many Mansions on this year’s fair, providing four activity stations, similar to our Harvest Festival activities.  We have committed to staffing four activity stations, and are looking for adult or teen volunteers.  Please let Stu Warford  know if you are available and would be willing to serve our community in this way.

Palm Sunday. On Sunday, April 2, all children (ages infant through fifth grade) are invited to participate in the Palm Sunday processional at the 10:15 service. We ask that the children gather in the Children’s Worship area at 10:05 to receive their palm fronds and get organized by Haylie.

Family Good Friday Event. On Friday, April 7, beginning at 5pm, we will have our annual Good Friday Event. We will have staggered starting times so that the evening will be one in which families can proceed through the stations with time and space to remember Jesus and talk about the events that led to his death. A sign up list will be available soon.

Good Friday Evening Service. On Friday, April 7, beginning at 9pm, there will be a contemplative worship time with scripture and song helping us focus on the crucifixion of Jesus.

Easter Sunday. Join us to worship the risen Messiah on April 9 at 10:15am. Invite friends. In this service, we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday some 2000 years ago.

Children are invited to participate in creating a living cross during our worship service.

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This Sunday we begin our annual 40-Day Spiritual Adventure, traditionally called the season of Lent. This season has been for many Christians throughout the centuries a time to do some spiritual spring cleaning. Since the fifth century, Lent (literally “springtime”) has been associated with prayer, fasting, repentance, and almsgiving. It is a time to “give things up,” as well as a time to share with those in need. Sadly, some have turned this tradition into a joyless time to begrudgingly forgo a few token pleasures. But this season presents an opportunity, not a requirement. As one author says, “It is meant to be the Church’s springtime, a time when, out of the darkness of sin’s winter, a repentant, empowered people emerges.” This is always a time for us to come to terms with who we are, to recall the great generosities of God through Jesus Christ, to discern what has deadened us to him, and to remember what we are yet called to be and do in our time.

Our Lenten sermon theme for this year is “More Than Meets the Eye.” During the next month and a half, we’ll be reflecting on various Biblical characters who encountered God or met Jesus and were chagrined, challenged, and ultimately changed by that encounter. For example, Jonah had to reassess a faith that excluded the possibility of God forgiving his despised enemies, the Assyrians. A self-assured scribe had to expand his understanding of “neighbor” after Jesus told a parable about a Good Samaritan. Job, certain of his righteousness despite horrendous suffering, got a different “answer” to his questions than he was expecting. Mary, a trauma survivor, had to rework what she believed was possible in a garden encounter with Jesus. Jacob got more than he bargained for when an all-night wrestling match with God left him with a limp and a new name. Peter was often surprised by Jesus, learning that forgiving extends beyond seven times, that the way of Jesus is the way of the cross, and that painful failure does not equal disqualification from life in God’s kingdom.

In each of these scriptural stories, we discern that when it comes to God and God’s ways with us, there is always more than meets the eye. God has a way of breaking out of the tidy theological boxes we construct, of caring for people we’ve decided we could write off, of calling us out of complacent grooves. I am prayerful that as we journey through this Lenten season, we will be reminded that there is always more to learn about the Holy One, always more to appreciate, always more to see. Augustine once wrote, “If you understood God, it would not be God.” This quote reminds me of the word “ineffable,” an adjective that means “too great to be expressed or described in words.” I believe that when we speak of God, we speak of the One to whom our words can gesture but never fully contain. May this Lent help us love more deeply the Lord of life whose judgments are unsearchable and whose paths are beyond tracing out.

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This Sunday is Vision Sunday, a day in which our whole congregation is invited to share in a process of prayerful reflection as we consider together our future. This, of course, is part of a visioning process our elders introduced in January, when they commissioned a team of 11 church members representing a cross section of our congregation to research community trends, gather congregational input, and reflect together on the question, “What can our church become to model God’s kingdom in the Conejo Valley in 2043?” This group includes Jon Mullican, a church consultant from HOPE Network Ministries, as well as Vincent Chambers, Jonathan Ditmore, John Downey, Eliza Erickson, Brittany Joyner, Kipp Landis, Daniel Overton, Suzanne Reynolds, David Rhoades, Andy Wall, and Penny White.

As part of this process, you are invited to participate in a congregational input session this Sunday, February 19, from noon to 4pm. This time includes lunch and will provide an opportunity for the congregation to participate in this process of envisioning our shared future. Please join us for this important time of reflecting, visioning, and prayer. Contact John Downey, the vision team chair, if you have further questions.

A question that several have asked related to this visioning process is, “Why are we thinking so far ahead? Twenty years is a long way into the future and it’s impossible to anticipate all the twists and turns to come. Plus, who knows where I’ll be in 20 years?” These are fair questions. My sense is that we’re not trying to answer the “How” question but the “What” question. “How” wrestles with short-term tactics and quick-response solutions to ever-changing circumstances. “What” is about durable commitments and long-term strategies, about “What kind of church does God want us to be 20 years from now?”

As we come out of several years of the pandemic and fully re-engage with our community, now does feel like an opportune time to gather and reflect as a church family on our shared future. May God bless and guide us as we engage together in this process.

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When we share the gospel with others, or teach the story of Scripture, we’ll engage, of necessity, in some holy oversimplification. In doing so, we won’t be the first to do so. Since ancient times, Jewish rabbis have discussed and argued over what is the greatest commandment. Rabbi Jesus discussed this question during his ministry as well.

A story is told about Rabbi Simla, from about AD 250, who made the claim that various biblical authors had reduced the 613 commandments from the Torah down to a more manageable number. Simla said that David took the 613 commands down to 11, as stated in Psalms.

O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the Lord; who stand by their oath even to their hurt; who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Psalm 15

Simla argued further that Isaiah took the 613 commands down to 6, that Micah took them down to 3, Isaiah to 2, and Amos and Habakkuk to 1.

• Those who walk righteously and speak uprightly, who despise the gain of oppression, who wave away a bribe instead of accepting it, who stop their ears from hearing of bloodshed and shut their eyes from looking on evil, they will live on the heights… Isaiah 33:15ff
• What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  Micah 6:8
• Maintain justice, and do what is right… Isaiah 56:1
• For thus says the Lord: Seek me and live… Amos 5:4
• …the righteous shall live by faith. Habakkuk 2:4

When Rabbi Jesus was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?”, he too engaged in holy oversimplification. His response was two-fold: Love the Lord your God with all you’ve got, and love your neighbor as yourself. While Jesus would (and did!) have more to say about kingdom living, this response for the ages is one we would do well to heed and pursue with all diligence!

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What do you think about when you’re not thinking about anything in particular? Where does your mind go when you are mentally “in neutral” and don’t have a specific thought to focus on? Do your thoughts go toward…

• hopes, dreams, anticipations?
• loved ones, friends, people you enjoy?
• to-do lists, jobs to be completed, action items to check off?
• regrets, disappointments, sorrows?
• grudges, enemies, frustrations?
• scrolling through social media on your phone?

Your thoughts can travel in a number of directions, each of which could dramatically change your day for good or for ill. If you focus primarily on negative emotions, dark thoughts, gloomy memories, and detrimental relationships, your day will proceed very differently than if you center on being grateful, expressing appreciation, practicing thankfulness, and looking out for the good.

In his most joyful letter, written from prison to a church in conflict as he faced the possibility of martyrdom, Paul exhorted the Philippian believers to be mindful of their thoughts: “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Such a spiritual discipline could be a tremendous blessing to us as we live in a world ravaged by anger, negativity, pettiness, grudges, injustice, and bitterness. For the next three Sundays, our sermon series, “Think on These Things,” will focus on Paul’s words in Philippians 4:8-9, inviting us to think nobler, clearer, and better thoughts. Ralph Waldo Emerson offered this observation on the power of a single thought: “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and reap a destiny.” May we remember the importance of what we choose to ruminate and meditate on. And may our transformed thinking empower us to be a greater blessing in our world!

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We are thankful to be present with one another and in community again. We invite all to recommit to being present with this church family for Bible classes and worship on a weekly basis in 2023. Your presence, thoughts, journey of faith, and encouragement matter to this body of believers! Masks are welcome but not required. We look forward to worshiping, learning, serving, and growing as a part of Christ’s family in the Conejo Valley this year.

Children’s Ministry Valentine’s Day Activities. Our CVCC children are leading us in an effort to provide loving notes to senior citizens in our area. All ages are invited to join them in the Children’s Worship area and create notes of encouragement. Or, if you prefer to make cards at home to share, please be sure to get your creations to Haylie by Sunday, February 12.

Preparation for Summer Mission to Mexico.  There are several deadlines, requirements, and meetings for those who plan to participate in the summer mission trip with the Youth Group to Mexico.

• All students and adults who plan to travel to Mexico this summer to build a house for a family will need to obtain a passport. Please start this process as soon as possible. The process can take several weeks.
• Mission Trip RSVP Deadline: February 19
• Mission Trip Fundraiser (Lip Sync): March 12
• Mission Team Meetings: to be scheduled in March, April, May, and June

Printable Mission Preparation Meetings and Deadlines Flyer

 

Family and Friends Outreach Events. As we return to community post-pandemic, we want to be intentional about inviting others to come, get to know, and become part of the community that meets at CVCC. Details vary monthly but are always spelled out in the weekly Family News bulletin. The most recent Family and Friends Event was scheduled for February 10 at Dave & Busters! The next Family and Friends Event will be in April.

Moms Better Together. The third Friday of each month, moms of all ages and life stages are invited to gather at the church building from 5:45 to 7:45pm to share a meal and have time to encourage one another. Because a meal is provided, it is important that those who want to participate RSVP.

MBT Meetings this quarter will take place on the following dates:

• January 20
• February 17
• March 17 please click here to RSVP for this month’s meeting

Hiking Trails Ministry. The Conejo Hiking Trails Ministry hikes once per month in the Ventura County area. Hikers of all levels are welcome. The focus is fun, faith, fitness, friendship, and fellowship while enjoying the beautiful gifts that God has given us in the areas that surround us.

Details for each month’s hike will be shared through the weekly Family News bulletin and through the CVCC FB page.

January 21 — Sycamore Canyon Falls
February 18 — Charmlee Wilderness Park
March 18 — Paramount Ranch — meet at 8:30am at 2903 Cornell Road in Agoura Hills

 

HS Winter Retreat. Due to extreme weather conditions, the HS Winter Retreat had to be rescheduled to April 14-16. All High School students as well as our current 8th graders are invited and encouraged to attend this retreat in Big Bear. This year’s theme is “Higher Love.” Please talk with Travis about your ability to attend at this later date.

Bowls of Hope. This is a fun event which benefits Many Mansions, a major provider of low-income housing within our immediate community. All supplies were be provided for a $30 fee. This was a great service opportunity for young and old alike, and a fun activity to invite friends to participate in. The painted bowls will be glazed and sold at the Bowls of Hope fundraiser.

40-Day Spiritual Adventure. Each year, we take the 40 days leading up to Easter to focus more on service and sacrifice as we prepare for the celebration of Easter. This year’s 40-Day adventure began on Sunday, February 26.

If you are interested in ideas for specific ways to engage more deeply in service or personal reflection, please consult the 40-Day Commitment Sheet.

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