"God is in the Gathering Business" By Mark Pratt-Russum

West Hills Friends

Mark Pratt-Russum gave a message about Pentecost and read from Genesis 11 and Acts 2. Genesis described the scattering and confusion of language after the Tower of Babel was built, and Acts was about Pentecost, the experience of a powerful wind and tongues of fire descending on the disciples. They began to speak in languages they didn't previously know. Mark read this passage from The Message, by Eugene Peterson: 38-39 Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.” 40 He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!” Mark reflected that it seemed that God is gathering, rather than scattering, but into a unity that is not false. There are ways our culture wants to create unity, but God calls us to a wholeness that is beyond conforming to the ways of Empire.