From the Pastor's Desk
 Power
There are many definitions of the word power found within a common dictionary. Power is defined, in one sense, as "the ability or official capacity to exercise control or authority." And, in another sense, power is defined as "a person, group, or nation having great influence or control over others." And, finally, we might suggest power is "the might of a nation, political organization, or similar group." These definitions of power do not appear to be mutually exclusive. Rather, they seem to overlap; each having something in common with the other. What, then, of the power of Jesus Christ? This Sunday, the last Sunday before advent, is designated on the church calendar as Christ the King or Reign of Christ Sunday. Both of those themes imply a power of Christ in our lives. We will spend some time Sunday reflecting upon the idea of Christ's power in our lives together in Christian community. Yes, Christ has power over and in our lives. But isn't this power really best represented as powerlessness? We give ourselves over to the authority of Christ in our lives renouncing the power of worldly influences. When I think of the powers colliding, of Christ's influence contradicting worldly powers and influences, two images immediately enter my mind; the iconic images of young protesters for peace; one in 1967 placing a carnation in the barrel of a solider's rifle at the Pentagon and the second of a young student defying an oncoming tank in Tiananmen Square. (Ironically, Tiananmen Square is named for Tiananmen Gate, The Heavenly Gate of Peace.) The great truth of our focus text might just be that the authority and power Jesus wants us to think about and act upon has nothing to do with governments and bureaucracies and hierarchical power structures. The power of Christ Jesus has everything to do, with love.
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