Preach it Rodger

Tomorrow's Kenote Speaker Rodger Nishioka preaches at opening worship on Acts 9:36-43.

In the passage Tabitha is referred to as disciple -- the only time in New Testament that the femine for disciple is used. She truely was a disciple. Tabitha has died and Peter is summoned while the compassionate widows are grieving. Our first job as Christians is really to see people...really look in someone's eyes and see them. Tabitha "saw" this women and now she appears to be gone.

In the new community of Jesus death does not have the last word so Peter touches Tabitha and tells her to stand up. This is a story about "what is supposed to happen" but in the community of Jesus - death does not have the last word, in the community of Jesus what is supposed to happen doesn't. Jesus says get up from what is supposed to happen to what can be in Jesus.

See that you and the whole creation is the light of the world infused with the image of God.