As we are now in the season of the Spirit, following Pentecost, we are reminded of the way the Spirit works in us and through us to be the best we can be. Of course, we know, that is a flawed process as we humans trip over our best intentions. So it is by the sustaining and grace filled Spirit of God that we are able to recognize the gifts we have been given to use for Kingdom purposes.

The Meaning of Theophilus, to whom Paul is writing to, is “Lovers of God”. That you and me as well.
His message hits close to home in light of the Statement this congregation made in the Living Faith Circle Report. “… in short, what is God’s purpose for us, now and into the future?” We don’t seem to be comfortable answering that kind of direct Question.

“… Who was I to think that I could stand in God’s Way?” Acts 11: 1 – 8
Peter takes a clear and world changing stance, for his time and context, in the thinking of the early church.
The Jewish converts to become followers of Jesus had carried forward and created new religious laws not from God, but from their culture and religious interpretations, as we all do. Thay had become entrenched, not open to change.
This story shows the clash between cultures and how Peter helped them to break through cultural bias and unscriptural ways.

Today, we have a scripture passage that not only reveals how that kind of reflection can readily be turned toward others, but also how it can teach us how to appropriately reflect on our own personal and spiritual self reflection journey.
We might view this passage as a case study in Self-Reflection.
The Christian Song “Priceless” by For King and Country, says;
Mirror, mirror, Mirror on the wall, telling those lies, pointing out your flaws, that isn’t who you are, That isn’t who you are.
It might be hard to hear, but let me tell you dear, I you could see what I can see, I know you would believe that isn’t who you are, there’s more to who you are.

We often confuse unity with uniformity, because it is much easier to gather people wo are like ourselves than it is to reach across the divisions which mark our culture.

Having grown up on the East Coast of Canada, where my Grand-Father was a fisherman of Deer Island, in the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, and where I spent many summer days, I have seen many fishing boats that were pulled up on shore, that over many years would decay and crumble.
Each of those boats had a history to reveal and a story to tell if the interest was there to dredge it up and listen.