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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.5 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:40:28 GMT--><rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:rss="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:admin="http://webns.net/mvcb/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:cc="http://web.resource.org/cc/"><rss:channel rdf:about="http://www.villageohio.org/home/"><rss:title>home</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.villageohio.org/home/</rss:link><rss:description></rss:description><dc:language>en-US</dc:language><dc:date>2010-07-31T03:40:28Z</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.squarespace.com/">Squarespace Site Server v5.11.5 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</admin:generatorAgent><rss:items><rdf:Seq><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.villageohio.org/home/2010/7/25/followers-of-jesus-worth-following-mandela-by-cheri-holdridg.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.villageohio.org/home/2010/7/25/follow-jesus-the-one-thing-you-can-do-to-change-the-world-by.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.villageohio.org/home/2010/7/4/why-is-the-gospel-of-love-dividing-america-by-kurt-young.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.villageohio.org/home/2010/6/27/the-power-to-live-simply-and-give-generously-by-kurt-young-c.html"/></rdf:Seq></rss:items></rss:channel><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.villageohio.org/home/2010/7/25/followers-of-jesus-worth-following-mandela-by-cheri-holdridg.html"><rss:title>FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WORTH FOLLOWING: MANDELA by Cheri Holdridge</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.villageohio.org/home/2010/7/25/followers-of-jesus-worth-following-mandela-by-cheri-holdridg.html</rss:link><dc:creator>village church</dc:creator><dc:date>2010-07-25T23:25:38Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA["Everyone Needs Their Own Garden"

    I remember where I was the Sunday morning in 1990 when Nelson Mandela was released from prison in South Africa, after 27 years of imprisonment.  I was standing in the fellowship hall of my church in Atlanta watching on TV as the live pictures came out of South Africa of his release.

     The whole world was watching. I remember thinking: how does someone not go crazy after 27 years as a political prisoner?  He was fighting for justice, and an end to the racist system of apartheid which kept the black people, who were in the majority, enslaved, by the white people who were the minority, the ruling class.]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.villageohio.org/home/2010/7/25/follow-jesus-the-one-thing-you-can-do-to-change-the-world-by.html"><rss:title>FOLLOW JESUS: THE ONE THING . . . YOU CAN DO TO CHANGE THE WORLD by Cheri Holdridge</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.villageohio.org/home/2010/7/25/follow-jesus-the-one-thing-you-can-do-to-change-the-world-by.html</rss:link><dc:creator>village church</dc:creator><dc:date>2010-07-25T23:02:56Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[My niece Jessica is getting married today.  Often when I counsel young folks, (and not so young folks) who are getting married, I encourage them to be sure they are getting into a partnership of two whole people.  Two adults.  When two immature people, two broken, or half developed people get together and try to form a union, you come out with something not really healthy and not really whole. It’s much better when two whole healthy people come together who complement one another.  It’s better when the one helps the other be more of who that one was created to be, rather than each one trying to change into  who they think their partner wants them to be.

    I think the same thing goes on, in our relationship with God.  We can twist and contort and try to pretend be the good Christian.  Or, we can take a more organic, a more holistic approach.  We can give our whole selves to God.  You see, I believe each of us, is more whole, more spiritually healthy, when we are living in tune with that ONE LOVE, with the God who created us.  When our lives are focused on living for God, and with God and along the purposes of God. . . well. . . it’s just better for everyone.  In my own life, this practice of living in tune with God’s desire for my life, is what keeps me on track.]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.villageohio.org/home/2010/7/4/why-is-the-gospel-of-love-dividing-america-by-kurt-young.html"><rss:title>WHY IS THE GOSPEL OF LOVE DIVIDING AMERICA by Kurt Young</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.villageohio.org/home/2010/7/4/why-is-the-gospel-of-love-dividing-america-by-kurt-young.html</rss:link><dc:creator>village church</dc:creator><dc:date>2010-07-05T02:55:02Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[In worship July 4th we read Romans 12:9-21.  If you don’t have your Bible out, we used the New Revised Standard Version, here’s the story. It’s advice from one of Jesus’ greatest followers, Paul to a young church like ours in Rome.  Here’s the quote:

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. No, if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The short version, again and again in this letter, and everywhere else is love, love and love.  So why is the Gospel of love dividing America?]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.villageohio.org/home/2010/6/27/the-power-to-live-simply-and-give-generously-by-kurt-young-c.html"><rss:title>The Power to Live Simply and Give Generously by Kurt Young &amp; Cheri Holdridge</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.villageohio.org/home/2010/6/27/the-power-to-live-simply-and-give-generously-by-kurt-young-c.html</rss:link><dc:creator>village church</dc:creator><dc:date>2010-06-27T23:36:10Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[Here at The Village we want to change the world.  Often, that task becomes overwhelming.  Just last week, we talked about the task of caring for creation, and what a mess the world is in.  And how overwhelming it can be to think about the environment, and the fact that God made us care-takers of this world.  We watched a funny clip from a movie about taking baby steps and we reflected on simple steps we might take as individuals to make a difference in the world. 

    Our Village Kids Leader, Jess Lucero, introduced Cheri to this great video, called “The
Girl Effect,” which introduces a great idea, that again simplifies a huge concept.  It takes this global idea of changing the world, and breaks it down into simple actions that we can do that can affect change, that can build momentum over time, to create large movements of transformation.  The point of the video is that a small effort, getting a third world girl the uniform to go to school or money to buy her family a cow to sell milk, can change the whole world if we all take on one girl.]]></content:encoded></rss:item></rdf:RDF>