{"id":3321,"date":"2020-05-29T20:02:01","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T10:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=3321"},"modified":"2020-05-29T20:22:13","modified_gmt":"2020-05-29T10:22:13","slug":"sunday-sermon-31-05-29020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=3321","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Sermon 31-05-2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pentecost.\u00a0 <\/span>May 31, 2020.\u00a0 <\/span>Leighmoor UC<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Suggested Hymns:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 572: O thou who camest from above<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 398: Come down, O Love divine,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 675: Lord, the light of your love is shining<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 407: Breathe on me, breath of God<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 416: Great God, your Spirit, like the wind<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 418: She sits like a bird, brooding on the waters<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 421: Where the Spirit is, there\u2019s freedom<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The mood of Pentecost is one of great energy.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Images of fire, wind, breath and flowing water.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Colour, sound, movement.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Let us open ourselves to the moving of the Holy Spirit of God in our midst, in our lives.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Confession<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

O God of glory,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You created the earth by your power,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

you save the human race by your mercy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and you make all new by your grace.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We give thanks for your Spirit.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-active in creation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Spirit of Jesus, Spirit of love<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-present in the church.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We rejoice in your presence<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

around us and in us,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

like wind in our faces<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and breath in our lungs.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Your Spirit gives us life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We give thanks that in your power, by your Spirit<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

you give new birth and new life,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Like fire, warmth and radiance,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

like life in dormant bulbs<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

which burst forth in spring.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We rejoice that you seek us,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

accept us,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

treasure us,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

with love older than the mountains you created,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

older than the distant stars you set in the heavens.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Your love is old\u2026yet new every morning.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We thank you<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Creator Spirit,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Life-giving Spirit,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Nurturing Spirit,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Spirit of love.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And yet, you who created us for life together,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We confess that we have turned from your way.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We have not loved you with all our heart;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

we have not loved one another as you commanded.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We have been quick to claim our own rights,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

but have been careless of the rights of others.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We have taken much and given little.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Forgive us.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We confess that we have tried to relegate your movement as Spirit, to our command and understanding.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(in a time of silence, we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness<\/i>).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

God is love<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Through Christ our sins are forgiven<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(thanks be to God<\/i>).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Take hold of this forgiveness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And live your live in the power of the Holy Spirit.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Amen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Bible Readings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Acts 2: 1-21<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

John 7: 37-39<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sermon: A strange gift.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What is the strangest gift you have ever received?\u00a0 <\/span>A wedding present, unused?\u00a0 <\/span>We received a unique wedding present-a set of long handled filigree forks and a matching spoon-an exotic item that one uses to dip figs in honey!-well-I don\u2019t like figs-and I don\u2019t eat honey- so-needless to say-perhaps like wedding presents you received-it has never been used!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps your unusual gift was a birthday present, maybe an item of clothing, hiding at the back of your wardrobe, never seeing the light!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Today is Pentecost, a day when we remember the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the birthday of the church.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is important to remember that Pentecost doesn\u2019t celebrate the Spirit coming into being.\u00a0 <\/span>Sometimes Christians speak about Pentecost as being the \u2018coming\u2019 of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

No<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Spirit, God\u2019s Spirit, has been active from before creation; today\u2019s psalm, Psalm 104 speaks of God\u2019s spirit being active in every age and generation-and for all species. \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What WE celebrate at Pentecost is a moment of new openness and receptivity to this Spirit which gave birth to the church.\u00a0 <\/span>In a sense, we \u2018see\u2019 the gift of the holy Spirit with new eyes.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A strange gift, the Spirit.\u00a0 <\/span>Imagine wrapping it up\u2026and giving it to a child to open.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A box full of nothing\u2026and everything!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Spirit-symbolized by fire, breath, the dove, and wind. Our Uniting Church logo has the dove, and the red flame.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Fire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Living in bush fire prone Australia, we fear the hot summer, for we know that a fire burns more brightly with a strong wind.\u00a0 <\/span>We know that so well from last summer, don\u2019t we?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Fire and<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wind.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1.Wind can be violent, or destructive.\u00a0 <\/span>It can force us, or push us, to change direction.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Think of how hard it is to walk when there\u2019s a strong head wind!\u00a0 <\/span>At times, we may feel like autumn leaves-tossed about, buffeted by the wind-having no real control over our movements.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We think of the power of cyclones, hurricanes and tornados.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When we lived in Canada, we visited the equivalent of the mid-west, which was prairie country.\u00a0 <\/span>We noticed how strange the air was-and the sky-which was a yellow-brown colour.\u00a0 <\/span>It was so quiet.\u00a0 <\/span>That evening, as we sat in a restaurant-we marvelled at its strangeness, not knowing the reason.\u00a0 <\/span>The following morning we were told that the danger of the tornado had passed.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We were babes in the wood!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The destructive power of wind.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2 On the other hand, wind can be cooling, refreshing, life-giving.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Think back to summer-the still, hot days-and then the most welcome evening breeze.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wind can be life-giving.\u00a0 <\/span>If our lungs do not fill with air-we die.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

At the birth of a child, it is important to have the baby breathe-to scream is even better-better for its lungs, maybe not so for the new parents!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The kiss of life-we can save lives with our own breath.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Mouth to mouth can be life-to-life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sadly, these days we are learning that our breath, or the breath of others, can be deadly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wind.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Genesis: \u2018then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being\u2019(Gen 2:7)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And in Psalm 104:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018when you take away their breath, they die<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And return to their dust.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When you send forth your spirit (or breath) they are created;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And you renew the face of the ground.\u2019(104: 29-30)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wind can be life-giving, the Spirit is life giving.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Most of us have watched the much-loved film, The Wizard of Oz.<\/i><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(if we has been allowed to gather to worship, I would have us sing \u2018Somewhere over the rainbow\u2019-so you have been spared!)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The storyline, for those who need a refresher:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dorothy is unsettled at home, she and Toto her dog get caught up in a cyclone in Kansas. Uprooted, she ends up in the land of Oz (which can mean quite a different thing for we Australians!)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

She meets a lion-who is searching for courage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A tin man who wants a heart<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And a scarecrow who thinks he is missing a brain.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dorothy travels with them to find the Wizard of Oz-to request these things (courage, a heart, a brain), and then Dorothy wants to return home.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Along the way they are caught up in a battle- a battle of Good vs Evil-the wicked witch of the East against the Good Witch, or fairy, of the West.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Powerful stuff.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The film speaks to me about Pentecost, about the work, power and gifts of the Spirit.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In their adventures-in their struggle against the danger of the wicked witch, in their time together-in their brokenness-their humanness-this little band of pilgrims find friendship, acceptance, and LOVE.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When they request the things they think they need-courage, the heart of compassion, the brain (intelligence and wisdom)-the Wizard of Oz points out to them that they possessed these attributes all along.\u00a0 <\/span>It wasn\u2019t anything he did-it was what they did-recognizing these qualities within themselves.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And Dorothy?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The fairy, or good witch, says that she has always had the power to go back to Kansas, BUT she had to learn it for herself (this was also true for the lion, the tin man and the scarecrow).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Who can forget Dorothy\u2019s heart-rending speech:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I ever go looking for my heart\u2019s desire again, I won\u2019t look any further than my own backyard, because if it isn\u2019t there I never really lost it to begin with.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

She realizes that<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no place like home.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(repeat)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Acts 2:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For Dorothy, it meant a cyclone- the strength and power of that wind changed her life forever.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Spirit\u2019s power transformed the apostles-from people unsure of themselves, with no credentials-to the founders of the church.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We can be sure that the Spirit is still potent-it continues to transform lives-people are changed, renewed, energized.\u00a0 <\/span>The Spirit has always been here-it is seen in the Hebrew Scriptures in many different ways-brooding over the waters of creation, to transforming the valley of dry bones in the prophecy in Ezekiel.\u00a0 <\/span>In the land of Oz, the gifts of the Spirit can be seen.\u00a0 <\/span>The fruits of the Spirit-courage, love, compassion, wisdom, a sense of belonging, knowing right from wrong.\u00a0 <\/span>They were always present-but they needed to be named, and called upon, in order to recognize their existence.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Romans 8: \u2018For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Courage! says Paul<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In John: \u2018Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Courage-says Jesus.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We do not rely on our own strength, or courage.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We have received God\u2019s gift of strength, of courage, of perseverance through the Spirit.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The tin man came to the realization that he already had a heart-he loved and felt loved.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Another gift of the Spirit.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

God loves us so much that he gave his only Son who was willing to die for us.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

God still loves us-in John\u2019s Gospel we are told that the Spirit will be an Advocate, a Helper.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018You know him, \u2019says the writer \u2018because he abides with you, and he will be in you.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We don\u2019t have to search very far-the Spirit is in the very core of our being.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The scarecrow wanted a brain-but his wisdom and intelligence were always present-just un-named.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth-not conforming to the world\u2019s rules and laws-but to God\u2019s.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And Dorothy? What did she realize?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-that she had a home, that was she loved, that she belonged with her family, that her heart\u2019s desire, her dreams, her visions, her pot of gold at the end of the rainbow-they were all there-right where she was.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The search was within her own heart, not out there in the world.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Spirit allows us this peace.\u00a0 <\/span>Our home is both here, and with God.\u00a0 <\/span>We belong to God\u2019s family. We are children of God, even heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Isn\u2019t that marvellous?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We belong to God in such an intimate way-God is a loving, compassionate parent.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

BUT as children of God, we are also open to pain and suffering.\u00a0 <\/span>Our lives and the lives of those around us, bear witness to that.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We are not promised a life of comfort.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(repeat)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The trials of our lives will lead to glory in the end-as Christ suffered and was glorified-so shall we be glorified.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Take heart, my friends.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Spirit calls us to continue Jesus\u2019 work in the world.\u00a0 <\/span>The Spirit dwells with us-like the pillar of fire, and the cloud, for the Israelites during the Exodus.\u00a0 <\/span>The Spirit is here-within us, within this place of worship, in our communities, families, places of work, where we volunteer, where we play bowls, or tennis or golf!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When we are quick to anger, or slow to forgive-allow the Spirit to blow within.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If, at times, the coals of compassion are but sparks-burning low due to tiredness, or compassion fatigue-allow the wind of the Spirit to breathe on the coals of our hearts to whip up, igniting the fire of love so that it burns deeply and brightly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the film The Wizard of Oz<\/i>, Dorothy wore red shoes (in the book-they were silver).\u00a0 <\/span>We too wear red: we wear the Spirit-its eternal flame burning within our hearts.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Happy Birthday!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What a wonderful gift for us all.\u00a0 <\/span>The church.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Spirit also reminds us that \u2018there is no place like home!\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Amen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Prayers of the People<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Holy Spirit, Spirit of life, full of compassion, wisdom and truth,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Take flight across the length and breadth of our world this day, we pray.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You, who created order out of chaos, restore our polluted planet, we pray.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May the earth be fruitful and beautiful, rich with your creative energy.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Touch our tiny planet with your power.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Like a dove, you settled upon Jesus at his baptism, affirming his sonship.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Come again to those whose humanity is tarnished, whose self esteem has been beaten down and crushed.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Affirm again the uniqueness of every individual.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You are our comforter, companion and counsellor.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Be present, this day, to heal the sick, to help heal broken hearts, to encourage the lost, to guide the confused.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Be alongside those with covid 19, and with their families, and medical and health teams.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You are the creator of community.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Break down the barriers that separate us-one from another.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Build harmony and understanding in the affairs of the nations.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You are the Spirit of Peace.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Spirit of God, breathe into us the generosity of love, so that we may be your hands and feet in the world.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the words our Saviour taught us, we are confident when we pray to say-<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Our Father in heaven\u2026\u2019<\/i><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Amen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Filled with God\u2019s Spirit, go out to love this world, and all of its inhabitants.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Blessing<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Come, gracious Spirit, heavenly dove,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With light and comfort from above;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Come, be our guardian and our guide;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

o\u2019er every thought and step preside\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(from TIS hymn 402: words by Simon Browne)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the name of the Father,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the Son,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and the Holy Spirit,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Amen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pentecost.\u00a0 May 31, 2020.\u00a0 Leighmoor UC Suggested Hymns: TIS 572: O thou who camest from above TIS 398: Come down, O Love divine, TIS 675: Lord, the light of your love is shining TIS 407: Breathe on me, breath of God TIS 416: Great God, your Spirit, like the wind TIS 418: She sits like a bird, brooding on the waters TIS 421: Where the Spirit is, there\u2019s freedom The mood of Pentecost is one of great energy. Images of fire, wind, breath and flowing water. Colour, sound, movement. Let us open ourselves to the moving of the Holy Spirit of God in our midst, in our lives. Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Confession O God of glory, You created the earth by your power, you save the human race by your mercy and you make all new by your grace. We give thanks for your Spirit. -active in creation. The Spirit of Jesus, Spirit of love -present in the church. We rejoice in your presence around us and in us, like wind in our faces and breath in our lungs. Your Spirit gives us life. We give thanks that in your power, by your Spirit you give new birth and new life, Like fire, warmth and radiance, like life in dormant bulbs which burst forth in spring. We rejoice that you seek us, accept us, treasure us, with love older than the mountains you created, older than the distant stars you set in the heavens. Your love is old\u2026yet new every morning. We thank you Creator Spirit, Life-giving Spirit, Nurturing Spirit, Spirit of love. And yet, you who created us for life together, We confess that we have turned from your way. We have not loved you with all our heart; we have not loved one another as you commanded. We have been quick to claim our own rights, but have been careless of the rights of others. We have taken much and given little. Forgive us. We confess that we have tried to relegate your movement as Spirit, to our command and understanding. (in a time of silence, we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness). God is love Through Christ our sins are forgiven (thanks be to God). Take hold of this forgiveness And live your live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen Bible Readings Acts 2: 1-21 Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13 John 7: 37-39 Sermon: A strange gift. What is the strangest gift you have ever received?\u00a0 A wedding present, unused?\u00a0 We received a unique wedding present-a set of long handled filigree forks and a matching spoon-an exotic item that one uses to dip figs in honey!-well-I don\u2019t like figs-and I don\u2019t eat honey- so-needless to say-perhaps like wedding presents you received-it has never been used! Perhaps your unusual gift was a birthday present, maybe an item of clothing, hiding at the back of your wardrobe, never seeing the light! Today is Pentecost, a day when we remember the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the birthday of the church.\u2019 It is important to remember that Pentecost doesn\u2019t celebrate the Spirit coming into being.\u00a0 Sometimes Christians speak about Pentecost as being the \u2018coming\u2019 of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 No The Spirit, God\u2019s Spirit, has been active from before creation; today\u2019s psalm, Psalm 104 speaks of God\u2019s spirit being active in every age and generation-and for all species. \u00a0 What WE celebrate at Pentecost is a moment of new openness and receptivity to this Spirit which gave birth to the church.\u00a0 In a sense, we \u2018see\u2019 the gift of the holy Spirit with new eyes. A strange gift, the Spirit.\u00a0 Imagine wrapping it up\u2026and giving it to a child to open. A box full of nothing\u2026and everything! The Spirit-symbolized by fire, breath, the dove, and wind. Our Uniting Church logo has the dove, and the red flame. Fire Living in bush fire prone Australia, we fear the hot summer, for we know that a fire burns more brightly with a strong wind.\u00a0 We know that so well from last summer, don\u2019t we? Fire and Wind. 1.Wind can be violent, or destructive.\u00a0 It can force us, or push us, to change direction. Think of how hard it is to walk when there\u2019s a strong head wind!\u00a0 At times, we may feel like autumn leaves-tossed about, buffeted by the wind-having no real control over our movements. We think of the power of cyclones, hurricanes and tornados. When we lived in Canada, we visited the equivalent of the mid-west, which was prairie country.\u00a0 We noticed how strange the air was-and the sky-which was a yellow-brown colour.\u00a0 It was so quiet.\u00a0 That evening, as we sat in a restaurant-we marvelled at its strangeness, not knowing the reason.\u00a0 The following morning we were told that the danger of the tornado had passed. We were babes in the wood! The destructive power of wind. 2 On the other hand, wind can be cooling, refreshing, life-giving. Think back to summer-the still, hot days-and then the most welcome evening breeze.\u00a0 Wind can be life-giving.\u00a0 If our lungs do not fill with air-we die. At the birth of a child, it is important to have the baby breathe-to scream is even better-better for its lungs, maybe not so for the new parents! The kiss of life-we can save lives with our own breath. Mouth to mouth can be life-to-life. Sadly, these days we are learning that our breath, or the breath of others, can be deadly. Wind. In Genesis: \u2018then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being\u2019(Gen 2:7) And in Psalm 104: \u2018when you take away their breath, they die And return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit (or breath) they are created; And you renew the face of the ground.\u2019(104: 29-30) Wind can be life-giving, the Spirit is life giving. Most of us have 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