Pastor Ash Dotson
Pastor Ash Dotson
Hi folks, just in case you haven’t heard, there is a new thing in town. It’s called Oasis United Methodist Church! Let me introduce myself. I am Ash Dotson, the pastor. I was called out of a career as a rocket and satellite motor test engineer into full time ministry back in 2001. We meet in the Laredo Room on Sundays at 9:30 a.m., and all are welcome! As I am just beginning my ministry here in Robson Ranch, let me begin with, “In the Beginning!”
John 1:1-5: 1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being.
“In the beginning” … What a great phrase! It’s a phrase that instantly catches our attention, and we often attribute it to the creation stories found in the beginning of Genesis (Gen. 1:1-2:4 and Gen. 2:5-24), so why can’t we consider this story from John another creation story? I love to play with all of this in my head and in my heart because it truly presents us with a beautiful and flowing picture of God.
It becomes a dance of sorts, a dance of the Trinity, a dance that God is always inviting us into. We know that the Word or Logos in the Greek refers to Jesus. The Greek word for wisdom is ‘Sophia.’ John could have just as easily begun with, ‘In the beginning was Sophia,’ instead of Logos (Proverbs 8:22-30). Try that for me … reread the scripture above and exchange ‘Word (Logos)’ with ‘Wisdom (Sophia).’ You see, everything came into being through wisdom as well. You, my friends, were created with and through divine wisdom!
We also know that God is love and that love comes from God (1 John 4:7-7)! So we can say that, in the beginning was the love. Now slowly read the above using ‘Love.’ Let it permeate you. Now, it seems to me that Love is first and foremost, right? In other words, God’s love envelopes or carries the Logos and Sophia within, and is the foundation of all of creation!
Once again, please read the scripture above slowly and prayerfully using Love in the place of Word. Now rest in the love, contemplate the love, become alive in the love, for as we read in 1 John 4:12 (my paraphrase), ‘God lives in us, so God’s love is made complete when we love one another!’ This is where the mystery takes place; this is where our faith turns into something tangible! God’s Word is made complete and God’s Wisdom is made complete when we love one another! We become an active part of creation (co-creators) when we love one another! Read this opening to John using love in place of Word (for they are one in the same) and carry it with you.