1. Stretching Your Comfort Zone Graphical sermon notes by, Rev. Ed Whitman Sunday, March 8, 2015 Evangelical Congregational Church in Dunstable Massachusetts © Copyright 2015 by the author, Rev. Ed Whitman, with permission to freely redistribute.

3. Mark 1: 40-45 A leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”.

4. Mark 1: 40-45 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. And Jesus sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, and He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”.

5. Mark 1: 40-45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Jesus from everywhere.

6. Stretching Your Comfort Zone May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19: 14

9. “Prejudice” 50 Day Spiritual Adventure Definitions:  Uncomfortable thoughts and/or feelings that create an opinion in the heart before there is any correct knowledge.  Deciding adversely about someone without knowing any substantial facts

10. Week # 6 With God’s help, I promise to identify and address the hidden prejudices of my heart Choose to become exposed to the suffering of others

11. Let’s Pray

13. Anders Behring Breivik

15. 200,000 “Flower Marchers”

19. Dr John Perkins

20. Overt racism is gradually disappearing Passive racism Looking at the world wearing racial blinders Limiting peripheral vision

21. Overt racism is gradually disappearing Passive racism Looking at the world wearing racial blinders Limiting peripheral vision Horse forges ahead in the only direction it can see Even if not seen, the other world still exists Unconscious of it Restoring At-Risk Communities

22. Passive Prejudice

23. Jesus did not carry the hidden baggage of active or passive prejudice

24. Mark 1: 40 A leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

25. Mark 1: 40-41 A leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

26. Get In Touch With the Reality of Negative Thoughts and Attitudes Admitting to Self and God: “Lord, open my eyes to hidden prejudices with me”

27. Confess Negative Balloon Thoughts as Sin “ Cleanse…cleansing ” Same Biblical word for cleansing from leprosy and sin

28. Confess Negative Balloon Thoughts as Sin “Cleanse…cleansing” Same Biblical word for cleansing from leprosy and sin If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1: 9

29. Choose to Find a Way to be Exposed to the Suffering of Others

30. Attempt a Connection This Week

32. Attempt a Connection A.S.A.P

33. Attempt a Connection A.S.A.P.

34. Apple Valley Center

35. Attempt a Connection A.S.A.P. Apple Valley Center Westford House

36. Stretching Your Comfort Zone

37. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19: 14