Here’s a fancy theological word for you: aseity.

Aseity is the word theologians use to describe the absolute self-sufficiency and independence of God.  He was not created and he has no needs or lack; he is completely self-existed and self-sufficient.

Now you know why you seldom, if ever, hear that word.  It is only used to describe one Being in the entire universe—God. 

We, on the other hand, are the opposite of self-existent and self-sufficient; we are absolutely and completely dependent on others for our very existence and our continued existence. 

Take your breakfast for example.  That slice of toast you ate this morning (I hope it wasn’t burnt) would have been impossible without the kind grocer who sold it to you. (We’re not even going to get into all that went into you getting a car and fuel and insurance on that car to drive to the grocery store or who built the store, stocked the shelves, and…well you get the picture.)

But back to that grocer.  Of course he had to get your bread from a baker who got his flour from a miller who got his grain delivered to him by a trucker who works for a commodities company who brought the grain from a farmer who serves the soil (and prays for rain).

Pretty complicated uh? And I haven’t even gotten into how you got the butter to put on your toast or the toaster to toast your bread or the electricity to run the toaster.

All that to say, Michigan Church of God, we need each other.  It is not only a privilege and joy to be a part of the amazing MICOG family, it is also vitally necessary.

Do we always get it right? Of course not—what family does. 

But when we are at our best it means that everyone matters and everyone cares. 

Obviously you and I can’t be everyone, but we can do our part.  We can care, and we can contribute.  We can lean into embracing a godly dependency that says, “I refuse to be an island unto myself but instead choose to be a part of something bigger than my own interest and survival.”

It’s call family. 

And I am thankful to be a part of this special and sacred family called the Michigan Church of God family, and I am thankful that you are a part too.

In the words of Sylvester Stallone playing the part of boxer Rocky Balboa – speaking of he and his wife, Adrian – “I got gaps and she got gaps, together we got no gaps.”

That’s us MICOG family!  With God on our side, together we got this!  I truly believe we are a part of something that really matters and is making an eternal difference.

Blessings to all,

David L. Kemp

Administrative Bishop, Michigan Church of God  

Here’s a fancy theological word for you: aseity.

Aseity is the word theologians use to describe the absolute self-sufficiency and independence of God.  He was not created and he has no needs or lack; he is completely self-existed and self-sufficient.

Now you know why you seldom, if ever, hear that word.  It is only used to describe one Being in the entire universe—God. 

We, on the other hand, are the opposite of self-existent and self-sufficient; we are absolutely and completely dependent on others for our very existence and our continued existence. 

Take your breakfast for example.  That slice of toast you ate this morning (I hope it wasn’t burnt) would have been impossible without the kind grocer who sold it to you. (We’re not even going to get into all that went into you getting a car and fuel and insurance on that car to drive to the grocery store or who built the store, stocked the shelves, and…well you get the picture.)

But back to that grocer.  Of course he had to get your bread from a baker who got his flour from a miller who got his grain delivered to him by a trucker who works for a commodities company who brought the grain from a farmer who serves the soil (and prays for rain).

Pretty complicated uh? And I haven’t even gotten into how you got the butter to put on your toast or the toaster to toast your bread or the electricity to run the toaster.

All that to say, Michigan Church of God, we need each other.  It is not only a privilege and joy to be a part of the amazing MICOG family, it is also vitally necessary.

Do we always get it right? Of course not—what family does. 

But when we are at our best it means that everyone matters and everyone cares. 

Obviously you and I can’t be everyone, but we can do our part.  We can care, and we can contribute.  We can lean into embracing a godly dependency that says, “I refuse to be an island unto myself but instead choose to be a part of something bigger than my own interest and survival.”

It’s call family. 

And I am thankful to be a part of this special and sacred family called the Michigan Church of God family, and I am thankful that you are a part too.

In the words of Sylvester Stallone playing the part of boxer Rocky Balboa – speaking of he and his wife, Adrian – “I got gaps and she got gaps, together we got no gaps.”

That’s us MICOG family!  With God on our side, together we got this!  I truly believe we are a part of something that really matters and is making an eternal difference.

Blessings to all,

David L. Kemp

Administrative Bishop, Michigan Church of God