Jesus and Me ... and the Cats

Romans 12:2, 14-18 Matthew 15:10-11, 17-20 The first line of the song, "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" from Rogers and Hammerstein's musical goes, "You've got to be taught to hate and to fear."   (watch on youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diYlHI8Ghkg) I remember those carefully taught lessons that were drummed into my dear little head.  They were about "us and them," them being the people that we looked down on with disdain, the ones we weren't supposed to associate with, the ones we were suppose to hate and to fear: When Jesus and his followers gathered grain to eat on the sabbath, they were criticized for breaking the letter of the lay, breaking the rules. However, Christ, teaches us that sin is the result what is in our hearts and minds, what we hold as truth. Those lessons of hate, fear, and bigotry taught to us become part of the heart of our value system that effects our perceptions, thoughts, view po...

Matthew 14:22-33 "God is Sleeping" I think that God is sleeping Or the angels have resigned I'm sure there's no one keeping A peaceful, watchful eye Lyrics and music by Ann Reed, 1995 Turtlecub Publishing. Listen on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq_NYa77dA0 Charlottesville and Barcelona -- hate and violence there and throughout our country and our world.  Is it any wonder that someone might wonder if God is sleeping? As for me, I   don't think God is sleeping; I think God is waiting for us to get out of the boat. Growing up, I spent a lot of time out on the lake with my dad fishing.  He enjoyed having me along because: I understood the zen of fishing and could sit still for more than five minutes at a time without complaining. I baited my own hook, untangled my own line and took fish off the hook. I could also replace a hook or lure without his assistance. I understood it was my job to clean whatever ...

WE ARE CALLED (SEATED) God, we rejoice that You have called us to be here with You, today. We were glad when they said, “Let us go to the House of the Lord. Throughout the history of humanity, God has called people to be His instruments of His blessings, peace and love in this world. God  told Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you.     I’ll make you a great nation and bless you.  All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 9:1-3) Sung Response (Chorus of #2172):  We are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly, we are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God.   When God delivered the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, God called them to be His witness to the world and to bless all the peoples of the earth.  As Moses went up to meet God,  God  called down to him from the mountain “Speak to the House of Jaco...