Jesus and Me ... and the Cats

Luke 4:14-19 I peeked in to say goodnight When I heard my child in prayer, "And for me some scarlet ribbons, Scarlet ribbons for my hair." (From "Scarlet Ribbons," music by Evelyn Danzig; lyrics by Jack Segal) Such a simple request -- scarlet ribbons for her hair. That was the desire of her heart.  The desire of her father's heart was to be able to give her what she wanted, but it was impossible.  The stores were dark and locked tight; the shopkeepers  had all gone home.  A few hair ribbons were all she wanted, and he could do nothing about it.  He spent the night anticipating her disappointment, and his own heart ached at the thought. Long before that holy night, that night divine when Christ was born, humanity's collective heart was breaking as they struggled in a fear-ridden and hopeless world, broken by hate, fear, selfishness, and all those things we call sin. The people of Israel prayed for their hearts' desire.  They, in a world

Luke 2:1-20 We've heard the story hundreds of times.  From Dr. Hardy on "General Hospital" to Linus in "It's a Charlie Brown Christmas."  And of course, at church amid flickering candles and holiday greens.  So many times that we can probably recite it with Linus: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed ...  (Luke 2:1, KJV) And it came to pass that the world Christ was born into was not so different than our own.  Yes, new players have taken center stage and the technology and advances in medicine would seem like magic to those living in Bethlehem.  But the human condition of our broken creation has not changed over the millennium.  There are still taxes and the poor, the lame, the imprisoned and the oppressed remain among us.  We still hope for something better in the midst of fear and uncertainty.     And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,

Matthew 1:18-25 Romans 1:1-7 Americans, it appears, are an anxious people.  Depression and anxiety is on the rise from teens to older adults.  The sensationalizing of the election and the constant barrage of media have put many in a state of constant fight or flight, affecting their relationships with family and friends.   We talk about peace on earth, but what about peace in our own lives?  What relief from fears and stress, especially in this very busy and very expensive holiday season, can Christ the King, the Prince of Peace offer us? Have worries ever tied your stomach into knot?  Have you laid awake at night wrestling with hard decisions or come home from work or school totally exhausted from stress?  Then you will have an idea what Joseph was going through. Joseph was faced with a tough decision.  I imagined he paced the floor for several nights.  He was worried about how Mary's surprise pregnancy would affect their future together, if there was one; how her reputa

Isaiah 35:1-10 Matthew 11:2-6 Make the world go away.  And get it off my shoulders.           "Make the World Go Away" by Hank Cochran Know matter how much we would like God to make all our problems and pains go way, God doesn't do that.  What God does do, is, well, that's where joy comes in. Note, this message may be contain language that some may consider questionable. Life sucks and then you die.  Be honest, we all feel that way at some time in our lives.  Even pastors do.  Like you, I know what it is to feel discouraged, to have doubts, to feel weary and burdened by problems and pain.  To say to God, "make the world go away." John the Baptist's life had taken a decided turn for the worse.  Imprisoned by King Herod, destined, for execution, he despaired that his life and his ministry had been for nothing.  Had he been wrong about Jesus?  Had he bet his life on the wrong man?  He had heard stories, but he had to be sure that Jesus was t

Ezekiel 24:11-16a Romans 15:4-13 Last summer, I inadvertently taught my two year old niece a lesson I never wanted her to have to learn this early in her life.  That is that people are going to let you down. I was gently pushing her in a home made swing in her grandmother's backyard when she decided to turn around and get out of the swing.  Before I could catch her, she did a belly flop onto the ground.  I tried to catch her, I really did, but I was just too slow.  For the rest of the visit, it was obvious that I had lost her trust. Any human being, any human institution, is not perfect, and with or without the best of intentions, will let us down.   Is there anyone, any leader who can love us so perfectly that they will never let us down? My little niece is joyous and daring and on the move every moment.  It amazes, delights and sometimes scares me.  She will fling her little body out into space, confident that she will be caught by an adult or land on something soft.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT Advent is the season of waiting, of anticipation.  What comes to mind when you think of the word "anticipation."  What are your looking forward to in the coming months?

\ What does a thriving life look like?  What do you need to change in order to  thrive rather than just survive?

Isaiah 2:1-5 Matthew 24:36-44 What gives you hope? What inspires you and gives you the strength to continue on through the darkest of nights? The passage from Isaiah comes from a very dark time in the history of the people of God. After the death of King Solomon, the nation of Israel split into two kingdoms. There were conflicts between the two kingdoms, and each had their share of kings who led their people away from God and into idol worship and oppression of their people. Also, more powerful nations like Egypt, Assyria and Persia fought to take over the kingdoms in order to expand the borders of their own empires. The weapons of war are always spears and swords, guns and bombs. In an embattled, broken and dark world, there are those who are armed with hate, divisiveness, greed, prejudice, opportunism, self-gratification and need for power. Hate-filled words and fear tactics can become more destructive than any weapon of mass destruction. We often count

Think about hope.  What is the source of your hope?  What keeps you going when times get dark and may even feel hopeless?

Take a some time to list all the things you are grateful for.  How will you respond in gratitude for those things in ways that will make a difference? Share your answer -- leave a comment.

ROMANS 13:11-14 MATTHEW 5:43-48 So, what do you have in your wallet? Any of those important pieces of plastic we carry around, like our health insurance cards, our ID or Driver licenses or our credit cards? American Express believes that their credit card is so important that we shouldn't leave home without it. However, when it comes to living out our faith through our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and especially our witness, more than a piece of plastic is needed. That's why, for those times when you need it most, there's … THE MASTER CARD! Jesus – Don't leave home without him! What does it mean to belong to the Body of Christ through a local church? If you have an American Express Card, you automatically become a member of American Express. And American Express entices us to join because, “Membership has its privileges.” Membership privileges and benefits are big motivators for bel

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 KJV) In the divisive atmosphere of the presidential elections, it is far too easy to either gloat or sulk, depending on who you voted for. What follows is not about the outcome the election but rather what our response as Christians and the church, the Body of Christ, is and always should be no matter who is elected. There is no such thing as a perfect human government or presidential administration. No matter who is elected or what political party is in power, there will be some who will benefit from it, and some who will be negatively impacted by it. No matter what promises are made, we will never reach that “land of milk and honey” where no one goes hungry, no one falls between the cracks, everyone has adequate housing, educational opportunities, ful

DAY 11:  PLAY Once you’ve spent some time with the word, focus on how the word could bring meaning into your life. Once you’ve experienced the significance of the word in your life please share a photo, poem, blog post, or even a simple comment on how you applied the meaning of that world to your life.

DAY 10:  CONTEMPLATION Once you’ve spent some time with the word, focus on how the word could bring meaning into your life. Once you’ve experienced the significance of the word in your life please share a photo, poem, blog post, or even a simple comment on how you applied the meaning of that world to your life. Article:  Spirituality -- A Guided Path http://www.rethinkchurch.org/articles/spirituality/a-guided-path

DAY NINE Living Into Significance is a 30 day share experience on social media where anyone can join us in being intentional to take a few minutes in a day and reflecting on a single word. Once you’ve spent some time with the word, focus on how the word could bring meaning into your life. Once you’ve experienced the significance of the word in your life please share a photo, poem, blog post, or even a simple comment on how you applied the meaning of that world to your life.

SCRIPTURE  I Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 17:11-19 In the later years of my life, my dad showed me what an “attitude of gratitude" looked like. He greeted each day with joyful expectation as if it had delightful wonders in store for him, and he was going to relish every minute of it. He was humbly and sincerely grateful for everything he had and anything anyone did for him. He was no saint, but he knew how to be grateful. Sometimes, though, to make a difference in the world, it takes more than attitude; it requires action as well, as we turn gratitude into a verb. One of the opening scenes of the movie, “Pay It Forward” begins with a dark and rainy night. A young crime reporter is cruising the streets, listening to a police scanner. He perks up when he hears that a bungled burglary in an upscale suburban neighborhood has turned into a hostage situation. Arriving at the scene, he leaves his car to see if he can get information from th

LIVING INTO SIGNIFICANCE  DAY 8:  MEANING Living Into Significance is a 30 day share experience on social media where anyone can join us in being intentional to take a few minutes in a day and reflecting on a single word. Once you’ve spent some time with the word, focus on how the word could bring meaning into your life. Once you’ve experienced the significance of the word in your life please share a photo, poem, blog post, or even a simple comment on how you applied the meaning of that world to your life.

LIVING INTO SIGNIFICANCE  DAY 8:  MEANING Living Into Significance is a 30 day share experience on social media where anyone can join us in being intentional to take a few minutes in a day and reflecting on a single word. Once you’ve spent some time with the word, focus on how the word could bring meaning into your life. Once you’ve experienced the significance of the word in your life please share a photo, poem, blog post, or even a simple comment on how you applied the meaning of that world to your life.

LIVING INTO SIGNIFICANCE  DAY 7     JUSTICE Living Into Significance is a 30 day share experience on social media where anyone can join us in being intentional to take a few minutes in a day and reflecting on a single word. Once you’ve spent some time with the word, focus on how the word could bring meaning into your life. Once you’ve experienced the significance of the word in your life please share a photo, poem, blog post, or even a simple comment on how you applied the meaning of that world to your life.

DAY 5:  CO-WORKERS Once you’ve spent some time with the word, focus on how the word could bring meaning into your life. Once you’ve experienced the significance of the word in your life please share a photo, poem, blog post, or even a simple comment on how you applied the meaning of that world to your life. 

DAY 4:  FAITH After reading these three different versions of Hebrews 11:1 and prayerfully meditating upon the word, "Faith", please respond. Hebrews 11:1 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Meaning of Faith 11  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Amplified Bible (AMP) The Triumphs of Faith 11  Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. Hebrews 11:1-2 The Message (MSG) Faith in What We Don’t See 11  1-2  The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 Luke 21:1-4 Bread -- sustenance; nourishment; the source of life, if you asked the widow of Zarephath; God's provision for us. Bread baking -- the warmth of home; the aroma of welcome and hospitality; the memories of meals with friends and family. Bread slang -- money; cash in the pocket; security; assets; property; investments. Money; cash in the pocket; security; assets; property; investments.  So when the Bible tells us to send out our bread upon the waters, are we getting risky investment advice, or is there more to it? Benjamin Franklin said there are only two things for certain in this life -- death and taxes.  I happen to think there are a few more, like the sun rising every morning in the east and setting in the east, the earth makes its yearly journey around the sun, and Murphy's law. Murphy's law -  if anything can possibly go wrong, it will.  That lovely sunny weather may go on longer than was expected and turn into a drought.