I John 2:9 Called to Love

For each of us, the Word becomes flesh.  We know God by traveling the ways of love.  On this path, we are transformed into gift.  We are made by the light and for the light.  This is not a simple assignment.  We carved the old commandments into stone and tried to follow them.  Where do we inscribe the new commandment?  It presses against our flesh and sometimes breaks us open.  The ways of love go deep.
   From our first breath, love called us into existence.  Without care, a child does not survive.  Somehow, through the crowded years, we learned to listen.  To hold another's words quietly and seek to understand.  To take delight in the strange beauty of each person.  To act in hope even when no light glimmers.  To behold our own self with amazement.  To wash the feet of another.
    Some love seems impossible.  How do I seek the good of my enemy?  Saying these words slowly - there stands my brother, my sister - what is impossible begins to change. 

Prepare my soul, O Lord, to hear and act on Your words of eternal life.  Amen

Just some thoughts

It's a common mistake to think that God's "works" and "mighty deeds" are told only in Scripture.  Every person's life is God's work of art, an expression of His creative love, His goodness, His compassion.  We as Christians, should be able to "see" God in all of His creation.  If we are to help our fellow man,  then we must see him/her as Jesus see's them.
  As a unique, precious, eternal soul in search of completion.  That completion can only be found in God. 
  God is the Lord to one who waits for Him,/
to the soul that seeks Him.  Lam 3:25

make a cross with your keyboard

Give to Caesar

"Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God" (Mark 12:17)

When Jesus asked whose image was on the coin, He pointed to the image as a sign of ownership.  Caesar's image and inscription on the coin meant that it belonged to Caesar.  Jesus applied this logic and expression of ownership to humanity, when He added: "Give to God what belongs to God."
    Going by the logic of the comparison, if the coin belonged to Caesar because it bore the image and inscription of Caesar, then humanity created in the "image and likeness of God" (Gen 1:26-27) must belong to God.  If the coin must be given to Caesar because it bore Caesar's sign of ownership, namely his image, then we as human beings, bearing God's sign of ownership in our creation in the image of God, must in justice give ourselves to God. 
    That means that religion and worshiping God are about justice.  Giving ourselves to God is doing what is just: We are giving to God what belongs to God.  The worship of God is a basic act of justice.
    When we don't give to God what belongs to God, we are not able to give to others what belongs to them.  When we are unjust to God, we will be unjust to others.  The less religious we become, the more the world will be filled with unjustice, and the more faithful we become in relationship with God, the more justice there will be in the world.

Books of the Bible

Some of you have e-mailed me asking why you can't find certain books listed in the readings in your Bible.  This is because some Bibles do not have all of the books of the Old Testament (OT).  Typically there are seven (7) books missing from the OT in most protestant Bibles.  They are known as the Deuterocanonical (DTC) books.  For centuries they were part of all Bibles,  until they were removed by protestant reformers.  I personally believe that no part of the Bible should ever be removed by anyone for any reason.  If your Bible doesn't have them you should be able to find them online.  Check out http://www.e-sword.net/  this is a great web-site!  You can download numerous versions of the Bible,  look for KJVA or KJV 1611,  these contain all 73 books of the OT.  Also,  you can d-load  commentaries, dictionaries, images, maps, etc.. and a host of other items that are very useful.   As to the question of which translation is best.  I say the best translation to have is the one you will read. For in depth Bible study I prefer the Revised Standard Version (RSV) by Ignatius Press and the English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway publisher.   Although I must confess for general reading and memorizing I still use the King James Version (KJV).

A Lack of Silver

If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
- Psalm 90:8

  A lot of families have taken a serious financial blow in recent years.  If at one point they had that "bountiful harvest" Jesus talks about in Luke, it's disappeared.  And the need for building bigger barns is long gone.  In some cases, the family home is gone.
    If every cloud has a silver lining, maybe a lack of silver - gold, savings, stocks, steady employment - offers something valuable, too.  Yes, these families mourn what they've lost and they worry about what will be but....Whether they've wanted it or not, they've taken a large step toward a simpler lifestyle.  Toward one that focuses on "treasures in heaven".  It's a lesson, and a lifestyle, we all need, no matter what our financial status may be.

  Dear Lord, help me find ways to assist families who are hurting financially.  Amen

August 1st -

Hello All,  I know it's been several weeks since my last post.  I've been working 6 days a week, 12 hours a day.  Even though that is still my schedule I'm going to be more diligent about posting at least every couple of days.  So today I thought I would give you the readings for the 1st week of August.

8/01 Sunday - Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23
                      Psalm 90
                      Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
                      Luke 12:13-21
                      Wisdom 16:20
                      John 6:35

8/02 Monday - Jeremiah 28:1-17
                      Psalm 119:1-8
                      Matthew 14:13-21
                      John 10:10

8/03 Tuesday- Jeremiah 30:1-2,12-15,18-22
                      Psalm 102
                      Matthew 14:22-36
                      Wisdom 16:20

8/04 Wednesday - Luke 4:18
                           Jeremiah 31:1-7
                           Psalm 8
                           Matthew 15:21-28
                           Matthew 28:20

8/05 Thursday - Jeremiah 31:-34
                        Psalm 51
                        Matthew 16:13-23
                        Hebrews 13:14

8/06 Friday - Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
                    Psalm 97
                    II Peter 1:16-19
                    Luke 9:28b-36

8/07 Saturday - Habakkuk 1:12-2:4
                        Psalm 9
                        Matthew 17:14-20