"The sharpest minds often ruin their lives by overthinking the next
step, while the dull win the race with eyes closed." - Bethany
Brookbank - Write Like No One is Reading
I'm embracing that I just like thinking for thinking's sake. It's a gift that comes
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"Into this world, this
demented inn in which there is absolutely no room for Him at all, Christ
comes uninvited." - Thomas Merton
"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus." - Neal A. Maxwell
The arrival of a Kardashian baby would garner more attention than our reception of the Savior of the world. Paparrazi stalk
What if the innkeeper had known who he was turning away? It is sure that he would have displaced the most significant man in the best room available for Jesus. What if WE were to realize that we're turning away Jesus for Santa, shopping, trees, decorations and lights, vacations and food? Would we find the time for Him? Would we MAKE room? |
9:30 AM Class Youth Room 11:00 AM Worship The Great Room at Wyoming Presbyterian 225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
513-212-1131
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"After these things he (Paul) left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He
came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them
and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers. And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks." Acts 18:1-4
These days most think of clergy as a paid profession. Preachers teach that the Levites had no business inheritance and were set aside to be wholly devoted to the Lord. (Deut.10:8-9) Catholic priests and nuns with vows of poverty and chastity lead neighborhood parishes. There are full-time denominational and megachurch pastors. But 59% of America's churches
The Apostle Paul was a bi-vocational minister, as were Priscilla and Aquila, two other prominent teachers. Now we associate Tent-making with missionaries who go overseas and teach English or do another job in a clandestine fashion to open doors for the Gospel in closed countries. Paul was working a regular job, but he also believed in material compensation for spiritual work (1 Cor,9:11-14; Gal. 6:6) He worked and he received support from the churches. In certain circumstances, he committed to working as an example, or he didn't want to be a burden to the churches in a region, (2 Thess. 3:7-8) but he made tents. The other day one of our members, who happens to work with me proclaimed, "your Jesus never goes off!" What a glorious thing to hear! (wish it were 100% true, lol!) Se
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"In worshiping their nationhood men worship themselves and scorn others, and that is no healthy thing. " C.J. Sansom
Dictionary.com has deemed XENOPHOBIA the 2016 word of the year. Events like the recent US election, Brexit, and issues on immigration were cited as reasons for the prevalence of this word. XENOPHOBIA a word that first appeared in English during the 19th century, is a noun defined as "fear or hatred of foreigners, people from different cultures, or strangers. It can also refer to fear or dislike of customs, dress, and cultures of people with backgrounds different from our own." Other dictionaries include the ideas of having or showing an intense or irrational dislike, hatred or prejudice of people from other countries - or a fear of what is perceived to be foreign or strange. These divisive attitudes toward 'the other' are nothing new. It seems in our sinful state we are constantly looking for reasons to 'pedestalize' ourselves and express hostility at worst or at least a mild aversion to those unlike us. That's why Scripture is replete about how we are to engage 'the other' and 'one another.' God has command us to love.
Jesus taught about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. The compelling question, "Who is my neighbor?" is met with the answer, "The one who showed mercy." This man picked the poor and wounded stranger off the street, bound up his wounds and paid his bills during his recovery.
But Sadell, it's dangerous. I don't know what 'they' are going to do. I don't either. But if I decided to live xenophobic as an African-American woman in this racist and misogynistic environment, I would just hold up in the house. Scripture is preeminent. Our citizenship is in Heaven. (Phil. 3:20) We are foreigners, strangers and pilgrims in the earth. (1 Peter 2:11) Our affections, worship and attention are to be set above and not on the earth (Col 3:2). Paul and Peter had to deal with their personal issues with 'the other' in the conflict between the Jews the Gentiles. Peter required 3 visions from the Lord to be able to engage the 'unclean' Gentiles. (Acts 10:9-16) Paul's life had to be transformed to write in Ephesians 2 that God's ultimate intent through Christ was to end the ethnic hostility by dying on the Cross, speaking peace to each side, and unifying those who were formerly opposed to create One New Humanity. Unless you were born Jewish, that would mean you and I would automatically be excluded from the covenant of promise through Jesus! but we're included! Aren't you glad God is NOT XENOPHOBIC! |
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Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Colossians 3:17, ESV
GRATITUDE is the quality of being thankful. This week, gratitude changed my outlook. I was sharing data similar to this 2010 study by G. William Domhoff of the University of California concerning wealth inequality in the United states. It shows that the top 20% of Americans hold the vast majority of the country's wealth and net worth, while the bottom 80% struggle. The top 1% own over 40% of the nation's wealth, and the top .1% of that one percent hold the real power (Buffet, Gates, etc.). As I shared the information, the faces of class members ranged from shocked through depressed to determined. We also realized that some of the other things we're fighting over like race might actually be a distraction as most of us are in a similar boat, but I digress.
It's hard to be grateful when you're at the bottom of the totem pole. That realization normally brings a sense of sadness and frustration. But then, I told them that over half of the world's population exists on $2 per day or less! Even someone who lives at the poverty level in the United States is richer than most of the people in the world. We have readily available food, clothing, shelter, hot running water, and various means of transportation. So when Jesus and Paul address the rich in Scripture...they're talking about US! Don't believe me? Check where your income or wealth stands on this website: GLOBAL RICH LIST
Paul framed gratitude this way, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil 4:12-13) Didn't know that was the context of that verse, did you? It's crazy to grasp that we can be both poor and rich at the same time! Just goes to show...It is not happiness that brings us gratitude, it is gratitude that brings us happiness. |
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Share each other's burdens and in this way obey the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2, NLT)
In case you hadn't noticed, A LOT of people are really hurting right now, and it's MUCH MORE than 'winning' or 'losing' an election. The politics of the season, including such issues as: sexism,
For it to be 'ok' for such hatred, vitriol and malevolence to exist and even flourish in our country on all sides and particularly in the Church should be unsettling to any true Christ follower. Sadly, the prevailing notion is that many Christians and their leaders don't care...or even are in league with what's going on. The hardest part is that ideologies are often kept secret. If half the population is agreeing, ok with, or at the very least willing to live with this climate, those of us who are women and people of color never know whether we're in safety or danger. That can be terrifying, but if we jump to conclusions and judgments on each other, we'll do more damage. Many of our true Caucasian friends and Christian family may feel misunderstood, attacked and needing to defend their positions. Some might also think they're in harm's way. If ever there was a time for EMPATHY, it's now! Here's a really cool video from Dr. Brene Brown about empathy:
Christians are supposed to be expert at 'one anothering.' Jesus commanded, "love one another as I have loved you." This love is supposed be the identifying mark of Christ followers. (John 13:34-35) Paul instructed us in Galatians 6:2 to "bear one anothers burdens." I don't know what the burden is, unless I hear from my brother or sister. God rarely just deals with one side. The Word requires us to, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:31-32) Frankly, we've failed on these commands and more, and the Church must heal itself first so we can regain credibility with the world. So find someone not like you, listen and EMPATHIZE today! |
9:30 AM Class Youth Room 11:00 AM Worship The Great Room at Wyoming Presbyterian 225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
513-212-1131
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WEDNESDAY'S WORD FINISHED 04/16/2025 "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the begi...
