LET'S HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS

"Universal laws are always in force whether you believe in them or not." Brian Tracy
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. Robert Louis Stevenson
Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it. Swedish proverb
Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among
the things only hoped for. Epicurus
I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy. C. S. Lewis
Focus, not on the rudenesses of others, not on what they've done or left undone, but on what you have & haven't done yourself. Dhammapada
It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Kindness makes a fellow feel good, whether it’s being done to him or by him. Frank A. Clark
The more a man knows, the more he forgives. Confucius
Forgiveness means giving up all hope of a better past. Landrum Bolling
There is always a certain peace in being what one is, in being that completely. Ugo Betti
None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone. Ralph Waldo Emerson
There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day. Alexander Woollcott
God gave us memories that we might have roses in December. James M. Barrie
The right time to show your good character is when you are pestered by somebody weaker than you. Buddha
Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can. John Wesley
Knowledge can be fully given to man only in a Person, never in a doctrine. Faith is not the holding of correct doctrine, but personal fellowship with the living God. William Temple

A short personal comment:
In my Bible study I have observed that the prophets had no patience with an unredeemed nation. And I’ve also noted that a common historical pattern in the Bible was that Israel was punished whenever the leaders turned away from the devout worship of God. I’m wondering in this post; do you see a resemblance in our nation’s recent past and our present crisis with this Biblical observation?
I will add here, as I’m sure many of you will agree with, our only hope for our nation and the world is
2 Chronicles 7:14 “ If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

I pray Shalom to all
who read this

THE CADUCEUS AND THE CROSS

The Caduceus and the Cross

The symbol of two intertwined snakes, called the caduceus, is used by the

American Medical Association

Have you ever had to get mixed up with these people who work under the symbol of two snakes twined on a staff? Referring to the medical profession of course.

Often they hurt you in order to help you!

From a very young child I have always been fascinated by snakes. I even at one time belonged to the Cleveland Herpetologist Society. Imagine, that means we would actually go looking for them. I know many people who are so deathly afraid of snakes that just the very thought of them virtually makes them apoplectic. You may think the only good snake is a dead snake. And perhaps, because we’re talking about them, you have already quit reading this paper? I hope not. I have many snake stories, and I’d be pleased to hear your snake stories

We find a strange and hard to-understand snake story figuring prominently in Numbers 21:4-9.

The Lord has Moses construct a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Everyone who is bitten by a snake is to look at the serpent, for in doing so they will be miraculously healed. Scarred, but healed. In other words, Moses made a replica of the very evil the people feared.

And in this weeks study of John 3:14-21, even stranger, we find Jesus alluding to this story in his conversation with Nicodemus to the point that he virtually refers to himself as a snake.

He talks about it during his conversation with Nicodemus, the religious leader who comes to see him at night. Nicodemus would have known this story of Moses and the snakes, and probably is quite shocked that Jesus would use it as an analogy for himself.

The Gospel of John therefore refers to Jesus, not only as the good shepherd, but also as the good snake.

Jesus says it is the nature of salvation... that in the hands of God, “evil and good, threat and promise, life and death are all somehow mixed up.”

God is always eager to offer redemption, in the Old and New Testament but redemption is to be on God’s terms and not ours. The Lord did not grant their prayer (O.T. people) in the way they wanted, did he? Neither did God do things in his Son as we would have done them. If you had been in charge of making it so that your sinful creation could have the means of salvation, would you have chosen to send your child, allowing him to be hung up on a cross?

God doesn’t think the way you and I do. So to confess that we don’t understand is simply a way of admitting that we are not God, and that such things are best left up to One who knows a whole lot more about redemption than we do. The only thing with which we are left is to accept the grace God provides us, leaving the why of it all to the One who knows better than we how redemption takes place.

It is God’s will that none of us perish, but “have eternal life.” How God chooses to do that is God’s business. Let’s accept it with gratitude, even if we have to look the snake in the eye.

Lord, save us, sinful as we are. Forgive us and teach us to accept the mystery of redemption offered through your Son Jesus..... .And I pray Shalom for all who read this........Amen.

A Scatter of Inklings

A summary of our scripture study this week, John 2:13-22, might be that profanity is not just in words: but can also be in the kind of respect that we treat holy things and places.
Jesus came to the Temple and he discovered it was not the kind of setting which was conducive to true worship......... "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace."
The problem with the people in this scripture study was they were guilty of profaning the temple -- of making improper use of a holy place.

Unlike most of us, it took a lot to make Jesus angry; but in this scripture study we find Jesus in an action of angry protest over something precious that was endangered -- true worship.

When I read this scripture, (it’s in all four of the gospels) I asked myself, "What does this have to do with us? Are we guilty of profaning the holy in our midst?" The answer, of course, is "Yes!" We do profane the holy in our midst. I could mention any number of examples and depending on your awareness, perception or discernment I’m pretty sure you can too.

Worship was endangered in the Temple, and I would suggest that true worship may be endangered today as well. Too many people are selling out their worship experience to the dictates and trends of the culture. Religion has become big business in America. Worship has too often been transformed into entertainment events. In all ages, God has warned His people against using religious services to get rich.

Jesus drove out of the Temple those where were taking advantage of such situations.
The Bible tells us that as the chaos erupted, that his disciples remembered the words of the Psalmist, "Zeal for Thy house will consume me." (John 2:15-17........Ps69:9)

True worship allows a time for you to meditate to sit quietly and pray with perhaps soft music playing; this is true worship, especially if Communion is served. Such quiet meditation is a stark contrast to those services where everything is a show and for show.

The temple in Jesus' day had lost its sacred character. It was well attended, and it was a beehive of activity, but there wasn't a lot of reverence and spirituality. And it wasn't necessarily because the priests and the merchants were bad people; but because, perhaps unintentionally, they'd lost sight of the fact that it was, after all, holy ground on which they were standing.

And this is what I hope you'll think about as you review this scripture this week. Lent (any time really) is a time of introspection, of looking within and taking note of the various ways we've strayed from the righteousness of God. It's a time for cleansing our lives, mind, body and soul. In other words, making our own personal temple of self a worthy place for the Spirit of God to dwell.

And that leads to my closing comment. It comes in the form of a question........ What do you think?

Shalom

Store Up Treasures In Heaven

STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal... But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal...

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also............Mt.6: 19-21

In the tradition of "giving up" something for Lent, how about some of these (you have heard these before, but they bear repeating):

GIVE UP grumbling! Instead, "In everything give thanks." Constructive criticism is OK, but "moaning, groaning, and complaining" are not Christian disciplines.

GIVE UP 10 to 15 minutes in bed! Instead, use that time in prayer.

GIVE UP looking at ether people's worst points. Instead, concentrate on their best points. We all have faults. It will be easier for people overlook our shortcomings when we overlook theirs first.

GIVE UP speaking unkindly. Instead, let your speech be generous and understanding. It costs so little to say something kind and uplifting.

GIVE UP your worries and anxieties! Instead, trust God with them. Anxiety is spending emotional energy on something we can do nothing about... like tomorrow! Live for today and let God's grace be sufficient.

GIVE UP TV one evening a week! Instead, visit someone who is lonely or sick. There are those who are isolated by illness or age. Give someone a precious gift, your time!

GIVE UP buying anything but essentials for yourself! Instead, give the money to God. The money you would spend on the luxuries could help someone meet their basic needs. We are called to be stewards of God's bounty, not consumers.

Not a long list. I am sure you can think of things to add....And let’s dedicate Lent to a few reforms; use it as an excuse to be better.

Shalom