Be A Blessing! We each have within us the ability to be a blessing to someone else. This video expounds on the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37 and references Deuteronomy 30:9-14). We may not be rich or have an abundance of material resources, but the most important things are within us and we need to share that with the world. Be A Blessing!
Easter demonstrates to us that the ordinary is not ordinary nor the obvious obvious! As we focus upon texts that speak to the Resurrection of Jesus we discover that they are not only text pertaining to the miracle of the resurrection but speaks to the immense possibilities that are opened to us in our own lives. We often however accept the constrains and dictates that have been handed us in life rather than push through to those places that are not obvious.
Lent is a time where we prepare ourselves to meet the awesome event of the Resurrection. It is a period of six weeks or approximately 40 days where we are invited to the experience of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. As we explore two scriptures, Isaiah 40:28-31 and II Corinthians 12:9-10, we are reminded of where our strength comes from. During this Lenten season I am inviting people to engage in study. If you are near Plymouth you are invited here every Thursday evening during Lent for reflection and teaching. Also, you are invited to our "On the Way to Resurrection Revival" with the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. as our revivalist for March 10th, 11th and 12th, 2010.
The mission of God has never changed. God's word and mission has always focused on Justice. In this world controversies stir around healthcare, education, but there should be no controversy because all should have access. Haiti is an example of people pulling together in crisis, but the real desire is that we pull together to avert crises. Like God our focus should be on justice.
We need a special kind of spirit to help us through the many turns in life. In this scripture from Acts 8.14-17 the people of Samaria had received Jesus but not yet the Holy Spirit. John and Peter were dispatched to go and pray with them. This text defines for me that we need more than intellectual insight in our lives, but we need to link our intellect with that which is spirit driven! We need both insight and courage to apply what we claim to believe to life.
The scripture Luke 3:1-6 helps to take us into Advent. With the arrival of Advent we begin to celebrate the birth of Christ. But the birth of Jesus is more than a festive point on the calendar, instead it is a time when we prepare ourselves and the world for the arrival of a Savior. But our preparation is not really found in trimming the trees, sales, shopping and Christmas parties, but is done by striving to make our world a just one; where we work to eradicate poverty, violence and wars. This Advent/Christmas let us work towards justice and commit ourselves from this day forward to live in the Advent/Christmas spirit all year.
We hope you will enjoy!
Blessings!