onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 12 Year 1

AM Psalm 75, 76; PM Psalm 23, 27 2 Samuel 5:22-6:11; Acts 17:16-34; Mark 8:1-10

Acts: In this Acts reading Paul is questioned about this new faith that none had heard of before.  He explains, “The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.” (Acts 17: 24 – 25)

Our parish put on a play in the summer of 2013 as a fund raiser for our fifty year celebration that was to take place in the following January 2014.  In this play I was the grumpy old grandpa.  There were several actors but the woman directing the play was not in the play.  She did control the lighting and gave us cues from off-stage. I learned that the evidence of her existence is the performance of that play.  The audience did not see her but they enjoyed her work.  That we were a success is evidenced by her efforts.  This is how we know of God. 

Paul says of God, “For In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17: 28).  Not all we humans act in accord with God’s direction.  We stray. But since we are created in God’s Image, we are the offspring of God.  We cannot see God therefore we should not try to make anything with our hands to be God’s Image.  There is a hidden Creator.  We cannot see our Creator but the Creator is evidenced by our continuing on the world stage.

We also should not substitute God for any other created thing. After all, we too are among the created. Why should one created creature honor, praise or worship another created creature or thing?

“Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals.”  (Acts 17: 29)  Today we can add to Paul’s list of other created things.  We could add things like our electronic devices, position, power, other people, the value of our own importance, and of course, money.  Our assurance that these things, including ourselves, are not God is the fact that we can see them, touch them and manipulate them.  This means they are not God, nor are they a replacement for God.

Alfred Hitchcock (Director), and later Stan Lee (Writer), often made cameo appearances in their movies. I believe God did the same thing in the person of Jesus.  This is why I am glad I am a Christian.  Christianity gives me a tangible way to relate with the Unseen, a small way to begin to know the Unknown.  Thank You Jesus.

Let us ponder anew what the Almighty is directing us to do. John+

Today we remember Samuel Ferguson Missionary Bishop for West Africa, 1916

Readings for Samuel Ferguson Missionary Bishop for West Africa, 1916

Sirach 51:13-26  Psalm 119:9-16   2 Peter 1:16-21 John 3:1-15

“First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”  (2 Peter 1:20 – 21)

I really love these words from 2 Peter.  I have it read at every graduation of our local Education for Ministry closing Eucharist in late May.  It speaks of our seeking God and of God providing.  We have to knock, but the door will be opened.  Samuel Ferguson believed in seeking and learning.

 “Samuel David Ferguson was the first African American bishop in The Episcopal Church accorded the full honors due his position. While there had been other African American bishops before him, Bishop Ferguson was the first to be seated in the House of Bishops, and he took his role in the House with utmost sincerity and integrity, as an example to those around him. From celebrating the opening Eucharist of the 1910 General Convention to attending society events in the South, Bishop Ferguson modeled a dignity and strength that communicated his equal stature as an Episcopal bishop despite the discrimination he faced.”  (From Great Cloud of Witnesses for August 2)

Bishop Ferguson emphasized education first and foremost. “Consistent with his first vocation as a teacher, Ferguson emphasized the importance of education throughout his ministry. He founded schools throughout Liberia, assisted financially by the Women’s Auxiliary [later to be the United Thank Offering (UTO) of The Episcopal Church Women], and his passion for education influenced other parts of West Africa.”   (From Great Cloud of Witnesses for August 2)

My own spiritual inquiries came to me as a result of secular undergraduate studies.  At one point I took philosophy and chemistry during the same period. It was then that I pondered which came first: thought, or atomic structure? I came out on the side of thought and therefore, confirmation of the Great “I AM.” “Ferguson believed that establishing a strong spiritual and educational foundation was the best way for Liberia’s young people to transform society.” (From Great Cloud of Witnesses for August 2) I believe establishing a strong spiritual and educational foundation is the best way for ALL young people to transform not only their society but indeed, the world.

“Bishop Ferguson remained in Liberia for the rest of his life. He died in Monrovia on August 2, 1916.”  (From Great Cloud of Witnesses for August 2)

I like this remembrance of Bishop Ferguson because it makes manifest the truthful saying “give a man a fish and you feed him for the day; teach him to fish and you have fed him for life.”  Teaching, I believe, is the most important gift one person can bestow upon another. “Teacher,” is how Mary Magdalene identified Jesus after he called her name after the resurrection (John 20:16).

I believe the most important vocation in the world is that of teaching.  The men and women who assist in shaping the minds of the future of our planet can’t be over emphasized.  Personally, and currently in America, I don’t think we treat them with the respect they should be accorded in either financial compensation or political clout. While we do hear reports of less than satisfactory teachers occasionally, most are decent, caring, loving and very smart tutors of our young ones and I thank God for them.  Teachers teach us to seek and learn, to knock and to enter.

Let us ponder anew what the Almighty can do (and is doing). John+

Daily Office Readings for Thursday Proper 12 of Year 1

AM Psalm [70], 71; PM Psalm 74 2 Samuel 4:1-12; Acts 16:25-40; Mark 7:1-23

21 You strengthen me more and more; *
you enfold and comfort me,

22 Therefore I will praise you upon the lyre for your
faithfulness, O my God; *
I will sing to you with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips will sing with joy when I play to you, *
and so will my soul, which you have redeemed.

(Psalm 71: 21 – 23)

All of the readings for today are interesting but these words of the Psalmist hold a special place for me right now.  Some of you may recall that at one time I was pondering “faith, fitness and music.”  While I have restricted my posted pondering to just faith, or theological studies, I continue with my pondering habits of fitness and music. And these words today strike a special “chord” with me today (pun intended).

Yesterday I shared with you how God sent a friend to me when I needed him and as a result I became an Episcopalian, and now a priest in the Episcopal Church.  It is happening again. God has sent a friend to me to keep me going with guitar improvements.  This dear friend comes to our Wednesday night healing service and then spends time with me playing chords on our guitars after the service.  What a blessing!

I led my small gathering last night in singing “Let us break bread together….” at the healing service without guitars or any instruments.  I like music.  I realize not everybody does. But I believe God wants us to sing regardless of ability.  So as David the Psalmist says, “I will sing to you with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.” Of course my harp is a guitar.  I told one of my parishioners that my guitar is coming soon to the healing service. I pray it has a healing effect.

My message to you is this.  God has a plan.  God is watching and placing people where they need to be in order to make the plan work.  I’ve already told you about God’s eternal patience.  God works in incremental steps, a little bit at a time. Be aware of who comes to you or who you are sent to.  How do you know it’s a God send?  Well, what did you pray for?  It’s up to God “how or who” God chooses to do it.  But God answers prayer.

I think God wants me to make music now. Therefore, “My lips will sing with joy when I play to you, and so will my soul, which you have redeemed.”  (Psalm 71: 23)

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to (and through) God’s people. John+

Readings for Ignatius Loyola; Mystic, Educator, Preacher, and Founder of the Jesuits (31 July 1556)

1 Corinthians 10:31 – 11:1 Psalm 34:1-8 Luke 9:57-62

“I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me and saved me from all my troubles.” (Psalm 34:6)

July 31 is the Remembrance of Ignatius of Loyola Priest and Monastic, 1556

“Ignatius was born into a noble Basque family in 1491. In his autobiography, he tells us, “Up to his twenty-sixth year, he was a man given over to the vanities of the world and took special delight in the exercise of arms with a great and vain desire of winning glory.” An act of reckless heroism at the Battle of Pamplona in 1521 led to his being seriously wounded. During his convalescence at Loyola, Ignatius experienced a profound spiritual awakening. Following his recovery and an arduous period of retreat, a call to be Christ’s knight in the service of God’s kingdom was deepened and confirmed.” (From Great Cloud of Witnesses for July 31)

I joined the Episcopal Church through Baptism at the Easter Vigil of 1980 at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee.  I was going through a divorce that brought me to my knees.  I was in spiritual despair.  All I could remember was my formative years at St Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Nashville, Tennessee as a child.  But that was enough to make me believe that the Church would help me with my shaken state of mind.  I got with a military friend and he took me to St Anne’s.  The rest is history. I too, like Ignatius, began a new journey as a knight of Christ.

It has been, and still is, a long journey.  I stayed in the Marines, got divorced and later married again. The Psalmist’ words have meaning for me. “I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me and saved me from all my troubles.” I am no Ignatius but I do have a ministry that I love.

I began to attend college when off duty throughout the years and I stayed in church from the 1980’s on.  I have been up and down with God. But God has remained faithful with me.  I am thankful for the love of God in my life. Ignatius too, had hills to climb before his call to ministry.

“The fact that Ignatius was an unschooled layman made him suspect in the eyes of church authorities and led him, at the age of 37, to study theology at the University of Paris in preparation for the priesthood. While there, Ignatius gave the Exercises to several of his fellow students; and in 1534, together with six companions, he took vows to live lives of strict poverty and to serve the needs of the poor. Thus, what later came to be known as the Society of Jesus was born.” (From Great Cloud of Witnesses for July 31) This is the birth of the Jesuits.

I am amazed at how many of the Saint’s lives are like my own, and like yours also. I did not grow up “Churched.”  It was sadness that brought me back to God. My Marine friend was in the right place at the right time in my life. This is Gods doing and it truly is marvelous in my eyes. Put your trust in God and God will never abandon you, in this world or the next.

Let us ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John+

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday Proper 12 Year 1

AM Psalm 61, 62; PM Psalm 68:1-20(21-23)24-36 2 Samuel 3:6-21; Acts 16:6-15; Mark 6:30-46

“He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” (Mark 6: 31)  And: “After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.” (Mark 6:46)

The Gospel passage we have for today is sandwiched between Sabbath times.  After the apostles returned from all they had done and taught, but before they participated in feeding the five thousand, Jesus called them to rest, a Sabbath time so as to refresh themselves.

Likewise, after they fed the five thousand he personally dismissed the people and sent his apostles away in a boat.  After the dismissal he himself  again went up on the mountain to pray.

Recently we have had plenty of the Martha and Mary story.  While there is a time for the doing things of Martha, this message is about the importance of reflection time like that that Mary took when Jesus came to visit them. For me, it’s my pondering time.

Many people ask me to pray for them.  They think that I have a special connection with God. But I do not, at least not one that anyone can’t have. My special job is to inform people that God seeks time with them.  God wants to hear from the people in the pews and the people in the streets.  My priestly job is to let people know this good news, this valuable information.

I let them know that they don’t really need anything special, just time set aside for the purpose of being with God. They don’t need a special cross, a Bible, a Prayer Book, Beads, an Icon or painting or a particular piece of music. It is not that these things don’t help, they do.  But the most important element is time and to be still and know that God is God, and when called near, God is with you. To quote verse 10 of Psalm 46, “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”  There is something about being still that gives God the opportunity to have a more intimate relationship with you and to focus on who, and where you are in your life. Do not think that God cannot be this close with everyone on earth, God can and wants to. God is all encompassing.

One of the things I like to do before each service of the Holy Eucharist is to offer a kind of settling-in prayer as a way of helping the people in the pews prepare themselves for the service that is about to take place.  It reads, “O Almighty God, who pourest out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication:  Deliver us, when we draw near to thee, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”  It is found on page 833 of the Book of Common Prayer; prayer number 64.  And while I said we do not need a prayer book, or Bible, or Icons or anything in our “alone with God time,” it is nice to have these things for public worship to draw us in with God as the Body of Christ. Jesus kept them together both in the deserted place and on the boat.  We need our alone time and our gathered time with God in Christ Jesus. Remember, we are the Church either way.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to (and through) God’s people. John+

Readings for the feast of Martha and Mary of Bethany

Psalm 36:1-5 Romans 12:9-13  Luke 10:38–42

“Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.” (Luke 10: 38 – 39)

Both the Gospels of Luke and John share a scene of Jesus’ visit to the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In both, Mary is defended by Jesus.  Martha, it seems, acts as the one responsible for getting things done.  My guess is that she may be head of household, even in her day.  Realizing that Jesus did not write any Gospel, and those that did, did it decades after his resurrection and ascension. Therefore, I don’t believe Jesus condemns Martha’s efforts or suggests that we all should just sit around pondering only (even me). We need to be both as the situation requires.

“The devotion and friendship of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus have been an example of fidelity and service to the Lord. Their hospitality and kindness, and Jesus’ enjoyment of their company, show us the beauty of human friendship and love at its best. And the raising of Lazarus by Jesus is a sign of hope and promise for all who are in Christ.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for July 29)

This day is also chosen to remember the day our Church awoke to what God has always been doing in humanity. Our ordination of women only follows the ordination of Li Tim Oi (AKA Florence) “On January 25, 1944, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Bishop Hall ordained her priest, the first woman so ordained in the Anglican Communion.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for January 24)

So our Church chose the remembrance of Martha and Mary to ordain women.  “On July 29, 1974, the feast of Martha and Mary of Bethany, eleven women deacons were ordained to the priesthood at the Church of the Advocate, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “We are certain that the Church needs women in priesthood to be true to the gospel understanding of human unity in Christ,” explained the eleven ordinands in a public statement.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for July 29)  This ordination was contested by General Convention and “On September 16, 1976, the General Convention voted to amend the canons to stipulate that both women and men are eligible for ordination. The House of Bishops determined that each woman ordained before 1977 could function as a priest after a “completion of the ritual acts” performed in Philadelphia or Washington.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for July 29) So the ordinations stand. Thank you Jesus.

In my humble opinion, the ordination of women is really about our Church coming to its senses.  It has been God’s plan all along. I remind us again that it was Mary Magdalene who first brought the word that “He is Risen.”  And like those first apostles, we refuse to believe because of the sex of the messenger.   We are just slow, but God is eternally patient.  Thank You Jesus.

Let us ponder anew what God has always been doing.  John+

Eucharistic Readings for Sunday Proper 12 of Year C

Track 2 Genesis 18:20-32  Psalm 138 Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)  Luke 11:1-13

“And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’  I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.” (Luke 11: 5 – 8)

God hard wired us to seek and to assist.  It is our human nature to solve mysteries, be it the rotation of the universe or the cure for cancer. We look for answers.  We have inquiring minds and we want to know stuff.  Today Google is flooded with people finding information about myriads upon myriads of all kinds of things.  We are born to ask, both for what we want and for what we need. 

Within the tradition of humanity is also the concept of hospitality.  From time to time we all find ourselves in need.  When thus found, we need the help of others. This is probably how pot-luck got started.  It is nothing to be ashamed of. It is our human condition.  Every person that hears the request of another has to deal with how they will respond to each situation.  I have a very dear friend who carries in his upper left pocket 2 or 3 small envelopes which contain a dollar and a Bible verse in each.  When a person approaches him for money he hands the person an envelope and bids them peace. I myself will adopt this response. A dollar is not much but it is a response. It helps satisfy that human need to respond. Even if the timing is bad, we will help if we listen to our hearts. We have this drive to respond to the need of others (friend or stranger). I believe there are more Good Samaritans among us today than there used to be.  We are born to help.

So we ask for help, and when we can, we render help to others.  This is God’s desire for us to be a loving community.  Yes, we still have way too many bad apples.  But we don’t give up because of them.  We endure. We pursue what is good and upright.  When we need help, we ask for it.  It is not a matter of pride that we should suffer loss.  We ask someone to help us that we also may help another down the road.  All resources come from God.  We’re just borrowing from God anyway.  And we should keep our eyes open for our brothers and sisters who may not ask, yet be in need.

Being born to ask, and born to help, means that we are born to live in harmony with each other.  I know people who are too proud to ask for the help they need.  And perhaps if they are criticized about it they ought to be reluctant to ask.  So those of us who can help must be vigilant in making sure that we are “grateful” to know that an unexpected opportunity to help has come to us. And never, never shame, or in any way speak down or look down on anyone who needs our help.  One day it could be us.  If we can Google about the universe, we surely can ask about, and respond to, our needs, and the needs of others in our midst. We want to take comfort in knowing that we live in a community that takes care of God’s own. We are all God’s own.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John+

Readings for Saturday of Proper 11 for Year 1

AM Psalm 55; PM Psalm 138, 139:1-17(18-23) 2 Samuel 1:1-16; Acts 15:22-35; Mark 6:1-13

“And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.” (Mark 6:6)

Jesus was amazed at the unbelief of the people of Nazareth, the town in which he was raised. Because they thought they knew Jesus and his family, they doubted that God would be made manifest in such a person.  They didn’t know God, and for that matter, they didn’t know Jesus either.

While Jesus was amazed at the unbelief of the people of his home town, that did not stop him from spreading the word of salvation and hope.  As soon as he experienced their unbelief, “then he went about among the villages teaching.”  Jesus kind of said, “so be it.”  He kicked their dust off his sandals and moved on.  This is when he drew the twelve in and enlisted their help in carrying out the message of salvation and hope. This is the message that was needed then, and the same message we still need today.

In Jesus’ day one needed a good pair of sandals for this work and a dedicated partner.  It required a lot of walking.  Today, people carrying the message of salvation and hope need a reliable laptop and internet service but still need a spiritual partner to, among other things, edit what is published, as well as, someone to talk to day to day so as to keep grounded in the faith.  Jesus sent them out two by two for this reason, to accompany each other on the Way. That’s six pairs for you math minded folks. 

Today we need not worry about taking stuff with us.  We just hit “send,” or in my case, “publish,” and it’s out there.  Sometimes later in the day I might be told by someone who reads my message and cares about me that I used the wrong word or even let a misspelled word slip in.  But this is done with the utmost care and I appreciate it. It is a way of me accepting what and who is put before me in love and kindness.

There is always amazement for Jesus and for us for people who fail to believe. But that must not stop us from carrying the message out. We, at least I, must keep “publishing.”  It is my prayer that my message of salvation and hope is received in as many homes as possible around the globe.

People that knew me from my earlier days as a Marine or even a reckless youth from Nashville, Tennessee might well ask “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him?” (Mark 6:2)  I will answer that Jesus has sent me out with a message of hope and salvation for all the world.  Some will receive this message and some will not.  But this is really not about me; it is about Jesus acting through me, and through you.   Thank You Jesus.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through (and to) God’s people. John+

Daily Office Readings for Friday Proper 11 of Year 1

AM Psalm 40, 54; PM Psalm 51  1 Samuel 31:1-13; Acts 15:12-21; Mark 5:21-43

“But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.  He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’ (Mark 5:33 – 34)

A question often asked at our weekly Cursillo group is “With what unexpected opportunities has The Lord accomplished something through you.”  My group members smirk when we raise this question because they know I don’t like it.  My argument has been that if it is “unexpected,” it can’t be good can it? And how can something you didn’t see coming be an opportunity?   It wasn’t anticipated or planned for. I’m a strong “J” on the Myers Briggs Personality evaluation.

Jesus models a loving way to respond to such occasions.  Jesus is on his way to the home of Jairus to attend to Jairus’ daughter who is thought to be dying.  While on his way he is touched by a woman who has been sick for twelve years, bleeding as it were, and has tried everything she could with the doctors of her day.  She has exhausted all her money and is no better off.

But she says to herself, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.”  So she does just that.  Jesus, while on his way to a crisis, stops, turns, inquires, and assures.  He tells her that her faith has made her well.  She, like we, have the solution to all our problems already inside us.  But we are not able to make use of the fix for ourselves.  Jesus takes what God has put in us and fixes us. After this, Jesus continues on his way to the home of Jairus where he indeed brings the little girl back to life and full health.

The lesson here is simple. Never think you are too busy to care for someone God has put in your path. This harkens back to the story of the Good Samaritan where the Samaritan was already in route to somewhere when he happened upon the man left for dead, (Luke 10:30 – 37) This is a retold story where the names and places have changed but the lesson is the same.  This is the way I learn God’s Way, repeated lessons. I’m slow, but God’s patience is eternal. Thank you Jesus.

Often, as I make hospital visits or am traveling while wearing a clerical collar a stranger will approach me and ask if I might pray with, or for them.  Of course, I do.  Jesus has taught me in this Gospel lesson that unexpected opportunities are the ways in which good comes into being.  So, I no longer think of unexpected opportunities as something that good cannot come from.  How about you?  That person that gets in your way, may be the way, that person gets in the Way.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John+

Daily Office Readings for Thursday Proper 11 of Year 1

AM Psalm 50; PM Psalm [59, 60] or 8, 84  1 Samuel 28:3-20; Acts 15:1-11; Mark 5:1-20

“After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, ‘My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us.” (Acts 15:7 – 9)

I find chapter 15 of Acts very interesting.  We have Peter who stands up to talk but in the verse following our reading for today we have for verse 12 “The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.”  This is a switch that goes unexplained. It also struggles with Galatians chapter 2.

Both Peter and Paul have this tension about the “It was I who God chose to take the message to the Gentiles.”  I find Ironic humor in that our Church assigned them the same day for their commemoration which is June 29.  They both may still be quarreling over that in heaven.

I have met some wonderful people in my life time. Many of these people changed my life, some in ways they will probably never know.  They brought God in Christ to me.  I saw Jesus in them. They may not even know it.

It seems Peter and Paul got hung up on “who” God chose rather than the importance of the Gentiles getting the word. They got hung up on the “It was I” part.  God just wanted the job to be done so that the Gentiles, or nations – the ones that didn’t know Jesus, were informed about Jesus. It was not as important as to how the word got to them, but, that it did.  It is the Word that is life changing, not the messenger.

This is still our job today.  It is about being in a room and witnessing about how God in creation loves all of us and all creatures.  I saw a man two nights ago that I do not agree with (on many levels).  But something came over me that said love him anyway.  He is who he is right now.  He (or I) may not get any better.  But he needs people to care about him.  I can’t explain this compassion that just happened to me. But it made me see this man in a new way.  I may never be recognized as the life changer, but that’s ok. The message of compassion was delivered.

Also, because of my fear of snakes I was one of those people who fully embraced the term, “the only good snake is a dead snake.”  But God placed two messengers in my presence at two different times, who may not even know each other, that changed me.  One just said, “Don’t kill snakes.”  It was spoken with authority. The other rescued a copperhead with a tree branch an flung it back into the woods and remarked “it didn’t deserve to die.”  These two messengers gave me new perspective about God’s creatures.  Neither of these saints were about themselves.  They were about living out who God made them to be and I hope to be like them too. Peter said, “And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us.”

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to (and through) God’s people. John+

.