View Point

Isaiah 26:1-9
Psalms 46, 48
2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2
John 8:12-19

2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2

There are many miles in Texas that are bereft of gas stations. This is a scarry thought for those of us who live in the city where there is a gas station on almost every corner or for Brits who live in a postage stamp sized environment. We had friends visiting from England. They were driving on 59 near King Ranch. No gas stations. They spied one on the other side of the divided highway and in the distance was a link between the two parts of the road. Great, gas before the long nothingness. In the distnce was a little white speck. That was all for this is one of those seemingly barren areas inhabited by lonely cattle. The white speck grew and became a police car. Did they know that only 'official' vehicles (the latter word spoken in at least two separate words) were allowed to use that handy link from southbound to northbound?
Viewpoints - speck to menacing police car
- deliberate offender to visiting alien.
I am biased. All the experiences of my life have had an influence on how I view the world and those whom I meet. I need to be ware of this and if I have to judge use the correct terms of reference, ie Jesus.

Courage

Isaiah 25:1-9
Psalm 20, 21
Revelation 1:9-20
John 7:53-8:11

John 7:53-8:11

Doesn't it take two to perform an act of adultery? What was Jesus teaching? Was the lady in a state of dishabille? What did he write? Where did the accusers go? Did she love the guy? Which one of them married? Did the man alter his ways? Did the woman have the courage change her lifestyle?
This passage is full of questions. Did Jesus look at the ground in order not to embarrass the lady any further in her state of undress?
Jesus shows no sign of irritation with the teachers of the law and the Pharisees even though they acting like petulant five year olds.
The oldest accusers left first. The idealistic young hung on to their ideals as long as possible- until their conscience was shamed by the courage of their elders.
Were Nicodemus and Joseph of Aramathea, the men who had the courage to ask for the body of Christ after his crucifixion in this group?
Whose courage do I need to emmulate?

Isaiah 49:13-23
Psalm 2, 26
Matthew 18:1-14

Matthew 18:1-14

Worms

This passage makes me feel very uncomfortable. It is one of the passages that I would like to cut out of the Bible and pretend that it never existed.

I am sure that some of my children’s bad behavior has been as a reaction to something that I have done or said, something which I could have phrased differently if I had taken a few minutes to think before I spoke.

So now I am in the ocean with a millstone for a necklace.

Next comes my left hand, have I ever not written a letter that I should have written or with my right hand steered the car so that another driver was caused to lose his cool.

Now no hands.

Feet, probably both of these get amputated in one go. Have I shopped when I should have worked, have I shopped when I should have saved, have I shopped and bought things for which I have no need or use. How many pairs of shoes do I have? They will be no use now, and the head in a millstone cannot wear a hat. Anyway the ocean would wash the hat away.

Heath Ledger died last week. My daughters and I intend having a Heath Ledger memorial viewing. Maybe we are just enjoying the beauty of manhood. Or how about some diamond earrings or a designer dress? Or an empire black granite countertop when the 15 year old Corian^® one is quite fine. I could cause some rock to be dug out of a mountain and transported halfway round the world just to please my eyes, and maybe the profit margin on my house. No eyes left to see where I am being tossed.

If I keep lopping off the offensive bits what is left of me will be little more than a worm because of course the first part of me to go should probably have been my brain, that instigator of all words and actions.

What a relief that Jesus gave his whole body for my sins. He took on all my hurt and pain so that I can live and hopefully live for Him as his hands, feet, eyes and head. Can I live for him with as much life as he died for me?

I wrote this for the Lent meditation book earlier this year. Life has not changed. Do we ever heed warnings?

December 27 St John

Proverbs 8:22-30
Psalms 97, 98
John 13: 20-35

John 13: 20-35

Have you ever said that you would do something but on reflection decided that it would be immoral, unethical or generally not the sort of thing that a person with any sense of good would do? But because you said you would do the dastardly act and not wanting to loose face you did it anyway?

Fortunately Jesus as well as Judas carried on with his plan and we can join with the angels in the chorus
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

December 26 -St Stephen

2Chronicles 24:17-22
Psalms 28, 30
Acts 6:1-7

Acts 6:1-7

Stephen is best know as the first Christian martyr. I prefer to remember him for his life rather than his death.
"They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;"
We named one of our sons Stephen. I pray that he in particular will become a "man full of faith and the Holy Spirit" but it is a state to which we can all aspire.

During Advent the meditations will be the Holy Spirit Advent Meditation Booklet

Holy Spirit Advent Meditation Booklet
I might of course sometimes add my own little bit and the odd recipe or two. We made a few new dishes over Thanksgiving.