2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27...
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2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
John Drinkwater’s play, Abraham Lincoln, contains a memorable scene. It may not be historically true, but it certainly rings true to Lincoln’s character.
In the midst of the Civil War, Lincoln is talking at a social event with a woman who is a strong partisan of the Union. He mentions to her that he has just received news of victory: The Southern army has lost 2,700 men, and the Union only 800.
"How splendid!" she replies with enthusiasm.
Lincoln is stunned: "How can you be so thrilled at the loss of 3,500 lives?"
"Oh, you must not think like that, Mr. President," she says. "There were only 800 that mattered."
Lincoln’s shoulders droop and his eyes moisten as he says slowly, "Madam, the world is larger than your heart."
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
The news that Tom and Lori were expecting another child came as a surprise to both of them. They already had five children ranging in age from five to nineteen. Immediately Lori viewed her pregnancy as a special blessing from God. Because she was older there were several complications causing unexpected visits to the doctor and overnight stays at the hospital.
Abby was born three months premature. She weighed only two pounds at birth. Immediately she was life-flighted to a regional children’s hospital. It was touch-and-go for the first days and weeks.
There were times during those first days when the doctors and medical staff tried to prepare Lori and Tom for the worst. Lori continued to pray for her daughter. People at church as well as community churches were also praying. Baby Abby would rally and find the strength to overcome obstacle after obstacle.
Four months later it seemed like a miracle when Abby finally went home. Lori said that the medical staff was truly amazed. The nurses were touched when they saw Lori praying in the hospital every day. Through the trials of this infant, people felt their faith rekindled. Lori and Tom continue to believe that their daughter is special -- that God has plans for her.
The death of King Saul gave David cause for reflection of his life and journey to that point. David had no hard feeling for Saul. He composed a poem for the people to learn and repeat so that the name of Saul and Jonathan would not be forgotten.
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
In February 2009, about the time Barry Bonds was going to court to face perjury charges, Alex Rodriquez admitted that he had used steroids in the past. Here were two of the best of the recent generation of baseball players admitting to (A-Rod) or accused of (Bonds) cheating in their drive to overtake the very best of the past. As Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated wrote, "It isn’t just that A-Rod and Bonds cheated the game and perverted its history. It’s also that they were blessed with every baseball skill -- and that still wasn’t enough" (Sports Illustrated, February 19, 2009). Their reputations and achievements have been forever tarnished. How the mighty have fallen.
I wonder if there are any modern-day Davids who will pen lines of grief similar to what King David wrote when Saul and Jonathan were killed.
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Many times we need to be reminded of reasons. We need to know why not to mix the common household cleaners ammonia and bleach. The fumes that result from that combination were used in WWI gas warfare. We need to know why, when a pastor is in a baptismal tank, he should not be handed a corded microphone. He could be electrocuted. Reasons need repeating because always some people forget them and terrible consequences can result.
Paul in 2 Corinthians is careful to repeat the reason for the Corinthians’ giving money to aid believers in Jerusalem. The reason he offers is the reason for our entire Christian life -- when giving our finances or when giving our time and abilities. We respond in gratitude to what God has first done for us through Jesus. When we give any other reason, the results can be deadly.
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Lily was never in the science fair, but she was a proud 4-H girl. Her projects were sewing projects: pajamas, dresses, pants, sweaters, even formal gowns for her high school prom. Lily wasn’t a perfectionist, so her garments were never perfect, but she worked hard to complete each project and absolutely beamed when she modeled them at the fair. Meanwhile, her friend Leslie also sewed. Leslie was a perfectionist, and her projects qualified for state fair every year. Leslie had a hard time understanding how Lily could take so much pride in her projects -- after all, Lily’s projects were obviously not professional quality. They were adequate, but nothing like Leslie’s. Lily’s eagerness and enthusiasm for her craft shone through when she went to judging, and any imperfections in the construction of her garment were counteracted by her excitement for the project. Lily didn’t have to be the best; she only had to do her best. And that was enough for her.
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
A beggar confronted a social worker and her welfare client as they walked together. The social worker ignored him, but the woman on welfare gave the man a dollar. Horrified, the social worker exclaimed, "You can’t afford that!" The woman replied, "You and others have been so generous in helping me. How can I refuse this man who has even less than I’ve got?" This woman responded because of how she had been treated.
Paul was raising money for the poor in the church at Jerusalem. He appealed to the Corinthians by reminding them of "the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor." Paul asked that they respond to the grace of God: Do unto others as God in Christ has done unto you.
Statistics prove that those in lower economic categories give more proportionally than those in upper brackets. The poor know how much the help of others means, while we, the affluent, delude ourselves into believing, "I did it on my own. So can you."
Mark 5:21-43
There’s a famous story of Frederick the Great of Prussia, a man of great scientific curiosity. Frederick once conducted an unusual scientific experiment into the development of human language. There was a theory of the time that the babbling of infants was, in some mysterious sense, related to the ancient language of Eden, but that children lost this oldest of all mother-tongues as they grew and learned the language of their parents.
Frederick devised an experiment to test this theory. He had his scientists take some newborn, orphaned babies, and isolate them from all physical contact with human beings. The babies would be kept in separate rooms, with no contact with each other. Not a word of language was to be spoken in their presence. Specially trained nurses would see to the babies’ physical needs -- feeding them and making sure they stayed warm -- but they were forbidden to pick them up and embrace them. Once the children grew old enough to speak, they would be brought into the presence of the other children in the experiment, to see if they could converse with one another.
The experiment was an utter failure. Not one of those poor children lived beyond infancy -- let alone to the age when language begins to develop in earnest. The one thing King Frederick learned from his cruel and ill-considered experiment was that the physical touch of another human being is essential to life. If babies are not picked up, and hugged, and caressed, they have but a slim chance of surviving to maturity.
The woman who reached out to touch Jesus was looking for a different kind of touch, a spiritual touch. The touch of Jesus is just as essential to our spiritual life.
Mark 5:21-43
Scott and Brenda were looking forward to their retirement for several years. One night at a church meeting Scott said that once he was retired he would have more time to devote to helping people and the church. He explained that he just did not have the time with his demanding job.
A friend told Brenda about a unique ministry experience involving taking pets to retirement centers and nursing homes. The idea is that animals are wonderful expressers of love. Residents in nursing homes frequently are lonely and having animals around lifts a person’s spirits.
One day Scott and Brenda took a lovable dog named Lucy to the nursing home. In the common room they met a woman named Isabel sitting in a wheelchair. When she tried to talk her words came out as gibberish. Scott placed Isabel’s hand on Lucy’s head. Isabel was unable to pet the dog, so Scott moved her hand for her. An amazing thing happened. Isabel began to gently pet Lucy. She smiled, for the first time in a long time. The nursing aids later told Brenda that they had never seen Isabel smile.
In the midst of a crowd a woman who suffered for many years touched Jesus’ garment. Immediately she was healed and filled with joy. As Jesus scanned the crowd looking for who touched him the woman came forward. That day she received more than physical healing, Jesus told her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."
Mark 5:21-43
In Victor Hugo’s classic, Les Misérables, woodcutter Jean Valjean finds himself in a desperate situation. He is responsible for his dead sister’s seven children, but he doesn’t have enough to feed them. So he steals a loaf of bread. He is eventually caught and imprisoned for nineteen years for his crime.
In our text, both Jairus and the woman are in desperate situations, one with a terrible lingering infirmity, the other with a deathly sick daughter. Both do desperate things. No, they don’t steal, but Jairus approaches a teacher, Jesus, whose reputation wasn’t the best among his people, and the woman sneaks up behind Jesus and uninvited touches his garment and takes some of Jesus’ power. Their desperate measures don’t land them in prison, however. Instead, Jesus lauds their actions as faith.
John Drinkwater’s play, Abraham Lincoln, contains a memorable scene. It may not be historically true, but it certainly rings true to Lincoln’s character.
In the midst of the Civil War, Lincoln is talking at a social event with a woman who is a strong partisan of the Union. He mentions to her that he has just received news of victory: The Southern army has lost 2,700 men, and the Union only 800.
"How splendid!" she replies with enthusiasm.
Lincoln is stunned: "How can you be so thrilled at the loss of 3,500 lives?"
"Oh, you must not think like that, Mr. President," she says. "There were only 800 that mattered."
Lincoln’s shoulders droop and his eyes moisten as he says slowly, "Madam, the world is larger than your heart."
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
The news that Tom and Lori were expecting another child came as a surprise to both of them. They already had five children ranging in age from five to nineteen. Immediately Lori viewed her pregnancy as a special blessing from God. Because she was older there were several complications causing unexpected visits to the doctor and overnight stays at the hospital.
Abby was born three months premature. She weighed only two pounds at birth. Immediately she was life-flighted to a regional children’s hospital. It was touch-and-go for the first days and weeks.
There were times during those first days when the doctors and medical staff tried to prepare Lori and Tom for the worst. Lori continued to pray for her daughter. People at church as well as community churches were also praying. Baby Abby would rally and find the strength to overcome obstacle after obstacle.
Four months later it seemed like a miracle when Abby finally went home. Lori said that the medical staff was truly amazed. The nurses were touched when they saw Lori praying in the hospital every day. Through the trials of this infant, people felt their faith rekindled. Lori and Tom continue to believe that their daughter is special -- that God has plans for her.
The death of King Saul gave David cause for reflection of his life and journey to that point. David had no hard feeling for Saul. He composed a poem for the people to learn and repeat so that the name of Saul and Jonathan would not be forgotten.
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
In February 2009, about the time Barry Bonds was going to court to face perjury charges, Alex Rodriquez admitted that he had used steroids in the past. Here were two of the best of the recent generation of baseball players admitting to (A-Rod) or accused of (Bonds) cheating in their drive to overtake the very best of the past. As Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated wrote, "It isn’t just that A-Rod and Bonds cheated the game and perverted its history. It’s also that they were blessed with every baseball skill -- and that still wasn’t enough" (Sports Illustrated, February 19, 2009). Their reputations and achievements have been forever tarnished. How the mighty have fallen.
I wonder if there are any modern-day Davids who will pen lines of grief similar to what King David wrote when Saul and Jonathan were killed.
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Many times we need to be reminded of reasons. We need to know why not to mix the common household cleaners ammonia and bleach. The fumes that result from that combination were used in WWI gas warfare. We need to know why, when a pastor is in a baptismal tank, he should not be handed a corded microphone. He could be electrocuted. Reasons need repeating because always some people forget them and terrible consequences can result.
Paul in 2 Corinthians is careful to repeat the reason for the Corinthians’ giving money to aid believers in Jerusalem. The reason he offers is the reason for our entire Christian life -- when giving our finances or when giving our time and abilities. We respond in gratitude to what God has first done for us through Jesus. When we give any other reason, the results can be deadly.
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Lily was never in the science fair, but she was a proud 4-H girl. Her projects were sewing projects: pajamas, dresses, pants, sweaters, even formal gowns for her high school prom. Lily wasn’t a perfectionist, so her garments were never perfect, but she worked hard to complete each project and absolutely beamed when she modeled them at the fair. Meanwhile, her friend Leslie also sewed. Leslie was a perfectionist, and her projects qualified for state fair every year. Leslie had a hard time understanding how Lily could take so much pride in her projects -- after all, Lily’s projects were obviously not professional quality. They were adequate, but nothing like Leslie’s. Lily’s eagerness and enthusiasm for her craft shone through when she went to judging, and any imperfections in the construction of her garment were counteracted by her excitement for the project. Lily didn’t have to be the best; she only had to do her best. And that was enough for her.
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
A beggar confronted a social worker and her welfare client as they walked together. The social worker ignored him, but the woman on welfare gave the man a dollar. Horrified, the social worker exclaimed, "You can’t afford that!" The woman replied, "You and others have been so generous in helping me. How can I refuse this man who has even less than I’ve got?" This woman responded because of how she had been treated.
Paul was raising money for the poor in the church at Jerusalem. He appealed to the Corinthians by reminding them of "the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor." Paul asked that they respond to the grace of God: Do unto others as God in Christ has done unto you.
Statistics prove that those in lower economic categories give more proportionally than those in upper brackets. The poor know how much the help of others means, while we, the affluent, delude ourselves into believing, "I did it on my own. So can you."
Mark 5:21-43
There’s a famous story of Frederick the Great of Prussia, a man of great scientific curiosity. Frederick once conducted an unusual scientific experiment into the development of human language. There was a theory of the time that the babbling of infants was, in some mysterious sense, related to the ancient language of Eden, but that children lost this oldest of all mother-tongues as they grew and learned the language of their parents.
Frederick devised an experiment to test this theory. He had his scientists take some newborn, orphaned babies, and isolate them from all physical contact with human beings. The babies would be kept in separate rooms, with no contact with each other. Not a word of language was to be spoken in their presence. Specially trained nurses would see to the babies’ physical needs -- feeding them and making sure they stayed warm -- but they were forbidden to pick them up and embrace them. Once the children grew old enough to speak, they would be brought into the presence of the other children in the experiment, to see if they could converse with one another.
The experiment was an utter failure. Not one of those poor children lived beyond infancy -- let alone to the age when language begins to develop in earnest. The one thing King Frederick learned from his cruel and ill-considered experiment was that the physical touch of another human being is essential to life. If babies are not picked up, and hugged, and caressed, they have but a slim chance of surviving to maturity.
The woman who reached out to touch Jesus was looking for a different kind of touch, a spiritual touch. The touch of Jesus is just as essential to our spiritual life.
Mark 5:21-43
Scott and Brenda were looking forward to their retirement for several years. One night at a church meeting Scott said that once he was retired he would have more time to devote to helping people and the church. He explained that he just did not have the time with his demanding job.
A friend told Brenda about a unique ministry experience involving taking pets to retirement centers and nursing homes. The idea is that animals are wonderful expressers of love. Residents in nursing homes frequently are lonely and having animals around lifts a person’s spirits.
One day Scott and Brenda took a lovable dog named Lucy to the nursing home. In the common room they met a woman named Isabel sitting in a wheelchair. When she tried to talk her words came out as gibberish. Scott placed Isabel’s hand on Lucy’s head. Isabel was unable to pet the dog, so Scott moved her hand for her. An amazing thing happened. Isabel began to gently pet Lucy. She smiled, for the first time in a long time. The nursing aids later told Brenda that they had never seen Isabel smile.
In the midst of a crowd a woman who suffered for many years touched Jesus’ garment. Immediately she was healed and filled with joy. As Jesus scanned the crowd looking for who touched him the woman came forward. That day she received more than physical healing, Jesus told her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."
Mark 5:21-43
In Victor Hugo’s classic, Les Misérables, woodcutter Jean Valjean finds himself in a desperate situation. He is responsible for his dead sister’s seven children, but he doesn’t have enough to feed them. So he steals a loaf of bread. He is eventually caught and imprisoned for nineteen years for his crime.
In our text, both Jairus and the woman are in desperate situations, one with a terrible lingering infirmity, the other with a deathly sick daughter. Both do desperate things. No, they don’t steal, but Jairus approaches a teacher, Jesus, whose reputation wasn’t the best among his people, and the woman sneaks up behind Jesus and uninvited touches his garment and takes some of Jesus’ power. Their desperate measures don’t land them in prison, however. Instead, Jesus lauds their actions as faith.
