L)There is...
Illustration
(L)
There is a poignant illustration in one of the theological books I possess. I wouldn't begin to know where to find it anymore, but it has to do with the message of Amos and the close connection between our faith as Christians, as God's people, and how we treat people in a practical way.
There was a ship captain in the days of old. He was very religious and insisted that a religious service be part of his ship's activity for the crew. One day at noon they broke from their posts to hold the daily service. It was extremely hot. The slaves below, rowing the ship, were groaning and moaning in their chains from the oppressing conditions -- especially the day's intense heat. When a few shouts down below didn't seem to quiet them, the crew interrupted their religious service, sent several of the worshipers down below, beat the slaves into silence, and then returned to the deck. Once that was taken care of, they resumed their religious worship with renewed devotion -- and without the bothersome noise from below.
-- Schroeder
(L)
Amos reports, "It is an evil time." For individuals, evil times can come at any time. When they occur, then the admonition of Amos ought be obeyed by the rest of us being spared: "Love good, and establish justice in the gate."
The girl who wrote the following poem found herself in a juvenile detention home in a city of Virginia. Her "evil time" had come, and she put her hurt on paper. Though her name has been lost through the years, her pain is as fresh as an open wound, begging us to notice others like her in need of justice and love:
"When there is no place to go,
How do you get there?
When there's nothing to say,
Who do you talk to?
When you've nothing to do,
When do you find the time?
When there's nothing left,
With whom do you share?
When you don't know where it hurts,
How do you find the cure?"
Author unknown
The child was thirteen years old when she asked for help through these lonely words of despair.
-- Bansemer
There is a poignant illustration in one of the theological books I possess. I wouldn't begin to know where to find it anymore, but it has to do with the message of Amos and the close connection between our faith as Christians, as God's people, and how we treat people in a practical way.
There was a ship captain in the days of old. He was very religious and insisted that a religious service be part of his ship's activity for the crew. One day at noon they broke from their posts to hold the daily service. It was extremely hot. The slaves below, rowing the ship, were groaning and moaning in their chains from the oppressing conditions -- especially the day's intense heat. When a few shouts down below didn't seem to quiet them, the crew interrupted their religious service, sent several of the worshipers down below, beat the slaves into silence, and then returned to the deck. Once that was taken care of, they resumed their religious worship with renewed devotion -- and without the bothersome noise from below.
-- Schroeder
(L)
Amos reports, "It is an evil time." For individuals, evil times can come at any time. When they occur, then the admonition of Amos ought be obeyed by the rest of us being spared: "Love good, and establish justice in the gate."
The girl who wrote the following poem found herself in a juvenile detention home in a city of Virginia. Her "evil time" had come, and she put her hurt on paper. Though her name has been lost through the years, her pain is as fresh as an open wound, begging us to notice others like her in need of justice and love:
"When there is no place to go,
How do you get there?
When there's nothing to say,
Who do you talk to?
When you've nothing to do,
When do you find the time?
When there's nothing left,
With whom do you share?
When you don't know where it hurts,
How do you find the cure?"
Author unknown
The child was thirteen years old when she asked for help through these lonely words of despair.
-- Bansemer
