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Genesis 45:1-15
Sophia Gimenez, of Denver, has been keeping a continuous blog on her journey to be admitted to college. She has been keeping the blog on request by The Washington Post. She has been tracking the trials and tribulations of several high school students and their quest to be admitted to the college of their choice. Gimenez related how while sitting at the dinner table her mother opened an envelope from Scripps College in Claremont, California, only to read aloud that Sophia had been rejected. This was particularly disturbing because Scripps was her mother's alma mater. Sophia wondered if her mother would think less of her because she did not measure up to her mother's academic standards. Then Sophia realized that "there was no need to stress out by comparing myself with my mother. My mom and I have different academic interests, we participated in different extracurricular activities, and we learned in different times and places."
Joseph was sold into slavery by his older siblings. When they were reunited he could have been bitter, comparing his seeming inadequacies to their accomplishments that highlighted their greedy actions. Instead, in Egypt Joseph was able to develop into his own person with his own special talents and gifts. Each of us must realize that we are unique and each of us has a special calling. Comparisons are not to be made as we focus on the singular journey that God has placed before each one of us.
Ron L.
Genesis 45:1-15
Could you hide something from your siblings? I don't mean hiding the last Reese's cup or neglecting to mention that you borrowed your sister's top to go out. I mean serious things. What if you were required to keep a secret -- a big secret -- from your siblings? Whether you like your siblings or not, there is still something that binds you together. You have a common understanding about the world, a common background. That common understanding is something that, no matter what, will always link you as siblings.
Leah T.
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Lewis Smedes tells of his early days as a seminary professor when he ran into trouble with the more conservative professors at the seminary. The issue was how Christian believers should relate to the world of unbelievers. The conservative professors were certain that there was a chasm that separated the believers from the unbelievers. They were "Christians of the wall, dedicated to sealing the borders to keep the strangers from coming over."
Smedes took a different position and explained: "I was, from the start, a Christian of the bridge. I like bridges that I could cross over to drink from unbeliever's goblets, to feast on their wisdom, and to admire their good works. I also like bridges that I could cross over and, with God's blessing, be a blessing to the people on the other side."
Paul was a bridge-builder between Jews and Christians and spent a large part of his ministry seeking reconciliation between these two groups.
Richard H.
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
My wife is currently in nursing school, and she is getting ready to finish a class in Lifespan Psychology. One time, she read me some of her notes concerning different forms of parenting, including authoritarian, permissive, authoritative (the best and most common form), and uninvolved parenting. This last one is the worst, in which parents have no interest in supporting or even disciplining their children. Kids are often left to fend for themselves and often turn emotionally detached, physically and perhaps cognitively underdeveloped, and even at times hostile. In its most extreme form this turns into neglect, a form of child abuse.
Looking at God as the Father of the children of Israel, one could almost argue that God was an uninvolved parent. Their society divided and eventually collapsed, leading to exile, servitude, and life as second-class citizens. In Romans, Paul even elaborates on how God was turning to the Gentiles to bring them into full relationship with him. So then Paul asks the big question: "I ask, then, has God rejected his people [the Jews]?" His answer? "By no means!" (v. 1). For God has allowed his people to experience certain things, both Jew and Gentile alike, so that "he may have mercy on all" (v. 32).
Craig K.
Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28
Sometimes we are in situations where we cannot do the things that we want to do. Sometimes the reasons are political: we can't afford to make certain moves without good reason. So although we might want to, say, befriend someone unusual, we need justification. It's not enough to just decide to be kind. We have to have an excuse: "We're working on a project together." "His daughter goes to school with my kids." We have to balance the consequences of unprovoked kindness -- sometimes it results in more evil than good. All it takes is a little bit of tactful wrangling to make such kindness seem provoked.
Leah T.
Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28
Dennis McClung, of Mesa, Arizona, believes that the world is going to end on December 12, 2012 -- 12/12/12. He has turned his home into a doomsday shelter so he can survive the impending calamity. Ushering followers, he has created an internet business, 2012Supplies.com, selling doomsday supplies to others. McClung is not mindful of the scriptures and Jesus' teaching that we know not the day or the hour that the world will end with the return of Christ on the clouds of heaven. The others who frequent 2012Supplies.com are equally unaware of the truth of the gospels but are willing to follow the misguided advice of McClung.
Jesus warns us against following "blind guides." And when we do we "lack understanding." Guard yourselves against the hype of sensationalists who are blind guides. Instead, be informed by the teachings of Jesus.
Ron L.
Sophia Gimenez, of Denver, has been keeping a continuous blog on her journey to be admitted to college. She has been keeping the blog on request by The Washington Post. She has been tracking the trials and tribulations of several high school students and their quest to be admitted to the college of their choice. Gimenez related how while sitting at the dinner table her mother opened an envelope from Scripps College in Claremont, California, only to read aloud that Sophia had been rejected. This was particularly disturbing because Scripps was her mother's alma mater. Sophia wondered if her mother would think less of her because she did not measure up to her mother's academic standards. Then Sophia realized that "there was no need to stress out by comparing myself with my mother. My mom and I have different academic interests, we participated in different extracurricular activities, and we learned in different times and places."
Joseph was sold into slavery by his older siblings. When they were reunited he could have been bitter, comparing his seeming inadequacies to their accomplishments that highlighted their greedy actions. Instead, in Egypt Joseph was able to develop into his own person with his own special talents and gifts. Each of us must realize that we are unique and each of us has a special calling. Comparisons are not to be made as we focus on the singular journey that God has placed before each one of us.
Ron L.
Genesis 45:1-15
Could you hide something from your siblings? I don't mean hiding the last Reese's cup or neglecting to mention that you borrowed your sister's top to go out. I mean serious things. What if you were required to keep a secret -- a big secret -- from your siblings? Whether you like your siblings or not, there is still something that binds you together. You have a common understanding about the world, a common background. That common understanding is something that, no matter what, will always link you as siblings.
Leah T.
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Lewis Smedes tells of his early days as a seminary professor when he ran into trouble with the more conservative professors at the seminary. The issue was how Christian believers should relate to the world of unbelievers. The conservative professors were certain that there was a chasm that separated the believers from the unbelievers. They were "Christians of the wall, dedicated to sealing the borders to keep the strangers from coming over."
Smedes took a different position and explained: "I was, from the start, a Christian of the bridge. I like bridges that I could cross over to drink from unbeliever's goblets, to feast on their wisdom, and to admire their good works. I also like bridges that I could cross over and, with God's blessing, be a blessing to the people on the other side."
Paul was a bridge-builder between Jews and Christians and spent a large part of his ministry seeking reconciliation between these two groups.
Richard H.
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
My wife is currently in nursing school, and she is getting ready to finish a class in Lifespan Psychology. One time, she read me some of her notes concerning different forms of parenting, including authoritarian, permissive, authoritative (the best and most common form), and uninvolved parenting. This last one is the worst, in which parents have no interest in supporting or even disciplining their children. Kids are often left to fend for themselves and often turn emotionally detached, physically and perhaps cognitively underdeveloped, and even at times hostile. In its most extreme form this turns into neglect, a form of child abuse.
Looking at God as the Father of the children of Israel, one could almost argue that God was an uninvolved parent. Their society divided and eventually collapsed, leading to exile, servitude, and life as second-class citizens. In Romans, Paul even elaborates on how God was turning to the Gentiles to bring them into full relationship with him. So then Paul asks the big question: "I ask, then, has God rejected his people [the Jews]?" His answer? "By no means!" (v. 1). For God has allowed his people to experience certain things, both Jew and Gentile alike, so that "he may have mercy on all" (v. 32).
Craig K.
Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28
Sometimes we are in situations where we cannot do the things that we want to do. Sometimes the reasons are political: we can't afford to make certain moves without good reason. So although we might want to, say, befriend someone unusual, we need justification. It's not enough to just decide to be kind. We have to have an excuse: "We're working on a project together." "His daughter goes to school with my kids." We have to balance the consequences of unprovoked kindness -- sometimes it results in more evil than good. All it takes is a little bit of tactful wrangling to make such kindness seem provoked.
Leah T.
Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28
Dennis McClung, of Mesa, Arizona, believes that the world is going to end on December 12, 2012 -- 12/12/12. He has turned his home into a doomsday shelter so he can survive the impending calamity. Ushering followers, he has created an internet business, 2012Supplies.com, selling doomsday supplies to others. McClung is not mindful of the scriptures and Jesus' teaching that we know not the day or the hour that the world will end with the return of Christ on the clouds of heaven. The others who frequent 2012Supplies.com are equally unaware of the truth of the gospels but are willing to follow the misguided advice of McClung.
Jesus warns us against following "blind guides." And when we do we "lack understanding." Guard yourselves against the hype of sensationalists who are blind guides. Instead, be informed by the teachings of Jesus.
Ron L.
