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Illustration
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Illustrations
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
The musical Side Show is about Violet and Daisy, Siamese twins from a freak show. In the course of the musical, they are lured away from the circus with promises of fame on vaudeville. By the end of the show, however, the twins have become disillusioned with a life of fame, and their dreams of love and happiness seem to be lost. Just when Violet is ready to give up, Daisy reminds her of something the two have forgotten in the middle of their adventures. "I will never leave you," she sings to her sister. "I will never go away." Despite the irony in the words -- after all, they are Siamese twins! -- the song is touching. It is a song of friendship more than just a song of fact. Daisy and Violet share a body, but they also share a love and devotion to each other that would keep them together even if their bodies could be separated.
Leah T.
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
I was in my sophomore year of high school in Kansas City when Lamar Hunt, owner of the Dallas franchise brought his team to my hometown! What a thrill! As an infant league there was no respect ... even if it were a professional football league. People laughed at this upstart group of owners including Hunt. Hunt, however, united a city and a team by welding them with three distinct personalities to form the mighty Kansas City Chiefs. He employed the brilliant football tactician, Hank Stram to coach the team. Jack Steadman possessed a talent in business management. The third of the trinitarian element was a man who was a backup quarterback that every NFL team had wavered -- Lenny Dawson. These men sparked the Chiefs into a successful franchise that fanned the flame of football during my teen years and beyond in Kansas City. They brought unity to a football franchise, a city, and a team.
The truth is we play on various life teams ... job, family, church, community, and school to name a few. What is needed for and from us is a spirit of unity. We do that through encouragement, love, human effort, and cooperation.
Derl K.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
When a massive earthquake hit the impoverished nation of Haiti some time back, the response to the crisis was on a global scale. Relief poured in from governments, corporations, and individuals, reaching out to a country that would have no way of giving back.
While that is a big example, many people give of themselves to others on a daily basis. Because of the freedom we have in Christ, Paul says we can use that freedom to "serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' " (vv. 13-14).
Craig K.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Tensions were running high among members of the family. Feelings were hurt, angry words were spoken. Several took offense at an insensitive remark made by another. Julie resolved to remain calm no matter what was said. She took deep breaths, counted to ten, and physically separated the feuding siblings. Nothing seemed to work, the situation became worst.
Julie told her family to remain silent for a period of time, to think about the consequences of their words to each other. This seemed to work for a couple of minutes before one of the siblings began whining about another. The momentary peace was shattered. Even with her best intentions at that moment Julie snapped, "You need to pray to the Holy Spirit," she said, "for help with your tongue today!" The sibling was taken aback by his sister's words, even Julie was surprised at what she said. What she said was on target, but she sounded angry. She paused to pray for God's presence in this difficult situation.
That day was a turning point in the life of that family. Julie says, "I wish I could report that at that moment the sea of contention parted and we all walked through in peace. Unfortunately that was not the case." Bathed in prayer and the presence of God this family began to treat each other like a family again.
The apostle Paul wrote, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." While it is not always easy, we need to practice the "fruits of the Spirit" in all our dealings with family, friends and all people.
Tim S.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
George Burns and Gracie Allen moved to a new residence in Hollywood. Shortly after settling into their home, Gracie searched and selected a church to attend. The church she found was on the other side of the city. Each Sunday her driver would take her for a half-hour drive across town. George inquired why Gracie traveled so far when there were other congregations much closer to home. She explained, "When I give my confession, I don't want the priest to know who I am."
Gracie may have been very intent on hiding her identity from the priest, but she was equally intent in letting God know her spirit. Paul writes that "the acts of the sinful nature are obvious," but equally obvious is the "fruit of the Spirit" that each of us displays. We straddle both lists in our humanness. We desire to live spiritually, but in our humanness we will transgress. That is why we need confession, both public and private. That is why we need to keep both of Paul's lists before us. The former is a list of behaviors we struggle to avoid and the latter is a list of attributes that we are challenged to follow.
Ron L.
Luke 9:51-62
Charlotte and Nancy's friend Tess was a fashion disaster. Although intelligent and hardworking, Tess' clothing did not reflect her professional goals. As Tess' friends, Charlotte and Nancy wanted her to put her best foot forward when seeking a job or representing herself to others, so they took on Tess' wardrobe. It was a tactical challenge for the friends: Charlotte and Nancy had to learn to choose their battles. Tess could be talked into changing some of her habits, but Charlotte and Nancy knew that she would insist on keeping some of her habits, too. That was fine with Nancy and Charlotte. They were not out to take away Tess' individual identity -- just to help her live up to her potential in job interviews and special events. Charlotte and Nancy had to strategically select what they had the power to change and let go the things that they could not change at the time.
Leah T.
Luke 9:51-62
A cartoon on the editorial page of a newspaper showed a picture of Jesus eating the last supper with his disciples. It was a reproduction of the famous Leonardo de Vinci painting. A messenger comes up behind Jesus and tells him, "There's a fellow outside named Reagan who wants you to say something on behalf of nuclear weapons." This is almost a replica of the Luke story, and the answer indicates why Jesus was not so popular. When the disciples realized that the Samaritan village refused to allow them to pass through, they got angry and wanted Jesus to "call down fire from heaven and destroy." They, in effect, wanted Jesus to show them who is the strongest, who is boss around here. Jesus, however, "turned and rebuked them (9:55)." And he would have done the same to the messenger in the cartoon. --Kirby
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
The musical Side Show is about Violet and Daisy, Siamese twins from a freak show. In the course of the musical, they are lured away from the circus with promises of fame on vaudeville. By the end of the show, however, the twins have become disillusioned with a life of fame, and their dreams of love and happiness seem to be lost. Just when Violet is ready to give up, Daisy reminds her of something the two have forgotten in the middle of their adventures. "I will never leave you," she sings to her sister. "I will never go away." Despite the irony in the words -- after all, they are Siamese twins! -- the song is touching. It is a song of friendship more than just a song of fact. Daisy and Violet share a body, but they also share a love and devotion to each other that would keep them together even if their bodies could be separated.
Leah T.
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
I was in my sophomore year of high school in Kansas City when Lamar Hunt, owner of the Dallas franchise brought his team to my hometown! What a thrill! As an infant league there was no respect ... even if it were a professional football league. People laughed at this upstart group of owners including Hunt. Hunt, however, united a city and a team by welding them with three distinct personalities to form the mighty Kansas City Chiefs. He employed the brilliant football tactician, Hank Stram to coach the team. Jack Steadman possessed a talent in business management. The third of the trinitarian element was a man who was a backup quarterback that every NFL team had wavered -- Lenny Dawson. These men sparked the Chiefs into a successful franchise that fanned the flame of football during my teen years and beyond in Kansas City. They brought unity to a football franchise, a city, and a team.
The truth is we play on various life teams ... job, family, church, community, and school to name a few. What is needed for and from us is a spirit of unity. We do that through encouragement, love, human effort, and cooperation.
Derl K.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
When a massive earthquake hit the impoverished nation of Haiti some time back, the response to the crisis was on a global scale. Relief poured in from governments, corporations, and individuals, reaching out to a country that would have no way of giving back.
While that is a big example, many people give of themselves to others on a daily basis. Because of the freedom we have in Christ, Paul says we can use that freedom to "serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' " (vv. 13-14).
Craig K.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Tensions were running high among members of the family. Feelings were hurt, angry words were spoken. Several took offense at an insensitive remark made by another. Julie resolved to remain calm no matter what was said. She took deep breaths, counted to ten, and physically separated the feuding siblings. Nothing seemed to work, the situation became worst.
Julie told her family to remain silent for a period of time, to think about the consequences of their words to each other. This seemed to work for a couple of minutes before one of the siblings began whining about another. The momentary peace was shattered. Even with her best intentions at that moment Julie snapped, "You need to pray to the Holy Spirit," she said, "for help with your tongue today!" The sibling was taken aback by his sister's words, even Julie was surprised at what she said. What she said was on target, but she sounded angry. She paused to pray for God's presence in this difficult situation.
That day was a turning point in the life of that family. Julie says, "I wish I could report that at that moment the sea of contention parted and we all walked through in peace. Unfortunately that was not the case." Bathed in prayer and the presence of God this family began to treat each other like a family again.
The apostle Paul wrote, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." While it is not always easy, we need to practice the "fruits of the Spirit" in all our dealings with family, friends and all people.
Tim S.
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
George Burns and Gracie Allen moved to a new residence in Hollywood. Shortly after settling into their home, Gracie searched and selected a church to attend. The church she found was on the other side of the city. Each Sunday her driver would take her for a half-hour drive across town. George inquired why Gracie traveled so far when there were other congregations much closer to home. She explained, "When I give my confession, I don't want the priest to know who I am."
Gracie may have been very intent on hiding her identity from the priest, but she was equally intent in letting God know her spirit. Paul writes that "the acts of the sinful nature are obvious," but equally obvious is the "fruit of the Spirit" that each of us displays. We straddle both lists in our humanness. We desire to live spiritually, but in our humanness we will transgress. That is why we need confession, both public and private. That is why we need to keep both of Paul's lists before us. The former is a list of behaviors we struggle to avoid and the latter is a list of attributes that we are challenged to follow.
Ron L.
Luke 9:51-62
Charlotte and Nancy's friend Tess was a fashion disaster. Although intelligent and hardworking, Tess' clothing did not reflect her professional goals. As Tess' friends, Charlotte and Nancy wanted her to put her best foot forward when seeking a job or representing herself to others, so they took on Tess' wardrobe. It was a tactical challenge for the friends: Charlotte and Nancy had to learn to choose their battles. Tess could be talked into changing some of her habits, but Charlotte and Nancy knew that she would insist on keeping some of her habits, too. That was fine with Nancy and Charlotte. They were not out to take away Tess' individual identity -- just to help her live up to her potential in job interviews and special events. Charlotte and Nancy had to strategically select what they had the power to change and let go the things that they could not change at the time.
Leah T.
Luke 9:51-62
A cartoon on the editorial page of a newspaper showed a picture of Jesus eating the last supper with his disciples. It was a reproduction of the famous Leonardo de Vinci painting. A messenger comes up behind Jesus and tells him, "There's a fellow outside named Reagan who wants you to say something on behalf of nuclear weapons." This is almost a replica of the Luke story, and the answer indicates why Jesus was not so popular. When the disciples realized that the Samaritan village refused to allow them to pass through, they got angry and wanted Jesus to "call down fire from heaven and destroy." They, in effect, wanted Jesus to show them who is the strongest, who is boss around here. Jesus, however, "turned and rebuked them (9:55)." And he would have done the same to the messenger in the cartoon. --Kirby
