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Lamentations 1:1-6
In the film Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood plays a man who has nothing left to live for. His wife has died; his children want to put him in a nursing home and forget about him; his neighborhood has become overrun by ethnic gangs. Eastwood's character is like a foreigner in his own home. His neighbors speak Korean or Spanish; the teenagers who walk the streets are as dangerous as the men he fought in the Korean War. Eastwood has to relearn how to live in a world where he seems to no longer be in control of his surroundings. Although he faces his fate with steely determination and characteristic old-man grumpiness, on the inside he feels as frustrated and lost as the speaker in Lamentations.
Leah T.
Lamentations 1:1-6
Anna Matilda McNeil Whistler was immortalized in her son's painting, popularly known as "Whistler's Mother." In this artistic rendition her pose is prim, her dress is black, and her ambiance is gray; yet, despite her plainness, the painting radiates filial devotion. A friend came to view the completed work and commented to the artist on the beauty of her face. James Whistler remained silent for several minutes, and then very softly replied, "Yes. One does like to make one's Mummy just as nice as possible."
Lamentations opens with the description of a divorce. But, this is a divorce like none other for the people of Judah have divorced themselves from God. And in so doing sadness and hardship has come upon the land. But God is devoted to his people as a husband is to a wife and a parent to a child. It is God's hope that through the prophet Jeremiah the bleakness of the picture before us will one day be repainted to look "just as nice as possible."
Ron L.
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Some of the latest surveillance and security technology for banks and other financial institutions is almost mind-boggling. Motion sensors, infrared cameras, laser detection grids, and we haven't even mentioned the old standby of the closed circuit camera! Then you get to the insulated steel vaults, in which are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of secure safe deposit boxes, each of which requires keys, codes, or even biometric data to open! The layers upon layers of security at banks is astonishing, all put in place to protect our hard-earned money.
In this passage, Paul is admonishing Timothy to guard the deposit given to him. But this is not a deposit that can be protected by lasers or biometrics. It is the Holy Spirit, who has entrusted Timothy with the task of leading the next generation of Christians. How should he guard that deposit? Through prayer, worship, and service.
Craig K.
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Linda knows first hand the value of having a supportive family. She remembers her grandmother telling her, "You come from strong stock, you can handle it," when she went through a difficult time in her life.
At a low point in her life Linda was unable to be with her family for a holiday. Her youngest cousins made a scrapbook for her filled with pictures of the entire family. There was a place where family members would write words of encouragement to her. "It was the most precious gift I have ever received," Linda says. She remembers her grandmother's faith in God. "She instilled in her family the importance of family," Linda reflects, "having strong convictions and a strong faith."
The apostle Paul was in prison, his crime was preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. In his letter he fondly recalled the faith of Timothy's mother and grandmother. "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you" Paul wrote. Paul was certain that the faith of young Timothy's grandmother and mother had been instilled in him. When Timothy faced low points in his life he would remember the faith of his mother and grandmother. His faith would carry him through the darkest moments. The same is true for us, we remember the faith of those who have gone before us, who experienced difficulties but remained strong in their faith.
Tim S.
Luke 17:5-10
Kirstin, a university student, worked backstage in the school's theatre as a costumer. During shows, she helped actors make quick changes from one costume into another. Each night, actors thanked her profusely for her help. "But I didn't do anything," Kirstin insisted. "I'm just doing my job." To Kirstin, helping an actor straighten his bow tie or helping an actress zip up her dress was just a part of the job. She was not doing the work in order to be praised; she was doing the job that she had signed up for. She was uncomfortable getting praise for just doing what she was supposed to do.
Leah T.
Luke 17:5-10
Running home from school the lad fell and skinned his knee. The thirteen-year-old ignored the cut, till days later when his leg was infected and swollen. Dr. Conklin, summoned to the home, examined the leg, and advised amputation. The adolescent refused. Ordering his brother Ed to guard the bedroom door, the boy intended to wait out the infection. Barred from the room for several days, Dr. Conklin resigned from the case. Alone and frightened, the parents worried. They knew of only one thing they could do for the ailing child.
The parents went to their son's room, kneeling bedside, they prayed for healing. Then the family began a prayer vigil. Someone was always beside the bed praying: Mom, Dad, or one of the four brothers. Believing, knowing there would be a healing, the seven endured by faith.
On the third day of the prayer vigil Dr. Conklin returned. Upon examining the patient the doctor bowed his head, and offered a prayer of thanksgiving, for the youth was recovering. By nightfall the boy could stand, and Dwight David Eisenhower walked out of that room to become the 34th President of the United States.
Jesus said that faith the size of a grain of mustard seed can uproot and replant a tree or move a mountain. It can also bring healing and hope to those who are in need of a special blessing.
Ron L.
In the film Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood plays a man who has nothing left to live for. His wife has died; his children want to put him in a nursing home and forget about him; his neighborhood has become overrun by ethnic gangs. Eastwood's character is like a foreigner in his own home. His neighbors speak Korean or Spanish; the teenagers who walk the streets are as dangerous as the men he fought in the Korean War. Eastwood has to relearn how to live in a world where he seems to no longer be in control of his surroundings. Although he faces his fate with steely determination and characteristic old-man grumpiness, on the inside he feels as frustrated and lost as the speaker in Lamentations.
Leah T.
Lamentations 1:1-6
Anna Matilda McNeil Whistler was immortalized in her son's painting, popularly known as "Whistler's Mother." In this artistic rendition her pose is prim, her dress is black, and her ambiance is gray; yet, despite her plainness, the painting radiates filial devotion. A friend came to view the completed work and commented to the artist on the beauty of her face. James Whistler remained silent for several minutes, and then very softly replied, "Yes. One does like to make one's Mummy just as nice as possible."
Lamentations opens with the description of a divorce. But, this is a divorce like none other for the people of Judah have divorced themselves from God. And in so doing sadness and hardship has come upon the land. But God is devoted to his people as a husband is to a wife and a parent to a child. It is God's hope that through the prophet Jeremiah the bleakness of the picture before us will one day be repainted to look "just as nice as possible."
Ron L.
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Some of the latest surveillance and security technology for banks and other financial institutions is almost mind-boggling. Motion sensors, infrared cameras, laser detection grids, and we haven't even mentioned the old standby of the closed circuit camera! Then you get to the insulated steel vaults, in which are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of secure safe deposit boxes, each of which requires keys, codes, or even biometric data to open! The layers upon layers of security at banks is astonishing, all put in place to protect our hard-earned money.
In this passage, Paul is admonishing Timothy to guard the deposit given to him. But this is not a deposit that can be protected by lasers or biometrics. It is the Holy Spirit, who has entrusted Timothy with the task of leading the next generation of Christians. How should he guard that deposit? Through prayer, worship, and service.
Craig K.
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Linda knows first hand the value of having a supportive family. She remembers her grandmother telling her, "You come from strong stock, you can handle it," when she went through a difficult time in her life.
At a low point in her life Linda was unable to be with her family for a holiday. Her youngest cousins made a scrapbook for her filled with pictures of the entire family. There was a place where family members would write words of encouragement to her. "It was the most precious gift I have ever received," Linda says. She remembers her grandmother's faith in God. "She instilled in her family the importance of family," Linda reflects, "having strong convictions and a strong faith."
The apostle Paul was in prison, his crime was preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. In his letter he fondly recalled the faith of Timothy's mother and grandmother. "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you" Paul wrote. Paul was certain that the faith of young Timothy's grandmother and mother had been instilled in him. When Timothy faced low points in his life he would remember the faith of his mother and grandmother. His faith would carry him through the darkest moments. The same is true for us, we remember the faith of those who have gone before us, who experienced difficulties but remained strong in their faith.
Tim S.
Luke 17:5-10
Kirstin, a university student, worked backstage in the school's theatre as a costumer. During shows, she helped actors make quick changes from one costume into another. Each night, actors thanked her profusely for her help. "But I didn't do anything," Kirstin insisted. "I'm just doing my job." To Kirstin, helping an actor straighten his bow tie or helping an actress zip up her dress was just a part of the job. She was not doing the work in order to be praised; she was doing the job that she had signed up for. She was uncomfortable getting praise for just doing what she was supposed to do.
Leah T.
Luke 17:5-10
Running home from school the lad fell and skinned his knee. The thirteen-year-old ignored the cut, till days later when his leg was infected and swollen. Dr. Conklin, summoned to the home, examined the leg, and advised amputation. The adolescent refused. Ordering his brother Ed to guard the bedroom door, the boy intended to wait out the infection. Barred from the room for several days, Dr. Conklin resigned from the case. Alone and frightened, the parents worried. They knew of only one thing they could do for the ailing child.
The parents went to their son's room, kneeling bedside, they prayed for healing. Then the family began a prayer vigil. Someone was always beside the bed praying: Mom, Dad, or one of the four brothers. Believing, knowing there would be a healing, the seven endured by faith.
On the third day of the prayer vigil Dr. Conklin returned. Upon examining the patient the doctor bowed his head, and offered a prayer of thanksgiving, for the youth was recovering. By nightfall the boy could stand, and Dwight David Eisenhower walked out of that room to become the 34th President of the United States.
Jesus said that faith the size of a grain of mustard seed can uproot and replant a tree or move a mountain. It can also bring healing and hope to those who are in need of a special blessing.
Ron L.
