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Object:
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
The United States and Canada both have a rich history of immigration. Millions of people from all walks of life from all across the globe have come to these lands looking for a better life for themselves and their families. I, too, am one of those people who left the country of their birth to settle here in the United States. With a few noted exceptions, a great deal of immigrants have worked to make their new homes better not only for themselves, but for everyone.
The Israelites also found themselves in a new land in this passage, although for them, this wasn't by choice. They were ripped away from their homeland and forced into exile. And yet, while the natural reaction would be to hold this new land in which they found themselves in contempt, Jeremiah suggests they look at this land from an immigrant's perspective: "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare" (v. 7).
Craig K.
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
Jordon honestly admits that he has always been skeptical about matters of faith. He says that when he went to church, he heard the same message but it never really sunk in. "It was like everyone around me was a part of a play that I never got a part in," he says describing his experience.
Everything changed the summer he went on a mission trip to Costa Rica to help rebuild a broken community. The first day the group's spirits were running high -- after a couple of hours of work they were ready to lay cement. By noon their work came to a sudden halt with what Jordon describes as a "torrential downpour," unlike one he ever experienced. They were concerned that they would not be able to complete their project.
"I have never prayed so hard in my life," Jordon says. It was at that moment that he placed his "complete faith in God." They were able to finish their project with perfect weather the rest of the week. "Ever since that trip," Jordan claims God "has given me a reason for living and my life has never been the same after I chose to completely rely on God."
The prophet Jeremiah sent a letter to the people living in a strange land living as exiles. It might have seemed odd to the people that Jeremiah would instruct them to build homes, plant gardens, and get married. He wanted to convey a sense of hope that life would return to normal even in exile.
Tim S.
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Jimmy Buffett was born in Mississippi, but raised in Alabama. Living his youth along the coastal waterway permeated his very being. The sea and the shore gave him his identity and calling in life. He wanted to share a life lived in the salt air with everyone. Thus, Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band became known for their laid-back tunes like "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise." His lifestyle, his singing, the lyrics of his songs has made Buffett a household name. That familiarity and easy-going manner has made him a source of comfort, even if it is no more than listening to a CD on the car stereo.
After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Buffett understood the frustration and anger of the Gulf residents and business owners. He also realized their sense of helplessness and hopelessness as wave after wave brings more oil upon the white pristine sands of Alabama. Accepting that this would be the way of life for a time to come, Buffett asked himself, "Now, what you do with that is a big question."
In the midst of this unfortunate man-made tragedy, Buffett realized he did have a real and significant role to play. He knew he was an entertainer. He realized that he had countless fans who found his music relaxing, a reprieve from the daily grind of life. So he decided that he and his band would perform a series of free concerts on the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama. Buffett's expectation was simple, "What I'm best at is two hours of escapism for people." With a beach concert open to the public, for a short time anyway, he could create, in his own words, a "Mardi Gras mentality."
We find comfort in the familiar. It is by hearing often-repeated tunes, phrases, and quotes that we understand an author's message and put a framework around new material. The apostle Paul understood this as he employed the familiar in many of his writings, two of which are showcased in our lectionary reading for this Sunday. It is important to focus on Paul's message that "God's word is not chained." We are to be challenged that "a workman who does not need to be ashamed who correctly handles the word of truth."
For Paul, these challenges were encased in the familiar that facilitated a listener's understanding. He opened by quoting a creed, "Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David." And closed with a hymn sung in worship, "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him…."
In our desire to share the gospel message, let us be sure to use language that people find comforting, familiar, and are able to easily relate to.
Ron L.
2 Timothy 2:8-15
In Ray Bradbury's science fiction classic Fahrenheit 451, firefighters are not as we know them today. In the book, firefighters don't put out fires; instead, they start them. In the world Bradbury has created, reading books is forbidden. The novel follows Montag, a firefighter, as he comes to the realization that books are more than kindling; they are the lifeblood and the collective memory of civilization. In one scene in the book, Montag is present when the firemen are called to burn the book collection of an old woman. The woman refuses to leave as the firemen douse her home in kerosene. Montag can't understand why the woman wants to sacrifice herself with her books. Although she is chained by the corrupt society in which she lives, she refuses to disown her belief. Her statement will not be fettered -- and in the end, her death is a major factor in Montag's realization of the truth.
Leah T.
Luke 17:11-19
Christmas is only a couple of months away now, and once again, parents will be receiving Christmas wish lists from their kids, some of them with potentially astronomically expensive gifts included. And each year parents scrimp and save to fulfill their children's wishes. While this is certainly not true of all children, how many kids, come Christmas morning, simply tear open their presents, respond with a nonchalant, "Cool," and run off without so much as a "Thank you"?
Before the parents reading this start shouting their "Amens" at the page, look at the nine lepers who take Jesus' healing and run off without even thanking him, and think about how we can do the same thing so many times. How many times do we experience the grace and provision of God and not even think to thank him?
Craig K.
Luke 17:11-19
It was a chance encounter that Joanne would later recognize as a God moment. She was home visiting with old friends when she learned of the illness of one of her mother's friends. She remembered how this woman had been such a good friend to her mother. Joanne would visit this woman at the hospice center.
As she entered, the person at the desk greeted her warmly, asking if she could help. Joanne said she was looking for an old family friend. She was given directions to the room. As she turned to leave she recognized the name on the desk. She paused and asked the woman if she had been a teacher. The woman acknowledged that she taught sixth grade for over thirty years. Joanne told her that she had been her teacher. She remembered how her teacher took a special interest in her and encouraged her to do her best. It was not until that moment that Joanne realized what a positive impact her sixth grade teacher made on her. She asked her former teacher for her address and promised to write.
A couple of weeks later Joanne wrote thanking her teacher for all that she did for her, how she encouraged her and instilled in her a love of reading, which she still has years later. Mrs. Jones wrote back telling Joanne she was touched by her letter. She thought about the hundreds of students she had over the years and wondered if she had any impact on them at all. Joanne assured her that she did.
Jesus was traveling through the region when he encountered ten individuals suffering from skin disease. They called out seeking Jesus' help. He stopped as he always did for human need. It was while they were on their way that they were healed. This was cause for great rejoicing, they were now free to resume their normal lives. However, only one of the ten came back to personally thank Jesus. He recognized the holiness of the moment, Luke reports that, "He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him."
Tim S.
The United States and Canada both have a rich history of immigration. Millions of people from all walks of life from all across the globe have come to these lands looking for a better life for themselves and their families. I, too, am one of those people who left the country of their birth to settle here in the United States. With a few noted exceptions, a great deal of immigrants have worked to make their new homes better not only for themselves, but for everyone.
The Israelites also found themselves in a new land in this passage, although for them, this wasn't by choice. They were ripped away from their homeland and forced into exile. And yet, while the natural reaction would be to hold this new land in which they found themselves in contempt, Jeremiah suggests they look at this land from an immigrant's perspective: "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare" (v. 7).
Craig K.
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
Jordon honestly admits that he has always been skeptical about matters of faith. He says that when he went to church, he heard the same message but it never really sunk in. "It was like everyone around me was a part of a play that I never got a part in," he says describing his experience.
Everything changed the summer he went on a mission trip to Costa Rica to help rebuild a broken community. The first day the group's spirits were running high -- after a couple of hours of work they were ready to lay cement. By noon their work came to a sudden halt with what Jordon describes as a "torrential downpour," unlike one he ever experienced. They were concerned that they would not be able to complete their project.
"I have never prayed so hard in my life," Jordon says. It was at that moment that he placed his "complete faith in God." They were able to finish their project with perfect weather the rest of the week. "Ever since that trip," Jordan claims God "has given me a reason for living and my life has never been the same after I chose to completely rely on God."
The prophet Jeremiah sent a letter to the people living in a strange land living as exiles. It might have seemed odd to the people that Jeremiah would instruct them to build homes, plant gardens, and get married. He wanted to convey a sense of hope that life would return to normal even in exile.
Tim S.
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Jimmy Buffett was born in Mississippi, but raised in Alabama. Living his youth along the coastal waterway permeated his very being. The sea and the shore gave him his identity and calling in life. He wanted to share a life lived in the salt air with everyone. Thus, Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band became known for their laid-back tunes like "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise." His lifestyle, his singing, the lyrics of his songs has made Buffett a household name. That familiarity and easy-going manner has made him a source of comfort, even if it is no more than listening to a CD on the car stereo.
After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Buffett understood the frustration and anger of the Gulf residents and business owners. He also realized their sense of helplessness and hopelessness as wave after wave brings more oil upon the white pristine sands of Alabama. Accepting that this would be the way of life for a time to come, Buffett asked himself, "Now, what you do with that is a big question."
In the midst of this unfortunate man-made tragedy, Buffett realized he did have a real and significant role to play. He knew he was an entertainer. He realized that he had countless fans who found his music relaxing, a reprieve from the daily grind of life. So he decided that he and his band would perform a series of free concerts on the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama. Buffett's expectation was simple, "What I'm best at is two hours of escapism for people." With a beach concert open to the public, for a short time anyway, he could create, in his own words, a "Mardi Gras mentality."
We find comfort in the familiar. It is by hearing often-repeated tunes, phrases, and quotes that we understand an author's message and put a framework around new material. The apostle Paul understood this as he employed the familiar in many of his writings, two of which are showcased in our lectionary reading for this Sunday. It is important to focus on Paul's message that "God's word is not chained." We are to be challenged that "a workman who does not need to be ashamed who correctly handles the word of truth."
For Paul, these challenges were encased in the familiar that facilitated a listener's understanding. He opened by quoting a creed, "Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David." And closed with a hymn sung in worship, "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him…."
In our desire to share the gospel message, let us be sure to use language that people find comforting, familiar, and are able to easily relate to.
Ron L.
2 Timothy 2:8-15
In Ray Bradbury's science fiction classic Fahrenheit 451, firefighters are not as we know them today. In the book, firefighters don't put out fires; instead, they start them. In the world Bradbury has created, reading books is forbidden. The novel follows Montag, a firefighter, as he comes to the realization that books are more than kindling; they are the lifeblood and the collective memory of civilization. In one scene in the book, Montag is present when the firemen are called to burn the book collection of an old woman. The woman refuses to leave as the firemen douse her home in kerosene. Montag can't understand why the woman wants to sacrifice herself with her books. Although she is chained by the corrupt society in which she lives, she refuses to disown her belief. Her statement will not be fettered -- and in the end, her death is a major factor in Montag's realization of the truth.
Leah T.
Luke 17:11-19
Christmas is only a couple of months away now, and once again, parents will be receiving Christmas wish lists from their kids, some of them with potentially astronomically expensive gifts included. And each year parents scrimp and save to fulfill their children's wishes. While this is certainly not true of all children, how many kids, come Christmas morning, simply tear open their presents, respond with a nonchalant, "Cool," and run off without so much as a "Thank you"?
Before the parents reading this start shouting their "Amens" at the page, look at the nine lepers who take Jesus' healing and run off without even thanking him, and think about how we can do the same thing so many times. How many times do we experience the grace and provision of God and not even think to thank him?
Craig K.
Luke 17:11-19
It was a chance encounter that Joanne would later recognize as a God moment. She was home visiting with old friends when she learned of the illness of one of her mother's friends. She remembered how this woman had been such a good friend to her mother. Joanne would visit this woman at the hospice center.
As she entered, the person at the desk greeted her warmly, asking if she could help. Joanne said she was looking for an old family friend. She was given directions to the room. As she turned to leave she recognized the name on the desk. She paused and asked the woman if she had been a teacher. The woman acknowledged that she taught sixth grade for over thirty years. Joanne told her that she had been her teacher. She remembered how her teacher took a special interest in her and encouraged her to do her best. It was not until that moment that Joanne realized what a positive impact her sixth grade teacher made on her. She asked her former teacher for her address and promised to write.
A couple of weeks later Joanne wrote thanking her teacher for all that she did for her, how she encouraged her and instilled in her a love of reading, which she still has years later. Mrs. Jones wrote back telling Joanne she was touched by her letter. She thought about the hundreds of students she had over the years and wondered if she had any impact on them at all. Joanne assured her that she did.
Jesus was traveling through the region when he encountered ten individuals suffering from skin disease. They called out seeking Jesus' help. He stopped as he always did for human need. It was while they were on their way that they were healed. This was cause for great rejoicing, they were now free to resume their normal lives. However, only one of the ten came back to personally thank Jesus. He recognized the holiness of the moment, Luke reports that, "He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him."
Tim S.
