Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A
Peter Andrew Smith
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"Redefining Fair" by Peter Andrew Smith
"How Great Thou Art!" by John Fitzgerald
Redefining Fair
by Peter Andrew Smith
Matthew 20:1-16
“Are you boys finished with your chores yet?” Linda called out from the kitchen.
Paul put two full bags of plastic containers next to the garage door. “I finished everything and Joey is almost done.”
“Good.” Linda took down two dessert bowls and sat them on the counter. Then she took out the ice cream and put a large scoop in each dish. “Just as I promised. How’s that?”
Paul examined both bowls and then crossed his arms. “That’s not fair.”
“They each have the same amount, don’t they?”
“They look exactly the same.”
“So if you each have the same amount of ice cream, how can that not be fair?” Linda asked. “This is exactly what I promised you.”
"Redefining Fair" by Peter Andrew Smith
"How Great Thou Art!" by John Fitzgerald
Redefining Fair
by Peter Andrew Smith
Matthew 20:1-16
“Are you boys finished with your chores yet?” Linda called out from the kitchen.
Paul put two full bags of plastic containers next to the garage door. “I finished everything and Joey is almost done.”
“Good.” Linda took down two dessert bowls and sat them on the counter. Then she took out the ice cream and put a large scoop in each dish. “Just as I promised. How’s that?”
Paul examined both bowls and then crossed his arms. “That’s not fair.”
“They each have the same amount, don’t they?”
“They look exactly the same.”
“So if you each have the same amount of ice cream, how can that not be fair?” Linda asked. “This is exactly what I promised you.”
John E. Sumwalt
Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. (vv. 27-28)
When I was a young pastor in the 1980s, dealing with some angry disagreements in my congregation, our bishop offered some wise advice. “Always count heads,” he said. “Sometimes the loudest voices do not represent the will of the majority.” I learned to be patient and to listen to the quiet voices.
When I was a young pastor in the 1980s, dealing with some angry disagreements in my congregation, our bishop offered some wise advice. “Always count heads,” he said. “Sometimes the loudest voices do not represent the will of the majority.” I learned to be patient and to listen to the quiet voices.
Peter Andrew Smith
Helen’s picked up her phone to look at the new message.
“Charlie!” she yelled. “Bobby says that he wants to video call us. Are you available and could you bring the laptop?”
Charlie walked into the living room with the computer already opened up. “Helen, what do you think I’d be doing?”
Helen shrugged. “You have your hobbies.”
Charlie rolled his eyes and was about to say more when the chime sounded that Bobby was calling. Charlie sat the laptop down and snuggled next to Helen as their son’s face appeared on the screen.
“Hi, Mom and Dad. How are things going?” Bobby said.
“Fine,” Helen replied. “I’m baking up a storm and your father is playing with his genealogy.”
Charlie leaned forward. “I’m almost back to the 1700's on my side of the family. Found some interesting branches on the old family tree — “
“Charlie!” she yelled. “Bobby says that he wants to video call us. Are you available and could you bring the laptop?”
Charlie walked into the living room with the computer already opened up. “Helen, what do you think I’d be doing?”
Helen shrugged. “You have your hobbies.”
Charlie rolled his eyes and was about to say more when the chime sounded that Bobby was calling. Charlie sat the laptop down and snuggled next to Helen as their son’s face appeared on the screen.
“Hi, Mom and Dad. How are things going?” Bobby said.
“Fine,” Helen replied. “I’m baking up a storm and your father is playing with his genealogy.”
Charlie leaned forward. “I’m almost back to the 1700's on my side of the family. Found some interesting branches on the old family tree — “
Peter Andrew Smith
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"The Nature of Grace" by Peter Andrew Smith
"All Shall Be Well" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * *
The Nature of Grace
Peter Andrew Smith
Exodus 16:2-15
"That's not fair!" Roxanne protested. She pointed at the ice cream cone that her sister was holding. "You didn't do enough work to get an ice cream."
"Did so," June said.
"Did not." Roxanne pointed toward the garden. "I picked weeds with Grandpa in the hot sun. You didn't."
"I helped Grandma with the laundry." June raised her voice. "I worked hard too."
Roxanne shook her head. "You only did easy work because you're a little kid. I did hard work like an adult."
"I deserve an ice cream just like you."
"Do not!"
"Do so!"
"The Nature of Grace" by Peter Andrew Smith
"All Shall Be Well" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * *
The Nature of Grace
Peter Andrew Smith
Exodus 16:2-15
"That's not fair!" Roxanne protested. She pointed at the ice cream cone that her sister was holding. "You didn't do enough work to get an ice cream."
"Did so," June said.
"Did not." Roxanne pointed toward the garden. "I picked weeds with Grandpa in the hot sun. You didn't."
"I helped Grandma with the laundry." June raised her voice. "I worked hard too."
Roxanne shook her head. "You only did easy work because you're a little kid. I did hard work like an adult."
"I deserve an ice cream just like you."
"Do not!"
"Do so!"
Frank Ramirez
John E. Sumwalt
Contents
"So What Is It Anyway?" by Frank Ramirez
"A Man Ready to Go Home" by John Sumwalt
* * * * * * * *
So What Is It Anyway?
by Frank Ramirez
Exodus 16:2-15
When the Israelites saw (the manna), they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was.
-- Exodus 16:15
The people of God were given the manna in the desert. The Hebrew word is Min Ha, which is actually a question! Translated, it means: "What is it?" How many times has that question been asked by inventers as they made a great discovery? It was certainly asked on April 6, 1932 at the DuPont's Jackson Laboratory in Deepwater, New Jersey.
"So What Is It Anyway?" by Frank Ramirez
"A Man Ready to Go Home" by John Sumwalt
* * * * * * * *
So What Is It Anyway?
by Frank Ramirez
Exodus 16:2-15
When the Israelites saw (the manna), they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was.
-- Exodus 16:15
The people of God were given the manna in the desert. The Hebrew word is Min Ha, which is actually a question! Translated, it means: "What is it?" How many times has that question been asked by inventers as they made a great discovery? It was certainly asked on April 6, 1932 at the DuPont's Jackson Laboratory in Deepwater, New Jersey.
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