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Posts Tagged ‘Luke’

Go and Do Likewise

October 24th, 2011

Yesterday I had the pleasure of teaching the parable of the Good Samaritan to a group of teenagers. Yeah, what fun is that – you talk, they stare at you like you are not human.

But despite that I think they heard something, and the main thing I told them, is probably something all of us could be reminded of as well.

Before this parable Jesus has been asked to clarify who a person’s neighbor is. He tells a story that we all know pretty well about a man and his rescuer. He finished the story by with this little exchange:

³⁶“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37

This is really interesting, as if I can paraphrase that last bit, it might be like this:

“Go and have mercy on those who hate you, oh and also have mercy on those that you hate.”

And that’s a pretty amazing way of showing who are neighbor is that we are commanded to show love towards ( with as much love as we show ourselves!!!)

Well, what else can I say, except – Go and Do Likewise!

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Tags: action examples Good Samaritan Jesus Luke

Go and Do…

October 3rd, 2011

After years spending time strapped to a phone, I have developed quite an inability to focus on one task for very long and more recently a strong desire to do.

And because of that, I think, these words popped into my head this morning

Go and do likewise.

³⁶“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37 NIV

If you remember, this these words are the conclusion of the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus’ words are all about action! He tells us that we should go. But not only go, but show mercy and help those who we pass, passing along the mercy that we live with.

What do you say, Should we start off our Monday morning, by remembering to GO and DO likewise?

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Tags: action Do examples Go Good Samaritan Luke

Our Thoughts

September 13th, 2011

I have been spending some time recently examining what I spend my time thinking about. And let me tell you, I am not sure I like what I have learned about myself.

This little exercise started when I discovered this quote sometime last week

“Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.” – Leonard Cohen

After reading that I started to think about how I acted, but I decided to also take a investigatory look at what I was thinking about – especially since at this time I spend a lot of time alone in my office at work.

As I mentioned above it’s a little sobering. I was surprised how little time I spent on certain topics and how much I spend thinking about other topics. Even more surprising was how much time I spent thinking about me!

It’s even more sobering when the Proverbs echo the quote above ( more than likely its the other way around!!!)

⁷For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Proverbs 23:7 King James Version (KJV)

Of course then there is this little diddy as well

³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:34 King James Version (KJV)

Hm. The other day Alex was driving on the interstate for the first time. We started to swerve toward the shoulder, and Alex said as he was straighten up the car, I was looking over there at that barn ( or whatever it was on the side of the road). Yep, he learned an important fact, the car goes where you look! And from that we know, we go where we think. Spend a little time thinking about what you are thinking about!

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Tags: Alex driving Leonard Cohen Luke Proverbs thinking thoughts

The Importance of Keys

September 12th, 2011

I know it’s a Monday. Not only is it a Monday, but it’s a Monday with a full moon. How do I know this you say. Well, let me recount the ways.

After a surprisingly non eventful start to the day, Amy and the boys went off to work. Following suit, I prepared my self for a day at the ol’ milestone, feed the cats, loading my bags for the post-work activities into my truck and reached in my pocket for my keys.

Except they were not there. Nor were they on the nightstand, of the kitchen counter, or my desk. no, they were in Amy’s purse – that was in Amy’s classroom at Amy’s school.

Not only that, but remember last week when I had no power ( yes Ben, I had no POWER!!!, and it went out again last night!!!! – I think I have moved to a third world country). Anyway, remember last week, when I had no power, and no laptop. You do! great, because the laptop problem has returned.

So, here I sit, at home, with a laptop complaining about a hard drive it can’t read, and two , count them two cars in the garage which I cannot start, because I have no keys.

Well, actually, I do have one key – I have a key to the car Amy drove to work today.

Oh, it’s Monday!!!

So, what does this have to do about anything, apart from my complaining? Well, I think it shows how important something foundational or something essential is to the whole works. Without a key those vehicles are just big hunks of steel. Although they are completely functional, they are missing the one element that keeps them going. It sort of reminds me of these words from John 15:5, which we will put in Red letters

⁵“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5New International Version (NIV)

The Christ himself says that he is really the key to you running properly, otherwise, you are just sitting in the garage!

Also I think this is gentle reminder about how to handle something we all deal with everyday – anxiety. In the end, this whole deal this morning is actually a small thing. I do have a 11ish appointment that I should be present in the office for, and I do need to get this laptop fixed, which again requires heading to the office, but in the end, being anxious and worrying will not help at all.

²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12 NIV

So, Stay Calm and keep hold of the Key!

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Posted in Daily Post

Tags: anxiety cars John keys Luke Monday

Toasted, Roasted, and Sweet

August 30th, 2011

It’s Toasted Marshmallow’s day. I am not sure why that is not later in the fall, as it seems that it would be ridiculous to gather around a camp fire in August when it is still in the 90′s even when the sun is setting.

And for some reason with the thought of marshmallows I am reminded of a song and, it seems, cereal.

Anyway, that song it about the only thing rattling around in my brain now, for me it seems more like Toasted Brain day, as I feel as I have sort of been writing the same thing each and every day. But not to worry, I have some undeveloped thoughts that will be posting themselves very soon.

In the meantime, enjoy the look back at marshmallow days of yesteryear ( or last year!), and as you move through your marshmallow world, make sure you are the yummy goodness inside and not the burnt toasted crunchy part on the outside!