It would certainly be anachronistic to suggest that Jesus was a student of the Socratic Method, but it appears that in John’s gospel, he loved to teach lessons by asking questions. Some examples:
To the paralyzed man in chapter 5, he asked, “Do you want to be made well?”
To the man born blind in chapter 9, he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
To Mary, at the empty tomb, the resurrected Jesus asked, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?”
And at the end of the gospel, Jesus three-peated a question to Peter: “Peter, do you love me?”
In each of these moments, Jesus asked questions not out of ignorance of the answers, but as an invitation for people to deepen their faith. And every time a person answered Jesus’ question correctly, their lives were transformed. Right answers brought right belief, which led to new life. Here’s a question from Jesus to the disciples that sums up John’s central premise:
His disciples said, "Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? When Jesus asks you a question, it’s never out of ignorance of your response. It is to engage you in a deliberate exercise of clarifying your beliefs, solidifying your commitment, and taking a risk.
This week we focus on the question that Jesus asked the disciples on the mountaintop while viewing the starving multitude. While the three other gospels record Jesus telling the disciples, “You give them something to eat,” John plays Jeopardy! by framing it in the form of a question:
“Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” And look at the responses. Phillip reacted with a realistic assessment of the situation. There was not enough money to buy enough food. And even if they had a stockpile of six months’ worth of salaries, it wouldn’t be enough.
In contrast, Andrew went on a search and found a possibility, albeit a remote one. He brought to Jesus a boy with a few fish and a handful of loaves. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Andrew’s response is a model for each of us to follow during this Lenten season. Faith enables us to see divine hope in the most remote of possibilities. And it calls us to place our finite lives and limited resources in the hands of the one can feed the masses.
The noted preacher, theologian, and social activist Walter Rauschenbusch wrote:
Salvation is always a social process. It comes by human contact. The word must become flesh if it is to save. Some man or woman, or some group of people, in whom the saving love of Jesus Christ has found a new incarnation, lays hold of an enfeebled, blinded human atom and infuses new hope and courage and insight, new warmth of love and strength of will, and there is a new breathing of the soul and an opening of the inner eye. Salvation has begun. (from Christianizing the Social Order) We continue our Lenten series “Something to Believe In” focusing on the One who called himself the Bread of Life. Together, let us answer the questions correctly, and join in feeding a hungry world.
See you on the journey,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega St. Paul's United Methodist Church 531 W. Main St. Cherokee, IA 51012 Ph: 712-225-3955 http://www.cherokeespumc.org
It’s official. The WebKinz craze has swept into the deVega family.
Here’s a primer for those of you who either don’t have children or have been successfully immunized against commercial toymakers. WebKinz is a line of small, stuffed animals, similar to the “Beanie Baby” dolls from the 1990’s. Except these toys have a high-tech, virtual dimension: Register your WebKinz on-line, and you can care for and play with your little friend in a massive virtual universe, along with other registered WebKinz owners around the world.
It was only a matter of time before my girls caught onto the craze. My younger daughter Madelyn and I were in a local store on Saturday, and she happened to see a big display of them. Her eye immediately caught one of the pink ponies, which she picked up, gripped tightly in an embrace, smiled, and started walking toward the cashier.
“Hey,” I said. “What are you doing?” “Can I have it, Please? This is the one I want.” “Hmmm…I’m not sure. We should talk about it.” “Please?” “Why don’t we talk to your mother first and see what she thinks?” “Please, daddy? I’ve named her Crystal.”
And then I knew it was over. End of discussion. The moment she gave that pony a name, I knew it was coming home with us. She had gotten too attached to it, and giant tractors weren’t going to separate them.
Names signify attachment. Know a person by name, and your relationship takes on whole new meaning. That person is no longer the “other,” no longer an anonymous stranger. Your relationship is now fluid and dynamic, with possibility for growth and intimacy.
Just think of the numerous biblical examples:
God’s command to Adam to name the animals coincided with the command to be stewards of all creation. Naming produces connection, and a desire to protect and preserve.
God’s revelation to Moses of God’s divine name introduced a new level of understanding between God and the people. Moses and the Israelites would not be alone; God’s power would guard them and God’s love would provide for them.
The angel’s visit to Mary introduced the world to the name Immanuel, the very presence of God drawn near to us in Jesus.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD Our next stop in this journey through the “I am” statements of Jesus in the gospel of John is “I am the Good Shepherd.” Listen to how Jesus characterizes his relationship with those who follow him:
“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” It may be hard to believe, but this great God of the universe, this awesome and austere Holy Presence, knows you by name. You may feel your past is too blemished, your present too shameful, and your future too dark to ever think you are of value to a holy and righteous God. But your life is not an incidental blip in the grand scheme of the cosmos, and you are not anonymous to God.
At the moment of your baptism, God named you, as God’s very own child, a recipient of God’s grace. And it means that your life really does count. You matter to God. And God is calling you by name today.
Another gospel writer would underscore this with another parable:
"Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'” (Luke 15:4-6)
Join us this week as we continue our Lenten series “Something to Believe In” and discover more about Jesus, your good shepherd. And together, let’s follow the leader.
In Christ’s name,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega St. Paul's United Methodist Church 531 W. Main St. Cherokee, IA 51012 Ph: 712-225-3955 http://www.cherokeespumc.org
John 10:11-30 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away--and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father." 19 Again the Jews were divided because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?" 21 Others were saying, "These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" 22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. 30 The Father and I are one."
Have you read any good stories about doors lately?
Think for a moment about the many ways some of the great literary works have used the image of the door as a central metaphor.
Nathaniel Hawthorne begins The Scarlet Letter with a chapter called, “The Prison Door”, which introduces a shadowy undercurrent of human depravity in the midst of a Puritan community.
Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights uses numerous locked doors and gates to symbolize the confinement that comes from social convention and desires for revenge.
A concealed door becomes the entryway for a young girl to experience long-lost happiness and peace in Frances Hogson Burnett’s The Secret Garden.
And a hidden door in the back of a wardrobe becomes the passage for four children to enter the magical world of Narnia, in C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Even the Bible has its own fair share of door imagery:
In Exodus, the Hebrew slaves sprinkled blood on the doorposts of their homes in Egypt, saving them from the death angel as it passed over them.
In the Temple, a veil separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, symbolizing exclusive, privileged access to the presence of God.
And as the Israelites ascended the hill to worship in the Temple, they enthusiastically chanted the words of Psalm 24: “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of glory may come in.
Centuries later, John Wesley would continue the metaphor, in this classic formulation of the salvation journey. Listen to how he equates a door with one’s saving faith in Jesus Christ:
"Our main doctrines, which include all the rest, are three: That of repentance, of faith, and of holiness. The first of these we account, as it were, the porch of religion; the next, the door; the third, religion itself."
Whether in the Bible or in works of literature, doors symbolize entrance into new freedom and new life. It invites deliberate movement, from the trouble and trauma of the past into hope and possibility for the future. It’s no wonder that John would seize this image for his gospel, including it among the ways that Jesus would identify himself as the Son of God.
So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Consider the possibility that Jesus is offering you a doorway to a new, abundant life. What will it take for you to walk through that door? If repentance is the front porch of religion, what will you need to leave behind in order to come in? And if a life of holiness lies just beyond the threshold, what new commitments will be demanded of you?
This week we continue our “Something to Believe In” sermon series based on Jesus’ seven “I Am” statements with a sermon titled, “I am the Door.” To prepare for this Sunday, I invite you to continue reading the scripture bookmark you were given last Sunday in church. Additional copies are available at the church.
We’re all familiar with the famous phrase “I think; therefore I am” penned by Rene Descartes, the 17th century French philosopher. Centuries later, contemporary German theologian Eberhard Jungel reframed the saying as follows:
“I believe, therefore I am—namely, a new creature and as such, one called to represent the being of Jesus Christ in the communion of saints, as a person existing as a member of the church of Jesus Christ. The believer knows that he or she is called to represent the foundation of his or her faith before the world by a life which corresponds to God…” (from Theological Essays II, 1995)
If Jungel is right, then what we believe shapes who we are. It is more than a matter of thinking, it is a matter of believing. It is more than a matter of thought; it is a matter of conviction. And to Jungel, the only belief that is an adequate foundation for one’s life is a belief in the triune God fully revealed in Jesus Christ.
But in the secular world around us, many choose to believe in other things. I stumbled on a rather non-scientific survey (and by that I mean, an on-line message board!) that asked people to complete the phrase: “I believe….” Look at some of the responses:
I believe that faith and dedication are the foundation for success. (“Bobby”) I believe that the best way to double your money is to fold it and put it in your pocket. (“Patricia”) I believe that a wise man does not play leapfrog with an unicorn. (“Anthony”) I believe in a tall glass of iced tea on a hot summer day. (“Lillie G.”) I believe Michael Keaton was by far the best Batman. (“Aaron”) I believe the purpose of life is to have one amazing adventure that would inspire other people to make the most out of their lives. (“Jessica”) I believe that Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. (“Jesse”) I believe you should treat others the way you want to be treated, with respect. Also take the time to listen to the elderly, they absolutely love it! (“Sharon C.”)
So how would you complete the statement? What do you believe in?
That is the central question of the gospel of John, which will serve as our tour guide through this season of Lent. Whereas the other three gospels carefully craft the story of Jesus, John is more interested in one’s belief in Jesus as the savior of the world. Its theme verse is found in John 20:31:
But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
There has been some scholarly discussion over this key verse in John. Some early biblical manuscripts translate the Greek word pisteusate as “that you may continue to believe”, suggesting that John’s original readers were predominantly believers in need of encouragement against Jewish and Roman persecution. Other manuscripts, including the NRSV version of the Bible, translate it as “that you may come to believe” suggesting that John’s work was primarily evangelistic, targeting people who were not yet believers.*
Regardless of which version was John’s original intent, it’s fundamental message is the same, and it agrees with Eberhard Jungel. You are what you believe. And believing in Jesus brings life.
Come along on this deeply meaningful, thoughtful reflection on the person and work of Jesus Christ. Our signposts on this journey will be Jesus’ seven “I am” statements that mark John’s gospel. Each one makes a unique claim about Jesus and offers a personal path to new life and deeper commitment. Together, we will follow the well-worn, familiar path that leads us to the power of the cross and into the triumphant glory of the empty tomb.
See you on the journey!
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega St. Paul's United Methodist Church 531 W. Main St. Cherokee, IA 51012 Ph: 712-225-3955 http://www.cherokeespumc.org (*For a further look at the background of John’s gospel, I recommend John: The Maverick Gospel by Robert Kysar (Westminster John Knox, 2007), which has been very helpful in my preparations for this sermon series.) John 8:1-12 8:1 while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, 4 they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 She said, "No one, sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again." 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."
John 9:1-5 9:1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
All of us can point to one or two memories that we consider to be pivotal in shaping who we are today. Perhaps you would think of your first kiss, or the day you got married. Maybe you think of the birth of a child, or the moment you survived a near-death episode. These moments change you, leaving an indelible imprint.
For Jesus, the transfiguration was a defining moment in his life. On a mountaintop with his three closest followers, Jesus appeared glowing white, accompanied by Elijah and Moses. And he heard a voice from heaven: “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
There has been much debate among biblical scholars throughout history about the historicity of this event, but the gospel writers are clear in their placement of this story that the transfiguration was not just important to the life of Jesus, it was important to the salvation narrative for all humanity. The presence of Elijah and Moses, along with a reference to the words heard at Christ’s baptism, draw in the grand sweep of history; Jesus’ self-reference as the Son of Man, as well as his prediction of his own death, point us ahead to a future of suffering and redemption.
The transfiguration story is the half-way point in the life of Jesus, and becomes a defining moment for all those who walk the life of faith. Will we choose to stay on the mountaintop, as Peter, James, and John preferred, or will we enter a life of self-sacrifice, commitment, and utter surrender to God?
Wesleyan Christians refer to the life of daily decisions to follow the way of Jesus the process of sanctification. It is the grace-empowered journey of slowly being conformed to the image of Christ in every aspect of our lives. Catherine Livingston was a nineteenth-century Methodist married to the preacher Freeborn Garretson. In an entry in her personal diary, she reflected on the defining moment in her life, when she chose to identify with Christ, in his death and resurrection:
I find myself more than ever engaged for sanctification. I desire to rest in nothing short of this great privilege. I want to serve my God with a perfect heart and willing mind. I have long seen a great beauty in this doctrine, and long to bear witness to the truth of it. I last night dreamed I was crucified. Be it so, Lord Jesus! Let me die that I may live, and that my life may be hid with you. Such a day of heaviness and travail of soul I have not experienced in a long time. (Garretson Family papers, UMC Archives, Drew University)
WILL HE BE YOUR LORD?
This Sunday, we celebration Transfiguration Sunday, the final Sunday before the season of Lent. We conclude this sermon series on Matthew with a sermon called, “A New Life: Will I Make Jesus Lord?” I hope you will join us for this important last step of preparation before we begin our Lenten journey.
In the words of Peter on the mountain, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.”
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega St. Paul's United Methodist Church 531 W. Main St. Cherokee, IA 51012 Ph: 712-225-3955 http://www.cherokeespumc.org 17:1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." 10 And the disciples asked him, "Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 11 He replied, "Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things; 12 but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
Shows on the Food Network are among the highest rated on cable television. Enrollment at culinary schools is up 28% over the past seven years, and celebrity chefs like Rachel Ray and Bobby Flay are all over the airwaves. And just yesterday, one of my favorite movies of 2007, Disney/Pixar’s Ratatouille, was nominated for an Academy Award.
For those of you who haven’t seen it, it is the story of Remy, a common rat living in France, who has a passion for fine gourmet cuisine. And, thanks to a partnership with a lowly restaurant custodian, he discovers his inner chef, and an amazing ability to prepare delectable dishes.
In one scene, Remy reunites with his street rat brother Emil, who has no appreciation for fine foods and flavors. In an effort to share his passion and enthusiasm for food, Remy shares the following exchange with Emil:
Remy: I have got to teach you about food. Close your eyes. Now, take a bite of – (hands Emil a block of fine cheese, which Emil inhales in one gulp) Remy: NO! NO! NO! DON’T JUST HORK IT DOWN! Emil: Too late. Remy: Here. (hands him another bit of cheese) And chew it slowly. (Emil chews). Only think about the taste. See? Emil: Not really. Remy: Creamy. Salty-sweet. An oaky nuttiness. Do you detect that? Emil: I’m detecting “nuttiness.” Remy: (Sigh.) Close your eyes. Now taste this. (hands him a grape). Whole different thing, isn’t it? Sweet, crisp, whole different tang on the finish. Emil: Okay. Remy: Now, try them together. (chews) Emil. I think I’m getting a little something there. It might be the nuttiness. Could be the tang. Remy: Every taste in the world being combined into infinite combinations, tastes that no one has tried yet! Discoveries to be made! Emil: I think….you lost me again…. But that was interesting! Try as he might, Remy could not contain his passion for sharing something that had transformed his life, from a lowly street rat to a chef living up to his created potential. And even when others didn’t understand, he lived in the joy of sharing this gift with others.
YOU ARE SALT AND LIGHT
Matthew’s gospel contains a bit of a recipe itself. Sprinkle a dash of salt, add a dose of light, and “Voila!” You get a transformed world. Jesus was very clear to his disciples, and to us, that if we want the world to experience the rich, textured, and nourishing love of God, we are the ingredients to make it happen.
Just like a lowly street rat can spread culinary appreciation to a sleepy French town, and a small dash of salt can flavor a whole meal, and a tiny flash of light can illuminate the deepest darkness, little ol’ you can make a big, big difference!
I invite you to church this Sunday, as we continue our sermon series in Matthew with a sermon titled, “A New Purpose: Can My Life Make a Difference?” Discover how your God-given talents and passions can create a feast of hope and love for those around you.
It’s great to be the church!
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega St. Paul's United Methodist Church 531 W. Main St. Cherokee, IA 51012 Ph: 712-225-3955 http://www.cherokeespumc.org
Matthew 6:13-16
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
E-mail Down We are making some improvements to the church receptionist’s computer in the next few days, so as a result, Linzi’s e-mail and the church e-mail will be inaccessible until Monday. You can continue to send me messages at this address, but if you would like to reach Linzi, e-mail her at linz_i@hotmail.com.
Youth Mystery Dinner For grades 7-12, join us tonight from 5-6:30pm for a Mystery Dinner this Sunday night. Come with a hungry tummy and zero expectations! What you’ll eat (and when you’ll eat it!) is anyone’s guess! The fun won’t stop until the last course is served!
Environmental Stewardship Group The Psalmist declares, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is within it” (24:1). The UM Social Principles encourage faithful people to “promote a more ecologically just world.” Are you interested in becoming a better steward of God’s creation? Want to learn more about organic foods, sustainable living, reducing your energy bill, and other ways of “going green”? Then come to an introductory/exploratory meeting on Tuesday, January 29th at 7 pm in the church fellowship hall. We will share fellowship, discuss the needs of our community, and consider the ways we might care for God’s good creation. Contact Jessica deVega (deVega@morningside.edu) with questions.
Valentines for Nursing Homes Once again, the UMW is sponsoring a Valentines Card project for our area nursing homes. Consider donating materials (paper, scissors, glue, etc.) to make some warm, creative valentines, and even volunteer your time on February 7 at 1:30pm in the dining hall to help make them. Help spread the gift of love to these precious members of our community.
There is a quote from the Talmud that says, “Blessed is the generation in which the old listen to the young; and double-blessed is the generation in which the young listen to the old.” Last Sunday, I was blessed to experience both.
Sunday began with 21 seventh and eighth graders in this year’s Confirmation class, as they started on a journey that will conclude this Spring with their profession of faith in Christ and entrance into membership of the church. This bright, energetic, and earnest group of kids discussed the meaning of baptism and the significance of God’s grace working in their lives. Their exuberance and potential reminded me of the early days of my faith journey, and the wondrous adventure that followed.
Later that afternoon, I conducted a worship service for about twenty older adults in one of our community’s nursing homes. I shared with them the same message you heard that morning, about the waters of baptism, our being made in the image of God, and the unconditional grace that God shares with all of us. At the end of the service, I walked around with a bowl of baptismal water, and watched as each of them touched the water to remember their baptism.
The journey of faith is a lifelong endeavor. It begins with a grace that operates even before our acknowledgement or understanding, and works throughout our lives to prepare us for eternity. Along the way, God blesses us with the example of young and old alike – to remind us of where we have come from, and to inspire us with a vision of what lies ahead.
Will you join me in praying for both these young people in Confirmation, as well as these beloved older saints in our community?
THIS SUNDAY – TEMPTATION! We continue in our series “New Year – New You!” with a sermon called “A New Strength – How Do I Deal With Temptation?” We will hear Matthew’s version of the story of Jesus’ temptation by the devil, and we will apply its principles to the ongoing battles many of us face.
You may feel that you are unique in the private battles that you wage every day, but you are not alone. Jesus wrestled with them, beginning with his forty days in the wilderness, and even up to the last night of his life, when he was tempted to choose the easier way rather than the way of the cross. Temptations affect all of us, but we need not be slaves to them.
As Martin Luther once quipped, “You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them building a nest in your hair.” Come this Sunday and discover God’s plan for a New You!
