12 Songs of Christmas - song 4

Still got the migraine and can't think of much today so here is a quick song, but still one necessary for any Christmas list..

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
[Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree]
du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
[Of all the trees most lovely]

The news had come out in the First World War
The bloody Red Baron was flying once more
The Allied command ignored all of its men
And called on Snoopy to do it again.

Twas the night before Christmas, 40 below
When Snoopy went up in search of his foe
He spied the Red Baron, fiercely they fought
With ice on his wings Snoopy knew he was caught.

Christmas bells those Christmas bells
Ring out from the land
Asking peace of all the world
And good will to man

The Baron had Snoopy dead in his sights
He reached for the trigger to pull it up tight
Why he didn't shoot, well, we'll never know
Or was it the bells from the village below.

Christmas bells those Christmas bells
Ringing through the land
Bringing peace to all the world
And good will to man

The Baron made Snoopy fly to the Rhine
And forced him to land behind the enemy lines
Snoopy was certain that this was the end
When the Baron cried out, "Merry Christmas, my friend"

The Baron then offered a holiday toast
And Snoopy, our hero, saluted his host
And then with a roar they were both on their way
Each knowing they'd meet on some other day.

Christmas bells those Christmas bells
Ringing through the land
Bringing peace to all the world
And good will to man

Christmas bells those Christmas bells
Ringing through the land
Bringing peace to all the world
And good will to man

12 Songs of Christmas - song 3

(I've just woken up from a sleep to help get rid of a migraine, I'm able to concentrate enough to get this out while it is still the correct day so please forgive the shortness and if it gets incoherent and not well spelt)

Song 3 of the 12 songs of Christmas.

Little Drummer boy.

Todays song is performed by Whteheart - little drummer boy - with real drums.



At any other time then when my brain is not trying to escape out through my temples... this version just rocks and I love it. My first memory of this is from my first Christmas as a Christan.

Ok so about the song itself...

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

On one hand you have this song exemplifying the principle of the Widows Mite. The widow had nothing yet she gave what she could give. This was praised by Jesus in contrast to the religious leaders of the day who were gave only a portion of their great wealth - she gave all she had. The drummer boy is poor and had nothing to give in terms of wealth so he gave his skills and talents. We can do that in these times of economic recession and downturn. We can give our skills and talents to ease the load of those who are also burdened. And this (from Romans) is a spiritual act of worship.

On the other hand.....



What a narcissistic little brat!

Please, please PLEASE won't someone think of the mother!

Mary had just given birth, A whole bunch of smelly shepherds come to visit and she has a new born baby to care for, it's in a manger as they have no other place to stay.

Along comes a well meaning boy, who says nice kid can I bang my drum really loudly?

To all the parents of newborns, or even those under a year old. What would you say...?

Maybe the Catholics are right and Mary is full of grace, because she smiled and said yes.

12 Songs of Christmas - song 2

Manger Throne.

Originally sung by Julie Millar on the noel compilation album and then redone by Third Day on the City on a hill Christmas album. Here are both versions followed by the lyrics. You should listen to both - they are quite different in style.

First Julie Miller (her voice may be an accustomed taste but it is one I like)



And now Third Days... (note: they get a bit of help from Julie Miller and Deri Daugherty)

What kind of King would leave His throne
In Heaven to make this earth His home?
While men seek fame and great renown
In loneliness our King comes down

Jesus, Jesus, precious One
How we thank You that You've come
Jesus, Jesus, precious One
A manger throne for God’s own Son

You left the sound of angels' praise
To come for men with unkind ways
And by this Baby's helplessness
The power of nations is laid to rest

What kind of King would come so small
From glory to a humble stall?
That dirty manger is my heart, too
I'll make it a royal throne for You

My heart is a throne
My heart is a throne for God's own Son

This song has been done at least twice as an item at the church I go to.

I was driving along with the old mother in law once (did you know "mother in law" is an anagram of "woman hitler"? - be careful who you tell that information to....) Driving along and it was Christmas and the guy on the radio says something about Jesus being born in the manger. She asks me the honest question - why the big deal about the manger? I'd been a Christian for about a year at that point and it wasn't a question I'd thought about. I think I muttered some platitudes about while he could have been born in a big palace as was His due He chose the manger to identify with all humanity. That it isn't money or power or history that gives a man his worth but rather that He does that which God requires of him.

And boy did Jesus fulfil that.

Is that all though? - just so He could identify, just to show it isn't about things. The big mission (in fact as Jesus says the reason)of Jesus - to die and be resurrected, it would not have been affected if he was born in an inn, or at home with midwives. But here it is the King of King and Lord of Lords born in the lowly of lowlies.

It's mind blowing that the King of Glory, He whose hands flung stars into space, reached up to their mother out of an animals feeding trough.

It's one extreme to the other.

I don't really understand the why and it's been 18 years since the question was asked of me - I just know it happened. God. Human. In the stall. Jesus. Emmanuel. God with Us.

I look forward to finding out.

12 songs of Christmas - song one

I Believe In Father Christmas lyrics - by U2.

Here's a video of the song followed by the lyrics.

They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on Earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the Virgin's birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winters light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas Tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire
They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a Silent Night
And they told me a fairy story
'Till I believed in the Israelite
And I believed in Father Christmas
And I looked at the sky with excited eyes
'Till I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise

I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave New Year
All anguish pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on Earth
Hallelujah Noel be it Heaven or Hell
The Christmas you get you deserve.

La la la la la la la la la la....

First of all the background to the song.

Bono has set up this (Red)wire thing. Where for a monthly subscription you buy a song or two a month and half the money goes to buy medicine for those in Africa with AIDs who need it.

This is their song, it is a remake of a song that Greg Lake (of Emerson Lake and Palmer) did in the early 70's. People moaned at him at what they took to be an anti-religious song. This confused him a bit as he had written it as an anti-commercialism-of-Christmas song. Hey who are we to argue with the author - despite what the post-modernists say.

I chose this one as the first cab off the rank for a couple of reasons.

1. It's U2 - need I say more...
2. I'm a bit peeved at commercialism of Christmas this year. I suppose I should be every year but this year it has hit home a bit as to what we all need Christmas to be. Yes I'm talking about the true religious - Jesus' birth is celebrated - God became incarnate reasons. But putting that aside for now (yikes - really how can you do that) Put aside the commercialism and religion and think about what Christmas does...

People just for a little bit of the year (one twelfth or even just one day of it) start acting towards each other they way they really should for the rest of the year. Giving, caring and celebrating life. Thinking about others and what they can do for them.

I love geting presents for people, I love the time thinking about them and what would they like and when I give it I like to see their expression of joy. (Which is why buying some cop-out gift irks me)

Christmas needs to be here so that people use it to have the well-being of others in the fore-front of thier minds and to overcome what for many is the selfishness me-me-me attitude of the rest of the year.

This song has a poke at the commercialism which has distracted from the truth of Jesus and the need to get ourselves out of ourselves and into the needs of others.

Of course for many Christmas is one of the worst times of the year because for many all the people around them are so infatuated with themselves they don't see, know or care about someone who is loney... hurting... wounded in spirit. It can amplifiy that which they don't have - peopel who care about them.

10 years ago to the day of this post my marriage ended and I moved out (at the time only for a few days but we both agreed later that we were finished). On Christmas eve it is 5 years to the day that my father died. I miss him so much. Along with highlighting the lonlyness of the other 11 months this supposedly joyful time of the year can be the remeberance of painful events, when we are supposed to be all happy and cheessy (Go the American sitcoms!) all we think about is our pain.

Get out of yourself and your own pain, go help someone else - it will ease your hurt as you feel the joy of helping another. Let others help you. And that is a big ask - allow other to actually help you.

I have a tradition that helps me get past my painful memories and also keeps me free from any feelings of being alone. On Christmas Eve a bunch of people from church go to Carols by Candlelight, then we go to a persons house for supper, then to midnight communion (starts at 11:30). It is a different bunch of people each year and at each event. But I look forward to it all year long and I remember it during the year if I'm feeling down. All these people, not just on this day, are my freinds, they are closer to me than some in my family. And this night highlights and amplifies to me that which I have all year round. People I can love and be loved by.

Forget the commercialism of Christmas, don't allow a veil of tears to hide the Virgins birth...

...Go to Church

12 songs of Christmas - an explanation

In these last few days of this season of advent, I'm going to blog a song a day for 12 days. They will be Christmas songs (one one type or another). They won't be great earth shattering revelations of wisdom. Just songs I enjoy, have a meaning for me deeper than just the song itself or I ran out of ideas and pulled one out of the air.

Movember

Hi All,

During Movember (the month formerly known as November) I'm growing a Mo. That's right I'm bringing the Mo back because I'm passionate about tackling men's health issues and being proactive in the fight against men's depression and prostate cancer.

To donate to my Mo you can either:

1.
Click this link and donate online using your credit card
2.
Write a cheque payable to ‘Movember Donations Account', referencing my Registration Number 1613226 and mailing it to:

Movember
PO Box 12 708
Wellington 6144

Remember, all donations over $10 are tax deductible.

The money raised by Movember is used to raise awareness of men's health issues and donated to the Cancer Society of New Zealand and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. These two charities will use the money raised to fund research and increase support networks for those affected with prostate cancer and experiencing depression.

Did you know:

* Depression affects 1 in 10 men....Most people who experience depression make a full recovery. The first step is seeking help.
* Last year in New Zealand 2,700 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 600 died of prostate cancer - (that's nearly two each day).

For those that have supported Movember in previous years you can be very proud of the impact it has had and can check out the details at: [Fundraising Outcomes].

Movember culminates at the end of month Gala Partés. If you would like to be part of this great night you'll need to purchase a [Gala Parté Ticket].

Thanks for your support Andrew.



More information is available at http://www.movember.com/.

Movember is proud partners with The Cancer Society of New Zealand and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

If I could sing... any Mark Heard song.

If I could sing then i would pretty much want to sing any Mark heard song. In particular I would want to sing NO! first but there is no video of that on youtube.

Details about Mark... from www.markheard.net

Mark was a poet. He was a man who felt the weight of the world. A man who saw both beauty and ugliness, and he realized that we must see both if we see them all. Mark was a man who not only refused to be blind to the world around him, but who saw that with a clarity, wisdom, and insight that is very rare these days ...

From the deep South of Macon, Georgia, to a rare and quaint village of Los Angeles, Mark was throwing his muse/recording his experience since the 70s. Mark's songs, at once visceral and philosophical to a degree uncommon in contemporary music, consistently integrated the sacred and the profane, the spiritual and the humane and provided nourishment in a way so few others ever have. Although revered by many of his songwriting peers as simply one of the best, Mark's music, in his lifetime, never caught the attention of a large music-buying public - Mark was an artist more concerned with telling the truth than selling the truth.

When Mark passed away in August 1992 at the age of 40, he left behind a musical legacy that is staggering in scope, vision and volume. Having released 16 records in less than as many years, Mark was equally involved in supporting, producing and collaborating with many other artists such as Sam Phillips, Pierce Pettis, Phil Keaggy, Vigilantes of Love (Mark Heard and Peter Buck of REM co-produced VOL's album Killing Floor) and Michael Been of The Call. Mark's body of work has been praised by artists such as Victoria Williams, Buddy and Julie Miller, T Bone Burnett and Bruce Cockburn, who has even claimed Mark to be his favorite songwriter. Mark garnered a loyal following by penning untinted reflections on a life influenced equally by big ideas as by the small day-to-day issues with which any man, husband, father, or human has to wrestle.

~ ~ ~

On July 4, 1992, Mark was playing at the Cornerstone Festival, outside Chicago. He had a minor heart attack on stage, but finished the set. Afterwards, he went to a hospital. Mark was released from the hospital one week after being admitted. He wanted to get home before undergoing treatment for 2 blocked arteries. The doctors collectively decided he could make it home. The afternoon after being released, Mark had a cardiac arrest and died. After he got to the hospital, a doctor was able to bring him back to life and performed a successful bypass operation. Mark's heart recovered well, but because his brain was without oxygen from the time he died until he was revived, he never came out of the coma.

A lot of his music is available on itunes - go there now - buy - enjoy!


Here are a few of his songs that either he, or fans, have made videos for.

Lonely moon. (lyrics)


Treasure of the broken land (lyrics)


Is it any wonder (lyrics)

International HARRY POTTER & THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE trailer

Do i really have to wait until July?

Grr argh

The pearl of the world vs the pearl of great price.

It's a "really bad bootleg" but check out the video above, check out the lyrics here if you want, do a quick read of Matthew 13:44-46 and 1 Timothy 6: 6-19 and then on with todays theology..

When I first heard this song I thought that it was about The Pearl of Great Price. That’s the parable of Jesus from the reading tonight. When Fleming McWilliam was singing “Oh look I’ve found it, don’t drop it etc” I could see the merchant in the Parable thinking the same sort of things.

But as I kept listening to the song and then looked at the lyrics I realised this Christian band were singing about something quiet different than Jesus’s parable. Why would they want to throw away the Kingdom of Heaven, how could it be doing such bad things, consuming them and making them want to kill?

Confusion reigned until I watched an interview with them and I discovered the song is based on a book by John Steinbeck called “the pearl”. A quick check and I found out the library had a few copies so I read it and it all became clear as to what they were singing about.

Also while reading the book I realised that I was also reading a parable…

Adrian Plass once described a parable as a story that keeps your brain busy at the front door while the truth slips in through a side window and sandbags you from behind…

John Steinbeck’s parable was about a very different Pearl than Jesus’s. So todayt I’m going to write about the two parables, two parables about two very different pearls and the truth that is trying to slip in through our side windows.

Let’s start with John Steinbecks

Once upon a time there was a subsistence Pearl diver called Kino…

Kino lives in a village in Mexico at the beginning of last century. He loves his wife, Juana, very much and they have a small baby boy called Coyotito. Even though he only manages to find enough pearls to keep them fed and housed - together they are very happy.

One day however he manages to find it… a pearl the size of a sea-gulls egg and as perfect as the moon. It was the greatest pearl in the world. As he looked at it he could see his dreams form – he saw an education for his son, he saw better equipment for his pearl diving, he saw stylish clothes for his wife…. He saw his hopes his dreams his life.

He called it the pearl of the world

The pearl brought him instant celebrity status in his village. His friends and relatives crowded him and were awed at his find, they all felt a little jealousy and envy.


Also looking on were the various “independent” pearl merchants… (the middle men who would buy the pearls and sell them on (for a lovely profit) to the jewellers in the city.)

The merchants looked on with greed in their hearts. That evening they talked behind closed doors and therefore Kino did not have a good day when he went to sell his pearl.

You see Kino’s dreams had been growing. With each moment that he held the pearl his dreams, his hopes and his life plans they all grew. He was going to use it to buy equipment like a bigger boat and maybe a stronger knife. With those he’d dive and find more and more pearls. Of course he’d also need a gun…

So with his heart pounding he went to the first merchant. “It’s flawed” the merchant said “too big – it’s worthless – but I like you so I’ll take it off your hands and get rid of it…” Over and over he heard the merchants say this – and his anger grew…

He knew it had to be worth more, it just had to be. He wasn’t going to give up. The next day he and his wife would go to the city and sell it themselves. That will show the greedy parasites.

Back at his grass hut someone had been there and looking for the pearl of the world. That night he did not sleep well. He hid the pearl but he was waiting for the thieves to come. He wouldn’t let them have. If he wasn’t some poor diver they would not do this to him.

Thieves came in the night, they fought... Kino, Coyotito and his beloved wife Juana escaped. Their hut caught fire and so all they escaped with was some clothes and a few provisions they had prepared for the journey. And of course Kino still had the pearl of the world. He wouldn’t let it go

That night they set off before more thieves could try to take his pearl. Part way down the road they were attacked. Kino fought well and in the dark he took the attackers knife and killed him.

He was just a diver, no one would believe him, and he had to run, run and hide.

Into the jungle the family went and headed to a mountain with caves. Behind them Kino heard followers so he sent his baby son Coyotito and Juana ahead while he laid an ambush.

From behind he struck. The knife going into a someone’s back, Kino then turned on the other – he had a gun. A shot rang out. It missed Kino and bark from a tree spat at him, up the mountain Coyotito frightened awake began to cry. The last man turns to the sound and Kino attacks. In the struggle Kino kills again but from the gun a random blast. The babys terrified cry ceases. The mother’s mournful wail begins.

In the morning, carrying the bloody bundle of Coyotito - Kino and Juana walk numbly through the village towards the sea.

At the shore Kino throws the pearl of the world with all his might into the ocean. It sinks and settles under the mud never to be found again.

it could be the pearl
it could be our hope our dream our lives
it could be the pearl
the end of all our pain and strife could be the pearl
or it could be a demon in disguise

So what is the truth in the Parable of the Pearl of the world?

In Kino’s pearl of the world he did not find hopes he did not find his dreams and most certainly he did not find life. Instead he found corruption, deception and evil. Which together destroyed him and his family. The treasure of this world acted as a lure to the sinful nature in himself and the people around him.

Like Kino we have things that we put our hopes, dreams and life into. Like Kino if we focus too much on those things it will bring out the sinful nature within us and the corruption in the people around us. Hopefully we will differ from Kino in that we won’t end up as killers but our “pearls of the world” will not satisfy us.

We invest time, effort and our hearts into things of this world in the end they really have no value and they will destroy us.

For example. Money: It can’t buy happiness – at best you only get to rent it for a short time. In the late 80’s the decade of selfish ambition the catch prase of the Yuppie was “He who dies with the most toys wins” It was a phrase that showed no care about the future or eternity or other people just the purchase of more and more things for yourself. It showed people’s attitudes were that there is nothing after this life so we had better do what we want.

Christian’s at the time countered this phrase with one of their own “He who dies with the most toys – still dies”

What good is the Lamborghini, the plasma TV, and the mansion when you are dead? Nothing at all, they go to someone else and your body rots in the ground.
Life is more than just this body, there is an afterlife and without Jesus all the money and “pearls of this world” are just dust and ashes

Another example of a pearl of the world is Fame
Fame – I’m gonna live forever, light up the sky with my name Fame!

That was some lyrics from the title song to a movie and TV series for all you people looking confused… doing such great things that you are remembered long after you are dead and gone. Having everyone looking up to you while you are here. A real boost to the ego – people literally worshiping the ground you walk on. Not to mention auctioning your used towels on ebay.

Of any pearl of the world that’s has to be the one to go for – but then again how does that explain all the famous people with drug addictions, rock stars killing themselves, not to mention Michael Jackson.
They might be able to do some stuff astoundingly well but their lives it seems are still hollow, they want something in their lives and fame doesn’t do it. They feel all the inadequacies in them and it doesn’t match the public image – adding the guilt of a type of hypocrisy onto it all as well.

These are a couple of obvious examples – there are pearls that are a little more insidious. You base you life on them but in the end they by themselves mean nothing.

How about doing good things? You go through your life, treating others as you would like to be treated, you are generous with your money, you get a good education and a good job and you use it to benefit others, you live humbly and are not arrogant at all.

Great things- wonderful things but in the end they are still pearls of this world – what would make them a treasure in heaven is if you had the Pearl of Great Value that Jesus told a parable about…

the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The Kingdom of Heaven – to put it simply is where God is in control. It is in Heaven itself where He is, it is in the lives of all the Christians on Earth here and now, and in the past and in the future. If you are a Christian then you are a member of the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

The merchant was on the lookout for fine pearls – and he finds one. Not just any pearl but a great pearl – one that he just had to have. Being the canny merchant that he is – he sells everything he has to buy this pearl. It must have been an amazing pearl for him to risk such an investment. If it fell through he had nothing.

Humanity is the merchant. Everyone on the planet seeks something, some sort of answers to where did we come from, what is wrong with this planet and where are we going?

Some choose to ignore the questions, some acknowledge them but say we will never know, some seek answers in science, and science alone, while most of the planet have some sort of religion. A belief in something higher and greater than we are.

Christianity is one of these belief structures and it has many many unique things about it. The most major and important one is Jesus. Jesus himself is God coming to us. Through Jesus, God reaches down to us to bring us to Him. In all other religions you have to try to reach their version of god.

Because of this and what God wants in our lives and how He interacts with us – Christianity is not a “religion”, not just some sort of belief structure it is a relationship. A relationship with Jesus Christ who is God. Christ is the centre of everything we say and do and believe – that is why we are “Christ”-ians

Jesus wants us to “sell everything we have” and by that He means give up all our “Pearls of the world” and give them to him. He becomes our Lord and we his servant. Our hopes are to be what He hopes for us, our dreams are to be His dreams and our lives are his.

There are no good deeds enough for us to buy this Pearl of Great value – in actuality it is a gift to us from God and all we can do is surrender our pearls of the world back to Him.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. To confess is to state a true thing – criminals confessing to crimes – so when we confess that Jesus is Lord that means He “owns” us and the rest of the universe. We do what he wants, when he says jump we jump. We are just stating the facts.
Believing with your heart that Jesus rose from the dead is important. You see Jesus rose from the dead because he was God, Jesus died because he was paying the price for our sins and through that we have forgiveness. Part of the gift of Salvation is forgiveness. Again nothing we can do to purchase that – it is all from God – what we do is respond.

Through the bible, history and experience we have found that Jesus is a loving and kind and forgiving master – he will give us no task that we are unable to accomplish. He is there with us guiding, leading and helping us – another reason Christianity is not a religion but a relationship

Jesus has said not to worry about the Pearls of the World… Just worry about him

Matthew 6:28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus will provide the things of this world that we need. As He is our Lord then he may judge it right that we become rich or famous or whatever– but we have to use those things in his service.

For example Michael Jones when he was an All Black used his fame to promote Christianity – He still does in fact. The Bible Society of Australia a few years ago produced a special edition New Testament in which Michael, Inga Tuingamala a whole host of others. explain what Jesus means to them and how to become a Christian.

If we are a Christian then many, many things will try to come between us and Jesus. Money may make us feel like we don’t need him. Fame could distract us from his tasks. We may even be so wrapped up in learning and studying the bible that we forget to do what it says..
For you, for me, we all have to take a look at our lives and ask “Are we serving Jesus fully? What is there in our lives that keeps us from Jesus? What can we do for Him?”

Jesus warned “MT 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”


Where we go from here is nicely summed up in tonight’s second reading from 1 timothy chapter 6 beginning at verse 6. I’d like to read it again… Where Timothy talks about money – substitute it with whatever Pearls of the world you may struggle with…

1TI 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1TI 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen.

1TI 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.


Let that be our prayer - amen

I'm not in hibernation - just

Sorry about the delay - I just haven't gotten around to posting anything.

Anyway found this and had to post - normal service shall be resumed as soon as we work out just what normal is.