"Every human interaction offers you the chance to make things better or to make things worse." - Barbara Brown Taylor
"You never really know the impact you have on those around you. You never know how much someone needed that smile you gave them. You never know how much your kindness turned someone's entire life around. You never know how much someone needed that long hug or deep talk. So don't wait to be kind. Don't wait for someone else to be kind first. Don't wait for better circumstances or for someone to change. Just be kind, because you never know how much someone needs it." - Anonymous
"I used to pray that God would feed the hungry, or do this or that, but now I pray that he will guide me to do whatever I'm supposed to do, what I can do. I used to pray for answers, but now I'm praying for strength. I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us and we change things." - Mother Teresa
We continue to encourage everyone to read the gospel of Luke during the season of Lent. This week's reading is Luke 19:28-22:6. Think about the following questions as you read, especially if you are planning to attend our Teaching service this Thursday, March 25, at 6:30, online or in person (which I encourage you to do!):
What do you think of, or maybe, who do you think of, when you think of "king" (or "queen" or some other title that represents royalty)?
How do you feel about the fact that the gospels vary slightly in their presentation of the story of Jesus?
As long as people read Scripture, some will get it wrong. Maybe I will get it wrong. Maybe you will get it wrong. How willing are we to accept that our understanding of certain Bible passages might be wrong? Is that possible?
What does the allegory in Luke 19:39-40 mean to you?
Has Jesus confronted you, in any number of ways, and if so, how did you react - more like King David when confronted by Nathan for his sin against Bathsheba, that is repenting, or more like the leaders who were prideful, making excuses, and looking for a way out, still wanting to arrest Jesus?
In what ways do we betray Jesus?
I encourage you to make the most of these final days of Lent, twelve in all by my count as of today, before we reach the glorious time of Easter Sunday morning.
Grace and Hope,
Pastor Duane
