You know when you get a little behind with something… been reading these – think may go onto Instagram shortly!!
Using this version:
Luke 8:
Luke 9:
Luke 10:
Luke 11:
Luke 12:
Luke 13:
Luke 14:
Luke 15:
Luke 16:
Luke 6 – Finally having seen the final in the series of #Rev this morning (I say finally, because was avoiding reading people’s posts about it since last night!) – so the Beatitudes jump right out at me, having watched Adam curled up on his bed, reciting these to himself, feeling that God is a long long long way away.
Is it helpful that I often think of this series of verses:
41 ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?42 How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,” when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
when I am thinking about the whole question of ‘tweeting in church’. So often people think that people are playing on their phones, etc. whereas often people (well, I can definitely speak for myself) are focusing in on the sermon, and sharing it with others, possibly querying something heard in a truly interactive way. If someone is paying attention to what I’m doing, what does that say for where their attention is, as it’s clearly not with the sermon?! However, who am I to judge what they are doing? 🙂
We need to understand our values, our faith, and understand what our lives are built upon, which will inform our thinking and our behaviour… to which we are answerable to God in the ultimate.
Luke 7 – Having been looking at a bit of Shane Clairborne recently – especially thinking of the title of his book ‘What is Jesus really meant everything he said?’ – there’s plenty of challenging stuff in Luke, including this chapter…
It’s interesting to look at the interactions of the people – some said, it’s enough that you give the word, other’s wanted some kind of reaction from Jesus … and the outstanding verse – those who have been forgiven much also love much!
Last year we started talking about plans around Stephen Cherry’s book Healing Agony re working together in discussions around forgiveness – possibly with The Forgiveness Project … so interesting to see this from Desmond Tutu – starting in 5 days:
Luke 5 – The chapter starts with Simon in the boat – he’s been fishing all night – it seems pointless, then Jesus says ‘just try one more time’ … and then there were SO many fish. Jesus then says that they are to become ‘fishers of men’ – sent out with a real sense of encouragement.
There’s then a sense of busyness, crowds, and lots of healing action – but to survive all this – Jesus takes time out to spend time alone in prayer…
31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Only two certainties in life, right? Death and taxes? Today’s poem deals with dying, and the sense of ‘slipping away’ … although Ernie’s comments earlier today that death for many isn’t such a comfortable time… although what most would hope for – slipping away in sleep! I loved hunting out the image above though … a comforting potential … which reminds me somewhat of the stories of Narnia – when the Pevensie family die in a train crash, but don’t feel anything – and are transported to Aslan’s country.
Luke 3 – There’s a lot in today’s reading – John proclaiming the coming of Jesus, the strong promise “every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire”, the instruction – “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same”….
Makes me think of Shane Claiborne’s Red Letter Revolution: What if Jesus really meant what he said? – lots of uncomfortable challenges.
We also have the baptism of the Holy Spirit – a third of the Trinity that we tend not to focus on too much – aside from at Spring Harvest this year! There is also a long genealogy, which can be tempting to skip through – but traces the line from Jesus back to Adam, and therefore back to God.
I have to say a breezy day (preferably a warm, breezy day) is one of my favourite kinds of weather, so I love the fact that Stephen’s poem today looks at the breeze:
When the breeze comes;
we rise to life.
I am currently pretty tired so ready to be pretty still, but then awaken at the next breeze… so I may not be all that cohesive!
Luke 2 – There’s a huge amount of thinking here from @zugzwanged – so enjoy! How do we gain this level of excitement ‘When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child’?, or the faithfulness and devout belief of Simeon and Anna … Having been talking about my book for the last couple of days, the thought of a 12 year old disappearing – I can just imagine the parent’s panic… but Jesus simply said ‘where did you expect to find me?’ … exception rather than the rule, as always…