Some people have known being on a road ‘hell-bent for destruction.’ Their lives are reeling out of control and the only option seems to crash and burn. Others know the feeling of wandering on a road that seems to be going nowhere. They feel unfulfilled, and maybe alone not quite sure how to make things change. And yet others, are quite comfortable where they are on no road at all. “Let’s just leave things exactly as they are,” they think, while in truth the journey goes on without them. I also know people who are in such fear or darkness that the very idea of traveling down any road causes great anxiety.

Jesus knew those roads. Here he is traveling to Jerusalem. Fear? Yup, I am sure he knew that. Certain destruction? Well, that appears to be what he was heading for. Alone? You bet. He knows what we go through.

Yet, there is more to the Palm Sunday Story. Jesus was also to be triumphant. King. Messiah. Knowing the end of the story, victory over death, helps us to be able to cry out from whatever road we are on with hope. Hosanna! Hosanna! Save, we pray! Save, we pray! (Hosanna in Hebrew means ‘save, we pray’.)

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, people cried out to be saved. Shall we join them?

Prayers, Linda

New Life begins at Easter

To be discerning is to be steeped in faith, like the saints whose insights were gifts from God.  Doing discernment involves the individual and the community in a process.

Framing – identify the focus for discernment of God’s will

Grounding – form a guiding principle from values (can put our value word cloud here)

Shedding – laying aside ego, preconceived notions…

Rooting – connecting to biblical stories, themes or images

Listening – for the prompting of the Holy Spirit

Exploring – identify possible options which are grounded by #2.

Improving – in consultation improve each option till they are the best they can be

Weighing – Sort and test, “weigh” each option

Closing – move to the selection of an option

Resting – allow the choice to rest near your heart

 I am happy to help any with the process.

Linda

There are numerous things we can do in our everyday lives that help protect God’s creation, such as conserving energy and reducing waste. And that’s good, for the very first chapter of the Bible, Genesis 1, tells us that one of man’s major responsibilities is to care for the environment. You could say Genesis 1 is the ultimate environmental manifesto.

Amidst this environmental concern is also tremendous confusion, and it lies with the wrong focus. Some environmentalists worship nature more than the God of all nature. Some worship creation more than the creator. It is as ludicrous as having a greater awe for the painting, Mona Lisa, than for her creator, Leonardo da Vinci.

When nature is supreme, we get confused and misguided. When nature is respected and managed out of obedience to God, the Creator, then we’re able to care for the environment in a way that makes sense, in a way that’s best for all.

In the gospel lesson for last Sunday Luke 13:10-17 Jesus encouraged people to look differently at the law.  Was the law helping God’s people or holding them back?  Very soon we will be asked to participate in the federal election thus having our say into the law of Australia.  As we do, we will certainly look to a party which matches our view the most closely, so that we can be somewhat confident that our opinions will prevail.

So, does participating in the election end our responsibility to impact law?  By no means!  We are highly dependent on our media for information on the issues.  The Uniting Church has researched many issues and the full implications of proposed legislation and government spending.  This research is available on the web (if you do not have access to the web then simply ask me for a printed copy) so that we have a more detailed understanding of the impact of law that may on the surface sound like a good idea.

After we become as informed as possible, we should not only vote but also speak out.  Contact the elected federal member and encourage them to look at the detail that may have been lost in the media.  Jesus was active in his faith not to destroy or disobey the law but to influence those who held power to consider the care of God’s people as the priority.  As disciples we must do the same.

Please take a few minutes before the election to become better informed, visit –

http://www.unitingjustice.org.au/election2013

Many Christians have a hard time understanding why on the cross Christ cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” On the surface, it seems contradictory to what we know of Christ, His understanding of His earthly mission, and His relationship with God. But the truth is that instead of being a contradiction, these words are actually a wonderful blessing for all of us!

Understand that when Jesus said those words, it was the exact moment He took all our sins upon Himself. And because God will have nothing to do with sin, Jesus was separated from His Heavenly Father. It’s a picture of God having to turn away when His Son took that awful punishment of absorbing all of our sins. So, Jesus cried out because He was separated from His Father for the only time in all eternity.

Here is what is so wonderful about Christ doing this. What do we do when we face tragedy, disappointments, and rejection in our lives? Our tendency is to cry out to God, “Why? Why have You allowed this?” It’s so encouraging to realize that the God of the universe understands when we ask Him, “Why?” He knows pain and He knows what it’s like to ask, “Why Lord? Why?”

John 14:26 – But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name , will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

‘Will remind you,’ there is that story telling theme again.  When we hear again Jesus words, we should be reminded that God did send his Spirit and that we have been left with peace.  Do we live as if this is true? Do we trust that whatever the future is, God is faithful?  Do we take joy in God’s work today or long for past days?

Listen to the stories again of God’s faithfulness to the people of the Granite Belt congregations: stories of camps, Sunday schools and fetes: stories of worship, witness and service to the community. Be reminded that God’s Spirit filled this region then and now.

When we hear the stories of God’s faithfulness to God’s people, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness to us.  Jesus said, ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.’

Go in peace to love and serve the LORD!

Linda