Blessings
Bob Wickizer
Daniel 7:1-3,15-18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11-23; Luke 6:20-31
Blessings
In the 1990s I was managing a huge software project in Korea. For a while, I had an apartment in Seoul, another apartment in Toronto, and a family in Silicon Valley. We had a very comfortable life and I racked up tons of frequent flier miles. My father died during that time, and a call to ordained ministry began to make itself known like having a rock in your shoe when you are hiking.
When I mentioned the call to my wife, the first thing she said was "I don't want to be poor" to which I replied from today's gospel, "But the poor are blessed." She was not amused.
Had we ignored the call and remained in California, the profit we would have made on our old house exceeded all the income we earned from the church in twenty-two years. But we are blessed. And so are you.
Today we find ourselves thinking about loved ones who have gone before us. Our thoughts turn to heaven, eternity, and the goodness of souls. We look away from the mistakes and undesirable times with our loved ones so that the good things about them shine brightly in our memories. I imagine that God forgives us in much the same way we cherish our loved ones who were, after all, only human with their faults and shortcomings.
While we are having fond memories of the saints before us, some of us may be anticipating the future with fear and dread. At every level from local to global, lies and hate have been monetized so that a great deal of money can be made by anyone willing to spread falsehoods and hatred towards other people.
What does Jesus want us to do with this situation and what will be our fate?
Even though the blessings and woes are more of a collection of sayings, they give us explicit instructions on what to do and what will happen to us.
What are we to do? Easier said than done
Love our enemies. When you see the leader of Russia or a national political figure you desp ...
Bob Wickizer
Daniel 7:1-3,15-18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11-23; Luke 6:20-31
Blessings
In the 1990s I was managing a huge software project in Korea. For a while, I had an apartment in Seoul, another apartment in Toronto, and a family in Silicon Valley. We had a very comfortable life and I racked up tons of frequent flier miles. My father died during that time, and a call to ordained ministry began to make itself known like having a rock in your shoe when you are hiking.
When I mentioned the call to my wife, the first thing she said was "I don't want to be poor" to which I replied from today's gospel, "But the poor are blessed." She was not amused.
Had we ignored the call and remained in California, the profit we would have made on our old house exceeded all the income we earned from the church in twenty-two years. But we are blessed. And so are you.
Today we find ourselves thinking about loved ones who have gone before us. Our thoughts turn to heaven, eternity, and the goodness of souls. We look away from the mistakes and undesirable times with our loved ones so that the good things about them shine brightly in our memories. I imagine that God forgives us in much the same way we cherish our loved ones who were, after all, only human with their faults and shortcomings.
While we are having fond memories of the saints before us, some of us may be anticipating the future with fear and dread. At every level from local to global, lies and hate have been monetized so that a great deal of money can be made by anyone willing to spread falsehoods and hatred towards other people.
What does Jesus want us to do with this situation and what will be our fate?
Even though the blessings and woes are more of a collection of sayings, they give us explicit instructions on what to do and what will happen to us.
What are we to do? Easier said than done
Love our enemies. When you see the leader of Russia or a national political figure you desp ...
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