Pastor Don's Ponderings

 "The Lord is my shepherd . . ." How many of you, in simply reading those words, continued on with the remainder of Psalm 23? Many, I suspect - and quite a few of those spoke it in the language and meter of the King James Version, just as King David wrote it, some believe (tongue in cheek).  Regardless how you hear it or speak them, those words in my heart are a profound statement of faith, a witness to where my soul sinks its deepest root. "The Lord is my shepherd . . ." unambiguously states that no one else is, which is critically important to remember in these days, especially as we enter Advent preparation. "The Lord is my shepherd . . ." calls me to trust the Child more. "The Lord is my shepherd . . ." invokes a spirit of patience in waiting for His arrival. "The Lord is my shepherd . . ." beckons the timid of being to be strong in His care. "The Lord is my shepherd . . ." provides rest in the nighttime of our restlessnes...

"A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."  (Isaiah 40:3-5 NRSV) The story was recently told of a boss who, when confronted with their lack of production, absence of truthfulness, and willingness to plagiarize without thought of credit to others, simply looked at the person leveling the complaint and shouted, 'Do you know who I am?" A thousand potential answers filled the recipient's mind at that moment, but silence seemed to be the most appropriate and, given that the two Board members present offered no support, the intimidation of the bully-boss held sway. So it seems to continue in a myriad of ways in our culture today, '...