Pastor Don's Ponderings

It appeared this morning on today's edition of Sunday Morning on the local CBS network, a segment about the banning of books in our school systems and, by extension, in our local libraries. Much of the segment gave credit for the bans to an organization ironically named, 'Moms for Liberty'. Liberty must certainly have a different meaning today from when I grew up, but I digress. As I viewed the segment and the related story concerning the backlash from others across the country committed to making books, all kinds of books, available to anyone who wants to read them, it occurred to me that if we do not take this kind of oppressive authoritarian behavior seriously now and try to stop it, the next thing you know they will be trying to ban lascivious flowers and their colors, wherever they may be found - because, you know, flowers include the colors of the rainbow - and so much more. Having just received some absolutely stunning pictures of Spring flowers at Diamond Valley La...

 "Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and your visited me. . . . . I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me." Matthew 25.35-36, 40b CEB This is the parable by which Jesus completes the fifth and last major block of His teachings in the Gospel of Matthew. The first major teaching block in Matthew is known as the Sermon on the Mount and begins with Jesus addressing the crowds with what we now commonly call The Beatitudes, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven . . . " From the first teaching block to the last, from blessings to judgment on the lips of God's Son - and I am caused to ponder: Have you ever wond...