Pastor Don's Ponderings

 "You need to stand and listen to the graves of the saints." In a Zoom meeting the other day, one of the members present observed that it seems our current world culture really has not learned much from our shared past. Referencing the overt bigotry against the LGBTQIA+ community, the ongoing racial unrest in so many forms, the painful grievous nature of the ongoing warfare in Ukraine, and our shared unwillingness to extend mercy and grace to others that they not be brought low by our stiff-necked system of beliefs within the Church itself, another of the participants, a Veteran of the military and of the cross as a minister, quietly, simply said, "You need to stand and listen to the graves of the saints." That so struck me, I wrote it down immediately and have been mulling on that wisdom ever since. What does it mean to, ". . . listen to the graves of the saints"? Then came the most recent of school shootings, this one in a Nashville, Tennessee, Christian...

  I am not an athlete and, at my age, will not try to become one. Still, I am trying to become a healthier version of what God is creating me to be by working out, albeit somewhat sporadically, and the Spirit is trying to teach me a few things. So, of those true athletes who happen to read this and already know that of which I speak, please excuse the naïve observations of a maturing workout rookie. First, it is good to have something which takes your mind off of how exhausted you feel, even if it is only after about three minutes into your routine. I have found that having my ear buds tuned in and listening to my Pandora app set on the music of Victor Wooten is perfect. Wooten and friends have that perfect blend of changing rhythms in each piece of music, made all the better by the diversity of the music they play . . . some of which even I recognize! Second, and maybe more importantly, stop watching the clock. Stop watching the timekeeper on the piece of equipment you are using. ...

 "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...