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Isaiah 50:4-9
After the Tucson shootings in front of the Safeway Store, where there was an attempted assassination on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the president visited the city to console the people. But President Obama was not there just for the Giffords family, but for all the families who suffered a terrible and tragic loss of a loved one. Obama's compassion and understanding of this is reflected in these words from his speech, "There is nothing I can say that will fill the sudden hole torn in your hearts."
We have all experienced sudden holes torn in our hearts. It may come from the death of a loved one or a feeling of personal failure. It was a feeling of personal failure that Isaiah experienced when he endured "insult and spitting" from those he was trying to guide and comfort. As we continue our Christian witness as Isaiah did, often there will not be anything one can say to us that will bring comfort to the holes torn in our hearts, because people will insult us and degrade the message that we share.
Ron L.
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Knowledge is a great honor and a great responsibility. Whether we are learning or teaching, we expose ourselves to disagreement, dissent, disgust. As teachers, our students may refuse to listen to the things we tell them -- either because they don't want to learn or because they are frightened by the truths they hear. As students, we open ourselves to revelations that may change our perspective on the world -- and not always in a good way. For as much information that makes us happier in our world, we learn an equal amount that makes us nervous, uncomfortable, or distrustful of others. But at the same time, learning opens us to new and exciting opportunities, thoughts, and discourses. It is a double-edged sword of benefit and detriment -- and Isaiah addresses the problems of having both the tongue of a teacher and the listening ears of a student in today's reading.
Leah T.
Philippians 2:5-11
How many times in this world have we seen people who strive for power and position humbled? Take, for instance, Bernie Madoff. Here was a man who was on the express track to the top. As a prominent New York stock broker, his net worth reached as much as $126 million. However, because he defrauded his investors to gain that wealth and the prestige that came with it, he fell far from grace, eventually receiving a 150-year prison sentence for his crimes.
This kind of life journey is the exact opposite of the kind of life Jesus led on this earth. As Paul describes it, Jesus had everything already. He was living at the right hand of the Father. Yet, instead of lording what was rightfully his over us, he chose the path of humility, even leading to a torturous death. Still, just as Madoff's rise to prominence led to his downfall, Jesus' humility has led to his being exalted as the name above every name.
Craig K.
Matthew 26:14-27
Henry Bessemer is best remembered for developing the Bessemer Process, also called the pneumatic conversion process, for making steel. His invention could produce as much steel in 24 minutes that previously took 24 hours. He revolutionized the steel making process, and because of this the last half of the nineteenth century is often called the "age of steel."
Unknown to most people is that his first invention was the "spinning projectile." He designed the spinning motion of bullets and artillery shells to increase their accuracy and destructive potential. This killing innovation was invented to assist the French and British during the Crimean War.
As we read the story of Holy Week we encounter many individuals who had conflicting and contradictory actions. Peter, who was the senior disciple, was also the one who betrayed Jesus. Judas, who was the treasurer, was the one who sold Jesus out to the authorities. Pilate, who was known to be ruthless, when facing Jesus chose to wash his hands as a declaration of innocence. What will we remember most about each individual who passes through the story this week?
Bessemer is remembered as a great steel maker, he is forgotten as an inventor of death. What will you and I be remembered for? As a follower of Christ or as one who sold him out?
Ron L.
Matthew 26:14--27:66
"What's in it for me?" One of the secrets to writing a good story is to create strong characters. A good writer looks at each character individually and asks "why?" What motivates this character to act as he or she does? In short, what's in it for them? Writers understand that characters, just like people in real life, have to be more than just "good" or "evil." There are hidden wants and needs. There have to be reasons that someone would justify doing something wrong or cruel. Don't we all just want to do the right thing? And don't we all have a sense of self-preservation? It is the conflict between this sense of preservation and the knowledge of right and wrong that creates the drama that drives novels, plays, screenplays... or real life. The question is where we draw the line between the two. And for every character -- and every person -- this line is subtly, importantly different.
Leah T.
After the Tucson shootings in front of the Safeway Store, where there was an attempted assassination on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the president visited the city to console the people. But President Obama was not there just for the Giffords family, but for all the families who suffered a terrible and tragic loss of a loved one. Obama's compassion and understanding of this is reflected in these words from his speech, "There is nothing I can say that will fill the sudden hole torn in your hearts."
We have all experienced sudden holes torn in our hearts. It may come from the death of a loved one or a feeling of personal failure. It was a feeling of personal failure that Isaiah experienced when he endured "insult and spitting" from those he was trying to guide and comfort. As we continue our Christian witness as Isaiah did, often there will not be anything one can say to us that will bring comfort to the holes torn in our hearts, because people will insult us and degrade the message that we share.
Ron L.
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Knowledge is a great honor and a great responsibility. Whether we are learning or teaching, we expose ourselves to disagreement, dissent, disgust. As teachers, our students may refuse to listen to the things we tell them -- either because they don't want to learn or because they are frightened by the truths they hear. As students, we open ourselves to revelations that may change our perspective on the world -- and not always in a good way. For as much information that makes us happier in our world, we learn an equal amount that makes us nervous, uncomfortable, or distrustful of others. But at the same time, learning opens us to new and exciting opportunities, thoughts, and discourses. It is a double-edged sword of benefit and detriment -- and Isaiah addresses the problems of having both the tongue of a teacher and the listening ears of a student in today's reading.
Leah T.
Philippians 2:5-11
How many times in this world have we seen people who strive for power and position humbled? Take, for instance, Bernie Madoff. Here was a man who was on the express track to the top. As a prominent New York stock broker, his net worth reached as much as $126 million. However, because he defrauded his investors to gain that wealth and the prestige that came with it, he fell far from grace, eventually receiving a 150-year prison sentence for his crimes.
This kind of life journey is the exact opposite of the kind of life Jesus led on this earth. As Paul describes it, Jesus had everything already. He was living at the right hand of the Father. Yet, instead of lording what was rightfully his over us, he chose the path of humility, even leading to a torturous death. Still, just as Madoff's rise to prominence led to his downfall, Jesus' humility has led to his being exalted as the name above every name.
Craig K.
Matthew 26:14-27
Henry Bessemer is best remembered for developing the Bessemer Process, also called the pneumatic conversion process, for making steel. His invention could produce as much steel in 24 minutes that previously took 24 hours. He revolutionized the steel making process, and because of this the last half of the nineteenth century is often called the "age of steel."
Unknown to most people is that his first invention was the "spinning projectile." He designed the spinning motion of bullets and artillery shells to increase their accuracy and destructive potential. This killing innovation was invented to assist the French and British during the Crimean War.
As we read the story of Holy Week we encounter many individuals who had conflicting and contradictory actions. Peter, who was the senior disciple, was also the one who betrayed Jesus. Judas, who was the treasurer, was the one who sold Jesus out to the authorities. Pilate, who was known to be ruthless, when facing Jesus chose to wash his hands as a declaration of innocence. What will we remember most about each individual who passes through the story this week?
Bessemer is remembered as a great steel maker, he is forgotten as an inventor of death. What will you and I be remembered for? As a follower of Christ or as one who sold him out?
Ron L.
Matthew 26:14--27:66
"What's in it for me?" One of the secrets to writing a good story is to create strong characters. A good writer looks at each character individually and asks "why?" What motivates this character to act as he or she does? In short, what's in it for them? Writers understand that characters, just like people in real life, have to be more than just "good" or "evil." There are hidden wants and needs. There have to be reasons that someone would justify doing something wrong or cruel. Don't we all just want to do the right thing? And don't we all have a sense of self-preservation? It is the conflict between this sense of preservation and the knowledge of right and wrong that creates the drama that drives novels, plays, screenplays... or real life. The question is where we draw the line between the two. And for every character -- and every person -- this line is subtly, importantly different.
Leah T.
