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Acts 2:14-32
A very long and controversial hearing was held in the Senate before Clarence Thomas was approved as a justice for the United States Supreme Court. Clarence found the process to be disgraceful and insulting. Yet, he persisted because he believed in his own innocence. Bolstered by the Holy Spirit, Clarence remained in the hearings until his Senate confirmation. Each morning during these anguished months, Clarence and his wife Virginia would meet in their home with two other couples, shut the kitchen blinds, play Christian praise music, and pray for two or three hours. It was during these prayer sessions that Clarence gained peace of soul, willing to accept whatever "God's purpose" was for him.
Peter, in his sermon in Jerusalem, introduced it by saying, "Listen to what I say." Listening to the Lord is clearly what Clarence Thomas and his wife Virginia did. The constituents in Jerusalem were willing to pause long enough to listen to Peter. And in so doing we know that all who listened received guidance. If we are willing to listen to what the Lord has to say, we shall also know God's purpose for our daily living.
Ron L.
Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Many people are frightened of cemeteries. We don't like to walk through them -- or past them -- after dark. According to superstition, you should always hold your breath when you walk by. To most, hallowed grounds are off-limits. But look past the superstitions. What is a cemetery? Not only is it a final resting place for those who once walked this earth, but it is also a record for the living of those who have gone before. Each stone is an acknowledgment of the impermanence of life and the finality of death. And each stone is a reminder of the lifetimes that we have "abandoned to Hades," as today's passage from Acts might describe it: lifetimes that we have forgotten.
Leah T.
1 Peter 1:3-9
I hated art class as a kid. I was one of those book-smart kids who would rather have done math problems than draw pictures or play games in the gym. But one thing in art class that I thought was pretty cool was painting ceramic figurines. We would use paints and glazes that would react to the extreme heat of the kiln and create this beautiful sheen over the ceramic. I always found it interesting because before the figurine would go into the kiln, the paint was rather dull and ordinary. Once the paint went through the fire, however, its true beauty would come out.
Our faith is much like that paint and glaze. Without the fires of trials and tests, our faith stays rather ordinary. But after the test, when God brings us through it, our faith becomes more pure, more sure, and more beautiful so that it may "result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (v. 7).
Craig K.
John 20:19-31
Rebecca wanted to go out to dinner with all of her friends, but had to work instead. When all seven of them piled into the van for what promised to be a really fun time at the local eatery, Rebecca climbed on her lonely bicycle and pedaled to her job at the supermarket. She felt like she was always missing out on outings with her friends because of work and other commitments. The next day when she and her friends gathered to hang out, all the others could talk about was how much fun they'd had the night before. After dinner, they had sat in the park and watched all of the outrageous people who came out in the evening. Rebecca had a hard time believing some of the stories they told -- partially because they were fantastic, but partially because she was jealous for having missed out on the fun.
Leah T.
John 20:19-31
On January 14, 2011, President Barack Obama issued his proclamation for Religious Freedom Day. In upholding the values of our nation that recognizes the separation of church and state, and that there will be no establishment of a national religion, the president noted that one is even free not to believe, Obama wrote, "The writ of the Founding Fathers has upheld the ability of Americans to worship and practice religion as they choose, including the right to believe in no religion at all."
The challenge of not to believe is what confronted Jesus when he met Thomas in the Upper Room. Thomas wanted physical proof that went beyond an affirmation of faith. Thomas wanted the freedom not to believe if the facts did not substantiate a true resurrection. Jesus offered to Thomas his hands, but we will never know if he touched. What we do know is the importance for us this day of Jesus closing remark, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
It is our right to have no religion at all. It is natural for us to question as Thomas did. But, blessed are those of us who have not seen, yet still believe.
Ron L.
A very long and controversial hearing was held in the Senate before Clarence Thomas was approved as a justice for the United States Supreme Court. Clarence found the process to be disgraceful and insulting. Yet, he persisted because he believed in his own innocence. Bolstered by the Holy Spirit, Clarence remained in the hearings until his Senate confirmation. Each morning during these anguished months, Clarence and his wife Virginia would meet in their home with two other couples, shut the kitchen blinds, play Christian praise music, and pray for two or three hours. It was during these prayer sessions that Clarence gained peace of soul, willing to accept whatever "God's purpose" was for him.
Peter, in his sermon in Jerusalem, introduced it by saying, "Listen to what I say." Listening to the Lord is clearly what Clarence Thomas and his wife Virginia did. The constituents in Jerusalem were willing to pause long enough to listen to Peter. And in so doing we know that all who listened received guidance. If we are willing to listen to what the Lord has to say, we shall also know God's purpose for our daily living.
Ron L.
Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Many people are frightened of cemeteries. We don't like to walk through them -- or past them -- after dark. According to superstition, you should always hold your breath when you walk by. To most, hallowed grounds are off-limits. But look past the superstitions. What is a cemetery? Not only is it a final resting place for those who once walked this earth, but it is also a record for the living of those who have gone before. Each stone is an acknowledgment of the impermanence of life and the finality of death. And each stone is a reminder of the lifetimes that we have "abandoned to Hades," as today's passage from Acts might describe it: lifetimes that we have forgotten.
Leah T.
I hated art class as a kid. I was one of those book-smart kids who would rather have done math problems than draw pictures or play games in the gym. But one thing in art class that I thought was pretty cool was painting ceramic figurines. We would use paints and glazes that would react to the extreme heat of the kiln and create this beautiful sheen over the ceramic. I always found it interesting because before the figurine would go into the kiln, the paint was rather dull and ordinary. Once the paint went through the fire, however, its true beauty would come out.
Our faith is much like that paint and glaze. Without the fires of trials and tests, our faith stays rather ordinary. But after the test, when God brings us through it, our faith becomes more pure, more sure, and more beautiful so that it may "result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (v. 7).
Craig K.
John 20:19-31
Rebecca wanted to go out to dinner with all of her friends, but had to work instead. When all seven of them piled into the van for what promised to be a really fun time at the local eatery, Rebecca climbed on her lonely bicycle and pedaled to her job at the supermarket. She felt like she was always missing out on outings with her friends because of work and other commitments. The next day when she and her friends gathered to hang out, all the others could talk about was how much fun they'd had the night before. After dinner, they had sat in the park and watched all of the outrageous people who came out in the evening. Rebecca had a hard time believing some of the stories they told -- partially because they were fantastic, but partially because she was jealous for having missed out on the fun.
Leah T.
John 20:19-31
On January 14, 2011, President Barack Obama issued his proclamation for Religious Freedom Day. In upholding the values of our nation that recognizes the separation of church and state, and that there will be no establishment of a national religion, the president noted that one is even free not to believe, Obama wrote, "The writ of the Founding Fathers has upheld the ability of Americans to worship and practice religion as they choose, including the right to believe in no religion at all."
The challenge of not to believe is what confronted Jesus when he met Thomas in the Upper Room. Thomas wanted physical proof that went beyond an affirmation of faith. Thomas wanted the freedom not to believe if the facts did not substantiate a true resurrection. Jesus offered to Thomas his hands, but we will never know if he touched. What we do know is the importance for us this day of Jesus closing remark, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
It is our right to have no religion at all. It is natural for us to question as Thomas did. But, blessed are those of us who have not seen, yet still believe.
Ron L.
