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Illustration
Object:
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
In 2006, in the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, Charles Carl Roberts IV entered a small, one-room Amish schoolhouse and shot ten girls, ranging in age from six to thirteen, killing five of them, before turning the gun on himself. While there were many school shootings before and since (this shooting was the third in the United States in less than a week), what made this tragedy stand out was the reaction of those in the Amish community. While no one would have blamed them for harboring anger, even rage, at the gunman for this senseless act of violence, the community chose instead to forgive the gunman. They attended his funeral and even set up a fund for Roberts' family. This reaction even drew the attention of the national media, astonished that any group of people could react to a situation like this with forgiveness.
While the Amish community's forgiveness may have been unusual, it points back to the nature of the God who created all of us, as described by Joel: "Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster" (v. 13). This attribute of God is especially seen in this time of Lent, a period of repentance and return.
Craig K.
2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
The poem "Poor Angus" by children's poet Shel Silverstein is written as if it were a conversation between an unknown speaker and a young man named Angus. "What do you do, poor Angus, when hunger makes you cry?" the speaker asks. Angus replies: "I fix myself an omelet, sir, of fluffy clouds and sky." When he is cold, Angus says that he "sews himself a warm cloak, sir, of hope and daffodils." Despite the lack of a roof over his head, food in his belly, and warm clothes on his back, the poor Angus of the poem refuses to be downtrodden. The only time "I feel I'm really poor," Angus says, is when Catherine, his love, is gone away. Although the speaker in the poem obviously feels that Angus should be more upset about his lack of material possessions, Angus himself knows that, with love, he has more than he needs.
Leah T.
2 Corinthians 5:20--6:10
In January of 2011, when Dan Uggla signed the contract to be the coach of the Atlanta Braves, he did so because he knew he was signing onto a winning team. In the press conference that followed the signing, Uggla said, "This team is ready to win right now. The core group is going to be here a long time. We have the pieces in place to win for a long time." The core group, to which Uggla referred, had previously known disappointment. But, having endured those trials on the field, Uggla realized they are now ready to win. From the team's past failures, they have learned to go forward.
Paul speaks of Christians in terms of, "through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities." It was because of these trials and tribulations that the members of the Corinthian church were going to be able to move forward. The "Corinthian team" was ready to win.
Persecutions that come upon us because of our witness for Jesus are not welcomed but these afflictions, hardships, and calamities build the endurance to make us go forward. Shared together as a congregation, they make us a team for Christ.
Ron L.
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Volunteering is often a thankless job. Most volunteers are in the background, doing the little things, not getting a lot of attention. At many disasters or emergencies, it is the celebrities or the politicians making appearances that garner all the media. However, the television stations rarely stick around to see the nameless volunteers staying to help weeks and months afterward.
In volunteering as well as faith, notoriety isn't the goal. Those who seek attention already get their reward. But as Jesus said, "do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (vv. 3-4).
Craig K.
In 2006, in the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, Charles Carl Roberts IV entered a small, one-room Amish schoolhouse and shot ten girls, ranging in age from six to thirteen, killing five of them, before turning the gun on himself. While there were many school shootings before and since (this shooting was the third in the United States in less than a week), what made this tragedy stand out was the reaction of those in the Amish community. While no one would have blamed them for harboring anger, even rage, at the gunman for this senseless act of violence, the community chose instead to forgive the gunman. They attended his funeral and even set up a fund for Roberts' family. This reaction even drew the attention of the national media, astonished that any group of people could react to a situation like this with forgiveness.
While the Amish community's forgiveness may have been unusual, it points back to the nature of the God who created all of us, as described by Joel: "Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster" (v. 13). This attribute of God is especially seen in this time of Lent, a period of repentance and return.
Craig K.
2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
The poem "Poor Angus" by children's poet Shel Silverstein is written as if it were a conversation between an unknown speaker and a young man named Angus. "What do you do, poor Angus, when hunger makes you cry?" the speaker asks. Angus replies: "I fix myself an omelet, sir, of fluffy clouds and sky." When he is cold, Angus says that he "sews himself a warm cloak, sir, of hope and daffodils." Despite the lack of a roof over his head, food in his belly, and warm clothes on his back, the poor Angus of the poem refuses to be downtrodden. The only time "I feel I'm really poor," Angus says, is when Catherine, his love, is gone away. Although the speaker in the poem obviously feels that Angus should be more upset about his lack of material possessions, Angus himself knows that, with love, he has more than he needs.
Leah T.
2 Corinthians 5:20--6:10
In January of 2011, when Dan Uggla signed the contract to be the coach of the Atlanta Braves, he did so because he knew he was signing onto a winning team. In the press conference that followed the signing, Uggla said, "This team is ready to win right now. The core group is going to be here a long time. We have the pieces in place to win for a long time." The core group, to which Uggla referred, had previously known disappointment. But, having endured those trials on the field, Uggla realized they are now ready to win. From the team's past failures, they have learned to go forward.
Paul speaks of Christians in terms of, "through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities." It was because of these trials and tribulations that the members of the Corinthian church were going to be able to move forward. The "Corinthian team" was ready to win.
Persecutions that come upon us because of our witness for Jesus are not welcomed but these afflictions, hardships, and calamities build the endurance to make us go forward. Shared together as a congregation, they make us a team for Christ.
Ron L.
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Volunteering is often a thankless job. Most volunteers are in the background, doing the little things, not getting a lot of attention. At many disasters or emergencies, it is the celebrities or the politicians making appearances that garner all the media. However, the television stations rarely stick around to see the nameless volunteers staying to help weeks and months afterward.
In volunteering as well as faith, notoriety isn't the goal. Those who seek attention already get their reward. But as Jesus said, "do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (vv. 3-4).
Craig K.
