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Jeremiah 31:27-34
Warren Buffett has been dubbed the "Oracle of Omaha," for his wide ranging views on economic, political, and social issues. He is known as the sage from Omaha, for that is where the company headquarters for his firm, Berkshire Hathaway, is located.
While he was attending the Allen & Company conference, an annual gathering of technology and media leaders, in Sun Valley, Idaho, he was asked, "What was the best advice you ever received?" The answer he offered surprised everyone, for the multibillionaire made no mention of money. Instead, he spoke about his father teaching him how to live and love. Buffett learned from his father, "The power of unconditional love. I mean, there is no power on earth like unconditional love. And I think that if you offered that to your child, I mean, you're 90% on the way home… And I would say that every parent out there that can extend that to their child at an early age, it's going to make for a better human being." Following his own advice on the triumph of love over money, Buffett lives in a modest 6,000 square foot home and is donating 99% of his wealth to charity.
Jeremiah told the Israelites there would be a new covenant. The new covenant would not be written on tablets of stone; rather God "will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts." This is the greatest advice we can share with anyone -- the love of God and neighbor needs to live in our minds and hearts. If we all practice this, then we will all be "a better human being."
Ron L.
Jeremiah 31:27-34
When you are in the third grade, times tables are one of the world's great mysteries. Third graders have to study their times tables, learn rhymes to remember them, practice with their friends. Learning times tables unlocks a whole new set of possibilities in their world of quantitative reasoning. It is difficult, but will be so rewarding once the problems are learned. Now imagine you're in college. If you walk into the room and ask what seven times three is, every person there can tell you. No one needs to be taught, no one thinks it is a great mystery. This is nothing new. Times tables are a part of college students' everyday lives -- so ingrained that they have forgotten the time when they did not know how to multiply.
Leah T.
2 Timothy 3:14--4:5
Kelly feels the pressure teaching in a public school to not share her faith. At lunch one day Fred shared that his mother was experiencing some health concerns. Kelly told him that she would "think a good thought" for his mother.
That evening Kelly felt ashamed that she did not say that she would pray for Fred's mother. Like the apostle Peter she realized that she had failed the Lord. She knew her shallow words must have grieved Jesus.
The next day before the start of classes, Kelly went to see Fred. She apologized for not saying what she really wanted to say -- that she would pray for his mother. To her surprise Fred smiled at her and told her that he too was a believer. The two teachers became friends. Kelly would continue to pray for Fred's mother as well as strength for Fred.
"Not only do I know the peace of having taken a stand for my faith," Kelly says, "I also have the joy of fellowship with another believer."
The apostle Paul was writing to his young friend Timothy to encourage him in his faith. Paul knew first hand that it is not always easy to live out the faith. Especially through the difficult days Paul wanted his friend to remember "how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Paul's desire was for his friend to keep the faith and never give up.
Tim S.
2 Timothy 3:14--4:5
In professional football, the most carefully guarded, dutifully studied, and genuinely revered object in a player's locker is the playbook. In it are all the secrets that offensive and defensive coordinators use to outwit their opponents. Players will often spend every spare moment off the field poring over those large, three-ring binders, some of which contain as many as 800 pages of plays.
Paul encourages Timothy to pour over the Word of God, his "playbook": "Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (vv. 14-15). As fellow followers of Jesus, we too ought to spend time in the Word, going through our own playbook so we'll be better equipped when we take the field.
Craig K.
Luke 18:1-8
Anthony is a good actor, but he says he doesn't want to audition for the school play. He is nervous about acting in front of other people. His friend Jessica knows that he would be perfect for a part in the show, so she takes every opportunity to try and convince Anthony to audition. Finally, after weeks of Jessica's not-so-subtle hints and flat-out pleas for him to audition, Anthony agrees to do it. He ends up with a leading role, and gets a standing ovation on the night of performance. Even though he didn't necessarily audition for the right reasons, Jessica's persistence helped him to do what he should have done -- whatever his motives.
Leah T.
Luke 18:1-8
After his death, family and friends took great care shuffling through the lab papers of Thomas Alva Edison. Discovered among the documents was the recording of an experiment repeatedly tried and failed. Scribbled along the margin, from Edison's own hand, was a message of encouragement. "When down in the mouth remember Jonah -- he came out all right!" Discouraged, disheartened, dejected, depressed -- remember those who had faith for they endured, and so shall we.
The message that Jesus offers regarding the widow can be summarized in one word -- persistence. We are to continue in fervent prayer to God. We are to continue to live in hope with God. We are to continue to believe that God will bring forth resolution and healing. Persistence is the lesson the Edison learned from the story of Jonah. Persistence is a lesson we can learn from almost every Bible story. Persistence is what the widow learned, and so should we.
Ron L.
Warren Buffett has been dubbed the "Oracle of Omaha," for his wide ranging views on economic, political, and social issues. He is known as the sage from Omaha, for that is where the company headquarters for his firm, Berkshire Hathaway, is located.
While he was attending the Allen & Company conference, an annual gathering of technology and media leaders, in Sun Valley, Idaho, he was asked, "What was the best advice you ever received?" The answer he offered surprised everyone, for the multibillionaire made no mention of money. Instead, he spoke about his father teaching him how to live and love. Buffett learned from his father, "The power of unconditional love. I mean, there is no power on earth like unconditional love. And I think that if you offered that to your child, I mean, you're 90% on the way home… And I would say that every parent out there that can extend that to their child at an early age, it's going to make for a better human being." Following his own advice on the triumph of love over money, Buffett lives in a modest 6,000 square foot home and is donating 99% of his wealth to charity.
Jeremiah told the Israelites there would be a new covenant. The new covenant would not be written on tablets of stone; rather God "will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts." This is the greatest advice we can share with anyone -- the love of God and neighbor needs to live in our minds and hearts. If we all practice this, then we will all be "a better human being."
Ron L.
Jeremiah 31:27-34
When you are in the third grade, times tables are one of the world's great mysteries. Third graders have to study their times tables, learn rhymes to remember them, practice with their friends. Learning times tables unlocks a whole new set of possibilities in their world of quantitative reasoning. It is difficult, but will be so rewarding once the problems are learned. Now imagine you're in college. If you walk into the room and ask what seven times three is, every person there can tell you. No one needs to be taught, no one thinks it is a great mystery. This is nothing new. Times tables are a part of college students' everyday lives -- so ingrained that they have forgotten the time when they did not know how to multiply.
Leah T.
2 Timothy 3:14--4:5
Kelly feels the pressure teaching in a public school to not share her faith. At lunch one day Fred shared that his mother was experiencing some health concerns. Kelly told him that she would "think a good thought" for his mother.
That evening Kelly felt ashamed that she did not say that she would pray for Fred's mother. Like the apostle Peter she realized that she had failed the Lord. She knew her shallow words must have grieved Jesus.
The next day before the start of classes, Kelly went to see Fred. She apologized for not saying what she really wanted to say -- that she would pray for his mother. To her surprise Fred smiled at her and told her that he too was a believer. The two teachers became friends. Kelly would continue to pray for Fred's mother as well as strength for Fred.
"Not only do I know the peace of having taken a stand for my faith," Kelly says, "I also have the joy of fellowship with another believer."
The apostle Paul was writing to his young friend Timothy to encourage him in his faith. Paul knew first hand that it is not always easy to live out the faith. Especially through the difficult days Paul wanted his friend to remember "how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Paul's desire was for his friend to keep the faith and never give up.
Tim S.
2 Timothy 3:14--4:5
In professional football, the most carefully guarded, dutifully studied, and genuinely revered object in a player's locker is the playbook. In it are all the secrets that offensive and defensive coordinators use to outwit their opponents. Players will often spend every spare moment off the field poring over those large, three-ring binders, some of which contain as many as 800 pages of plays.
Paul encourages Timothy to pour over the Word of God, his "playbook": "Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (vv. 14-15). As fellow followers of Jesus, we too ought to spend time in the Word, going through our own playbook so we'll be better equipped when we take the field.
Craig K.
Luke 18:1-8
Anthony is a good actor, but he says he doesn't want to audition for the school play. He is nervous about acting in front of other people. His friend Jessica knows that he would be perfect for a part in the show, so she takes every opportunity to try and convince Anthony to audition. Finally, after weeks of Jessica's not-so-subtle hints and flat-out pleas for him to audition, Anthony agrees to do it. He ends up with a leading role, and gets a standing ovation on the night of performance. Even though he didn't necessarily audition for the right reasons, Jessica's persistence helped him to do what he should have done -- whatever his motives.
Leah T.
Luke 18:1-8
After his death, family and friends took great care shuffling through the lab papers of Thomas Alva Edison. Discovered among the documents was the recording of an experiment repeatedly tried and failed. Scribbled along the margin, from Edison's own hand, was a message of encouragement. "When down in the mouth remember Jonah -- he came out all right!" Discouraged, disheartened, dejected, depressed -- remember those who had faith for they endured, and so shall we.
The message that Jesus offers regarding the widow can be summarized in one word -- persistence. We are to continue in fervent prayer to God. We are to continue to live in hope with God. We are to continue to believe that God will bring forth resolution and healing. Persistence is the lesson the Edison learned from the story of Jonah. Persistence is a lesson we can learn from almost every Bible story. Persistence is what the widow learned, and so should we.
Ron L.
