It keeps popping up, this supposed “War on Women.” What’s it about?
As I read the news, this American War on Women pales in comparison to problems in the Mid-East, in Africa, in the Ukraine, in Korea. My life is good here in the USA.
I get riled up about kidnapped school girls in Nigeria, sex trafficking in Thailand and the forcing of marriage on young Yazidi women in Iraq. These are real wars on women.
We seek justice, Lord.
Our last lesson:
Luke 23:34 (NIV)
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
We discussed the acts covered by Christ’s words: betrayal and abandonment, false accusations, mockery, whipping and death. Big stuff, cruel stuff.
I encouraged the children to be quick to forgive, even minor things. In the spirit of that discussion, I say, “Kids, I forgive you for the distractions, the interruptions, the fidgeting and side-line conversations during our VBS lessons (even when you knew exactly what you were doing). It was all good!”
Last night’s lesson came from Luke 5: the men who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Because of the crowd, they resorted to making a hole in the roof and lowering him into the room.
Some of the kids said that they wouldn’t go to that much trouble for a friend. There’s room for improvement in their caring, but, hey–you gotta give them credit for honesty.
Temptation does not equal sin.
Our Bible lesson was on the temptation of Christ (Luke 4). Temptation comes down to this:
Joshua 24:15 (ESV)
Choose this day whom you will serve.
Choose this day, this hour, this minute. Be faithful, or follow temptation’s pathway to sin?
Luke 2:41-52 was the basis of yesterday’s lesson: Jesus, age 12, stayed behind in Jerusalem, spending three days talking with the religious leaders in the Temple.
Luke 2:48-49 (NIV)
His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
Seems to me, Jesus sounds like the parent here–calm, thoughtful and honest. Yet he went back with them, obedient. And humble.
Definitely not your typical 12 year old.
It’s VBS week for our church. We recycled Standard Publishing’s Construction Zone curriculum, inspired by the road construction in front of the church. The lessons are on “Building Character Like Jesus.” Since my focus is on VBS, this week’s blog will parallel the lesson plan for each day. Day 1: Jesus was humble.
“I’m too good for that,” or
“I’m not good enough for that.”
Either way, I make it all about me. Humble is all about others.
From Desmond Tutu’s African Prayer Book:
“Lord, we praise you in Europe’s cathedrals, in America’s offerings,
And in our African songs of praise.
Lord, we thank you that we have brothers and sisters in all the world.
Be with them that make peace.
Amen.” (West Africa)
Perhaps you’ve overlooked an oft-repeated phrase from the Epistles:
Romans 16:3 (ESV)
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
Romans 16:21
Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you.
2 Corinthians 8:23
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit.
Philemon 1:23-24
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
That’s an impressive group. You can add your name to the list.
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God’s fellow workers.
So we are on God’s team, and everybody’s doing their part. We should be successful, right? Except we weren’t.
I whined to God: What are we doing wrong?
God answered me, through a sermon on the radio. I don’t know who was speaking, I don’t remember the Scripture text. I do remember this sentence, God’s answer to my question.
God doesn’t call us to succeed; He calls us to obey.
