Pastors TLC Notes

Friday, September 18. 2009

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 3:8a

I love the image this verse creates! God and us, sitting together, and the more our relationship grows, we slide a little closer on the sofa to God and God slides closer to us until we’re side to side, arm in arm, engaged in the best conversation of Life!

A Trinity friend sent me this story some time ago. A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed a bag with Twinkies and cans of root beer, and started out on his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he saw an old man, sitting on a bench in the park, feeding some pigeons that had flocked around him on the ground. The little boy sat down next to the old man, took a soda can from his bag and was about to take a drink when he thought that perhaps the old man might be hungry, too. He offered him one of his Twinkies. The old man gratefully accepted it and smiled at the little boy. His smile was so incredible that the little boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Once again, the old man smiled at the little boy.

The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon, eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the little boy realized how tired he was, so he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man and gave him a hug. The old man gave him the biggest smile ever. When the boy entered his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “I had lunch with God.”

Before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? He’s got the most-beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the peaceful look on his dad’s face, so he asked, “Dad, what did you do, today, that made you so happy?” He replied, “I ate Twinkies and drank a root beer, in the park, with God.”

But, before his son responded, he added, “You know, He’s much younger than I imagined.”

Did you meet God this week through someone? Did someone meet God through you?

Peace to you!

Mary Beth Commisso

mbjerry@comcast.net

Readings for the week

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Psalm 54

Judges 6:1-10

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Friday, September 18, 2009

Psalm 54

1 Kings 22:24-40

Romans 11:25-32

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Psalm 54

2 Kings 17:5-18

Matthew 23:29-39

Sunday, September 20, 2009 - Lectionary 25 - Pentecost 16

Jeremiah 11:18-20 or Wisdom 1:16-2:1, 12-22

Psalm 54

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

Mark 9:30-37

Monday, September 21, 2009 - Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

Psalm 139:1-18

2 Kings 5:1-14

James 4:8-17

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Psalm 139:1-18

2 Kings 11:21-12:16

James 5:1-6

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Psalm 139:1-18

Jeremiah 1:4-19

John 8:21-38

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Psalm 19:7-14

Exodus 18:13-27

Acts 4:13-31

Posted by Amy at 10:56

Friday, September 4. 2009

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. James 2:14-17

The letter of James was a bone of contention for Luther, who once referred to it as an “epistle of straw” because he felt it did not reflect the Gospel message that we are saved by grace and not by our own actions. But considering the practices of the church at the time Luther lived–with some church leaders their noble patrons making a good living selling indulgences for the forgiveness of one’s sins–you can understand that Luther could read James as if it were putting emphasis on our own ability to “earn” or “buy” a place in God’s kingdom. But even Luther later dropped that reference to James in later publications of his writings.

When I read this passage from James, my mind always makes an association with Jesus’ reference to himself as the Vine (John 15:5: I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing). A robust vine or fruit tree doesn’t make a choice to bear fruit–it just can’t help itself because that’s what its purpose is. I think as Christians, when we are healthy branches of the Jesus vine, we also just can’t help but produce fruit–do good works in Jesus’ name–because the love and the life he gives us make us realize that it is our purpose. The good works we do are the fruit of our life in Jesus.

So, if you are fortunate enough to have an over-productive garden this year, or you are the recipient of extra zucchini gifted from the garden of a friend, let that reminder of abundant fruit inspire you to continue to grow and blossom in God’s garden!

Peace to you!

Mary Beth Commisso

Readings for the week

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Psalm 146

Isaiah 30:27-33

Romans 2:1-11

Friday, September 4, 2009

Psalm 146

Isaiah 32:1-8

Romans 2:12-16

Saturday, September 5, 2009