PEOPLE OF FAITH ARE NOT TAKING ACTION

Our politicians are not listening to "the least of these"-
the citizens.  As long as people of faith do not take action
to reclaim our democracy from the corrupting influence of
big money, our politicians will continue to subvert the faithful
citizens constitutional citizens constitutional authority to be
represented.
     Under the current crony capitalism system, our ability as
people of faith to respond appropriately to the needs of
"the least of these" will continue to be overwhelmed as more
Americans are pushed into poverty through lack of opportunity.
Nor will our nation address climate change. 
     The suffrage and civil rights movements would not have
succeeded if not for the strong participation of faith
congregations and their members.  We must again have a
dream and prayerfully act to make it a reality.
(George Penn)

REAL SECURITY

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them",
says Jesus, "and they follow Me. I give them
eternal life, and they will never perish, and no
one will snatch them out of My hand."
John 10:27-28
Jesus says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I
know them!" You and I matter to Him always!
Jesus says, "I give My sheep eternal life, and
they will never perish!" Jesus Himself is the
Source, then, of our abundant life, to face
whatever we're facing at the moment!
And, when it comes to facing the fears and
terrors of this world, our Lord and Savior makes
an eternal promise to His people: "No one will
snatch them out of My hand." Real security for
life; COUNT ON IT!.
OUR FAITH IS OUR REAL SECURITY!!
Dear Lord Jesus, there are fears -- real fears in
this world. But you are a real Savior that calls
for real faith that can overcome all those fears.
Give us that kind of faith today, not only to trust
You, indeed, so that we might do what is right,
but to do all things in faith without fear. Amen.
(excerpts from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

THE ART OF LIVING

Henry Thoreau once wrote that the "greatest of all
arts is the 'art of living.'" He said that the people
who practice this highest of arts are not artists in
the usual sense of painters, sculptors, authors,
dancers, actors or musicians. Rather, they are the
ones who, through the nobility and kindliness and
generosity of their lives, contribute to the enrichment
of the lives of others. And of course it all begins within.

OUR NEIGHBOR

Verse
I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened
me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his
service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor,
and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had
acted ignorantly in unbelief,and the grace of our Lord
overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in
Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:12-14
Voice
Forgiving is not forgetting; its actually remembering —
remembering and not using your right to hit back. Its a second
chance for a new beginning. And the remembering part is
particularly important. Especially if you dont want to repeat
what happened.
Desmond Tutu
Prayer
Christ Jesus, when we sin against our neighbors, we also sin
against you. And yet we approach you confidently in knowledge
of your eternal and infinite grace, asking for forgiveness. Give us
the grace, then, to ask for the forgiveness of our neighbors and,
when the time comes, to forgive them when they sin against us.
(Sojourners)

ALL CHRISTIANS A REMINDER

To All Those who follow "The Way", through all this
political rhetoric please remember what we follow!

Love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31).
Do to others what you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12).
Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will
die by the sword (Matthew 26:52).
Do not judge, less you be judged (Matthew 7:1).
Let he who has not sinned throw the first stone (John 8:7)
You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13).
But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you
on the right cheek, turn to him the other also (Matthew 5:39).
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27).
And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him
have your cloak as well (Matthew 5:40).

SEVEN DEADLY SOCIAL SINS

1.  Politics without principal
2.  Wealth without work
3.  Commerce without morality
4.  Pleasure without conscience
5.  Education without character
6.  Science without humanity
7.  Worship without sacrifice
          GANDHI

TENDERNESS

The righteous know the needs of their animals,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
Proverbs 12:10
Voice
Kindness and compassion towards all living things is
a mark of a civilized society. Conversely, cruelty,
whether it is directed against human beings or against
animals, is not the exclusive province of any one
culture or community of people.
Cesar Chavez
Prayer
God of tenderness, grow within us the inexhaustible
mercy that proceeds from you, and help us to see the
beauty of your creation present in all living things.
(Sojourners)

STRUCK BY A METEORITE

"Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe"
(John 20:29).
According to NASA officials, no one has ever been killed
by a meteorite strike -- that is until a few weeks ago.
As some of you may have read in recent news accounts,
"a man was killed after being struck by a meteorite in India,
apparently becoming the first person in recorded history to
die in such a manner." Talk about bad luck! The man died
after suffering severe injuries while walking on a college
campus where the meteorite struck, the Wall Street Journal
reported. Three others were hurt in the blast.
Fortunately, injuries from Meteorite strikes are incredibly rare.
NASA experts explained that while the likelihood of a person
being killed by a meteorite is infinitesimally small, it is
reasonable and logical to assume that the likelihood
increases in proportion to the size of the impacting comet or
asteroid.-1
The Apostle John has written, "No one has ever seen God."
That is a reasonable, logical statement. We may even joke
that we have a better chance of being struck by a meteorite
than seeing God. When we see in this sense, we see objects,
things outside of us whether near or far.
In today's Gospel Lesson, the disciple Thomas' confession --
"My Lord and my God" -- is the most profound expression of
Jesus' Lordship and Divinity to be found in all of Scripture. It
goes beyond belief in what Thomas saw before him -- the
Risen Jesus. It expresses our Christian belief in its fullness:
MY LORD IS RISEN.
(Sunday Sermons Online)