tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81837962850577377912023-11-16T15:07:22.246+02:00Rockinthought (Pete in Prayer)A daily reflection on the Scriptures. Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.comBlogger544125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-72612596805778157682019-08-03T15:13:00.002+02:002019-08-03T15:15:16.444+02:00<div class="MsoNormal">
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-11625016280946631632019-08-03T15:09:00.004+02:002019-08-03T15:12:07.737+02:00I have a New Website<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a new website! I spent a lifetime expressing myself in words: through sermons, articles, books, teaching series, and daily thoughts. I have begun to collect some of this together in one place : take a look at this brand new website located under my name. <a href="mailto:petegrassow@co.za">petegrassow@co.za</a><u5:p class=""></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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I am resuming writing on my blog, which has been moved over to the website.<u5:p class=""></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-52357495571259875382017-04-01T21:48:00.000+02:002017-04-01T21:48:16.703+02:00Lazarus and the dark deeds of powerful people. <div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">Let me tell you the story of a Head of State: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">He was the deputy to his brother – and many believed
that he plotted his brother’s downfall. While he bided his time he married his
friend’s wife, and had an affair with his brother’s daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">Then the moment came for him to push his brother
aside and take over as head of state. As Head of State, he became more and more
autocratic. He refused to answer to parliament, and moved the decision-making process
to his office. He valued loyalty to himself above all else, and dismissed any
members of his cabinet who did not obey him. He also set out to punish those people of truth
and integrity who opposed his decisions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">…..
anyone know this man’s name?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">I refer to the Roman Emperor <b>Domitian</b> – who ruled Rome from 81-96AD. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">He is particularly remembered for his persecution
of Christians – because they opposed his self-serving government. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">It was in this period that John wrote his gospel. This
was a time when the empire seemed to be engulfed in darkness. And John wanted
to tell the good news: that Jesus comes as a light in the darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">And so John tells a story about Jesus bringing
light into a dark tomb: The story of Jesus and Lazarus is a story about Jesus who
comes to breathe fresh air into dark tombs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">And I suspect that we need to hear this today – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">Because our news this week has been filled with political
actions that took place under the cover of darkness – deeds that smell of decay
and death!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">Jesus comes to us today and says “Do not let your
fear rule you!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">When the Christian Community hears Jesus, we come
out of our tomb and we are not afraid – because Jesus comes to breathe fresh air
into the places of death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE;">Therefore when a head of state uses his office for
deeds of darkness, the early Christians said “No – in Jesus name there will be
light”. So too today: we as followers of
Jesus oppose powerful people when they want to bring darkness; we shall say “No
- in the Name of Jesus there will be light”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-53648991056535785222014-12-24T14:04:00.000+02:002014-12-24T14:04:05.716+02:00Reconciliation<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
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<b><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">2Corinthians 5:16</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> From now on, therefore, we
regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from
a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. <span style="color: teal;">17</span> So if
anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away;
see, everything has become new! <span style="color: teal;">18</span> All this is from God, who reconciled us to
himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; <span style="color: teal;">19</span> that is, in
Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses
against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. <span style="color: teal;">20</span> So we are
ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat
you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. <span style="color: teal;">21</span> For our sake he made him to be sin who knew
no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
story is told of Christmas Eve 1914 when 100 000 British and German troops
were involved in an unofficial truce along the length of the Western
Front. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: 1.0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Captain Sir Edward Hulse Bart reported how
a sing-song which "ended up with 'Auld lang syne' which we all, English,
Scots, Irish, Prussians, Wurttenbergers, etc, joined in. It was absolutely
astounding, and if I had seen it on a cinematograph film I should have sworn
that it was faked !<a href="file:///C:/Users/Pete/Documents/My%20Dropbox/Daily%20Devotion/Advent/Christmas%20week/Christmas%20Eve.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
annual celebration of the birth of Jesus becomes a moment when the love of God
breaks into our grubby, selfish lives. Heaven touched earth, and God’s love was
found in a simple cattle trough “<i>reconciling
the world to himself</i>”. Christmas becomes a moment to glimpse the love of
God in the simple act of soldiers singing together instead of shooting each
other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
sadness of Christmas Eve 1914 is that this was only a temporary respite: the
war dragged on for another four years before people found a way of stopping the
fighting. My prayer is that this Christmas may be more than a temporary respite
from our foolish self-interested lives. Once
again Christmas Eve holds out hope for love, kindness - and even for reconciliation.
We have the opportunity for a new beginning: </span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Christmas
challenges us to show generous kindness in giving gifts, laughing together, and
reaching out to one another.... for the next 365 days!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Pete/Documents/My%20Dropbox/Daily%20Devotion/Advent/Christmas%20week/Christmas%20Eve.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="reference-text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Regan, Geoffrey.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="reference-text"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Military Anecdotes</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="reference-text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">(1992) Guinness Publishing</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0851125190"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">ISBN 0-85112-519-0</span></a><span class="reference-text"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> p140-142.</span></span></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-61076792575644185042014-12-19T21:37:00.001+02:002014-12-19T21:37:30.197+02:00Seeing a great light<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
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<b><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Isaiah
9:1</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> But there will be no gloom for those who were
in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and
the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of
the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. <span style="color: teal;">2</span> The people
who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of
deep darkness--on them light has shined. <span style="color: teal;">3</span> You have multiplied the nation, you have
increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as
people exult when dividing plunder. <span style="color: teal;">4</span> For the yoke of their burden, and the bar
across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the
day of Midian. <span style="color: teal;">5</span> For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. <span style="color: teal;">6</span> For a child
has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace. <span style="color: teal;">7</span>
His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with
justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal
of the LORD of hosts will do this. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
580BC </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Nebuchadnezzar II imposed his rule on the children
of Israel by conquest. Their leaders were taken off to Babylon, while the
peasants stayed behind to produce crops for their new rulers. The poor worked
the land to make Babylon wealthy – and prayed for God to rescue them from their
corrupt rulers.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Prophet Isaiah responds by assuring the
children of Israel that God has not forgotten them. He says that the day will
come when a ruler will emerge to lift the burden of the oppressed and bring those
in darkness into the light... </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his
kingdom”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> .</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
above passage has various interpretations: Jewish belief holds that this refers
to past events, specifically the birth and reign of King Hezekiah. <a href="file:///C:/Users/Pete/Documents/My%20Dropbox/Daily%20Devotion/Advent/Week%203/Friday.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Christian interpretation holds that this
passage points to the coming of Jesus, who will bring peace, justice and
righteousness. The difficulty with these interpretations lies with agency: <i>the essential question</i> is whether we
wait for God to “drop in” and rescue us – or whether we hear the call of God to
become his partners in bringing light to a dark world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
Christmas challenges us afresh: are we willing to be part of the plan of God to
bring light to our world, or will we exist in the darkness? Put differently –
will we continue to complain about corrupt, self-serving leaders and immoral
and faithless individuals, or will we become part of establishing the kingdom
values of as taught by Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
choice is yours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Fourth Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">4. God is with us<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 32. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">This reflection is from my own devotional exercises
for the day.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-79801866369327192192014-12-18T22:35:00.000+02:002014-12-18T22:35:56.273+02:00“I will rescue them”<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
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<b><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Ezekiel 34:11</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> For thus says the Lord GOD: I
myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. <span style="color: teal;">12</span> As
shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">sheep, <i>so I will seek out my
sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered
on a day of clouds and thick darkness. <span style="color: teal;">13</span> I will bring them out from the peoples and
gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I
will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the
inhabited parts of the land. <span style="color: teal;">14</span> I will feed them with good pasture, and the
mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in
good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of
Israel. <span style="color: teal;">15</span>
I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie
down, says the Lord GOD. <span style="color: teal;">16</span> I will seek the lost, and I will bring back
the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak,
but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ezekiel
was a Jewish prophet who was carried off into exile by the Babylonians and settled
in Tel Abib , probably not far from the city of Nippur. He addressed the recurring
question of the Jewish people: <i>did Yahweh’s
authority extend beyond the borders of Palestine and over the official
Babylonian god Marduk?</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr12ryavg7SGBakMicyZ3aqLJh-zVfYC6mF8JuA34a-IvjagqW24s4iqqprRxN1SpvlljOzlCd0YT-6mwPE5Vanx6mx5mMnsubYqyCdCif-rqpL_MPSxXCvRakWCVn5Eyb0w3IQehco6Tu/s1600/shepherd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr12ryavg7SGBakMicyZ3aqLJh-zVfYC6mF8JuA34a-IvjagqW24s4iqqprRxN1SpvlljOzlCd0YT-6mwPE5Vanx6mx5mMnsubYqyCdCif-rqpL_MPSxXCvRakWCVn5Eyb0w3IQehco6Tu/s1600/shepherd1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Indeed
so’ says Ezekiel. Yahweh will gather the scattered sheep “</span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">from all the places to which they
have been scattered”. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Their God is like a protective shepherd who
will seek out those who were lost or injured by their exile and bring them back
to their home pasture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
was a difficult thing to say - because there was nothing on which to base these
words. Many were losing their faith in <i>Yahweh</i>:
some lost their faith as they struggled with desperate poverty in their ancestral
homeland, while others lost their faith as they discovered prosperity and security
in their exilic environment.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Pete/Documents/My%20Dropbox/Daily%20Devotion/Advent/Week%203/Thursday.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
But Ezekiel chose to express his faith in a God who overarched the nations. And
in this he has become an example to successive generations of people of faith,
as we claim the presence of God – even when circumstances tempt us to lose
hope. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
then is the joy of Christmas: no matter how tough the difficulties we face this
Christmas, the Good Shepherd <i>will </i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">seek the lost... bring back the
strayed... bind up the injured, and strengthen the weak</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> (Isaiah 34:16). </span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For Thought<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Shepherd of my soul, I give you full control</span></i><i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Wherever
you may lead, I will follow</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I have
made a choice to listen to your voice</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">wherever
you may lead I will go</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Be it
in a quite pasture or by a gentle stream</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">The
shepherd of my soul is by my side</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Should
I face a mighty mountain or a valley dark and deep</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Shepherd
of my soul will be my guide<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.musixmatch.com/artist/Marty-J-Nystrom"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Marty J. Nystrom</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Fourth Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">4. God is with us<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 32. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">This reflection is from my own devotional exercises
for the day.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Pete/Documents/My%20Dropbox/Daily%20Devotion/Advent/Week%203/Thursday.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In fact the displaced
people flourished so much that many refused to return to their homeland
when given the opportunity.</span></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-61255950627640607642014-12-17T19:43:00.000+02:002014-12-17T19:43:17.387+02:00Comfort my People<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<b><i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Isaiah 40:1</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Comfort, O comfort
my people, says your God. <span style="color: teal;">2</span> Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her
that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received
from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. <span style="color: teal;">3</span> A voice cries out: "In the wilderness
prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
<span style="color: teal;">4</span> Every
valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven
ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. <span style="color: teal;">5</span> Then the
glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for
the mouth of the LORD has spoken." <span style="color: teal;">6</span> A voice says, "Cry out!" And I
said, "What shall I cry?" All people are grass, their constancy is
like the flower of the field. <span style="color: teal;">7</span> The grass withers, the flower fades, when the
breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. <span style="color: teal;">8</span> The grass
withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. <span style="color: teal;">9</span> Get you up
to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with
strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to
the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" <span style="color: teal;">10</span> See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his
arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. <span style="color: teal;">11</span> He will
feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry
them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">..............<span style="color: teal;">Isa 40:28</span> Have
you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator
of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is
unsearchable. <span style="color: teal;">29</span> He gives power to the faint, and strengthens
the powerless. <span style="color: teal;">30</span> Even youths will faint and be weary, and the
young will fall exhausted; <span style="color: teal;">31</span> but those who wait for the LORD shall renew
their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and
not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bYbjHefJcr4/VJG8IyKE1WI/AAAAAAAABdI/sjvOLlPYGAc/s1600/Comfort%2Bye%2Bmy%2Bpeople.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bYbjHefJcr4/VJG8IyKE1WI/AAAAAAAABdI/sjvOLlPYGAc/s1600/Comfort%2Bye%2Bmy%2Bpeople.png" height="320" width="226" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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I
am always deeply moved by the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s <a href="http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/baroqueperiod/p/handelsmessiah.htm"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Messiah</span></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">. The key passage that
unlocks this music is the opening text from Isaiah 40: “Comfort ye, my people”.
This is a word from God to the children of Israel that their time of exile is
over and the prophet was to announce their restoration. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is a word that has become greater than a particular period in history. This becomes
a word for every generation – a word calls every
Jesus-follower to bring comfort to people by telling them that the “<i>glory of the Lord shall be revealed</i>”. This revelation takes place through the quality of lives of Christian people. We are to bring the Christ-light of joy, peace and justice into a dark world..... and so comfort those who live in fear and darkness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let us use this </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Christmas to remind people of the restoring / comforting work of God. It is this – and only this – that drives the
celebrations of this season.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For Thought<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye
comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished,
that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our
God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain
and hill shall be made low; the crooked straight, and the rough places plain.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Messiah, HWV 56 (<a href="http://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Handel,_George_Frideric"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Handel, George Frideric</span></a>)<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Fourth Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">4. God is with us<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 32. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-67550557539721613792014-12-16T23:23:00.000+02:002014-12-16T23:23:33.035+02:00A Day of Reconciliation<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Matthew 1:18</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Now the birth of Jesus the
Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to
Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the
Holy Spirit. <span style="color: teal;">19</span>
Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to
public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. <span style="color: teal;">20</span> But just when he had resolved to do this, an
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of
David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in
her is from the Holy Spirit. <span style="color: teal;">21</span> She will bear a son, and you are to name him
Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." <span style="color: teal;">22</span> All this
took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: <span style="color: teal;">23</span> "Look,
the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him
Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." <span style="color: teal;">24</span> When Joseph
awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as
his wife, <span style="color: teal;">25</span>
but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he
named him Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today
is a national holiday in South Africa. This public holiday is rooted in two
different (and separated) sections of our community: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
white Afrikaners December 16 was the day set aside to celebrate an 1838 victory
in battle against the Zulu leader </span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dingane_kaSenzangakhona">Dingane
kaSenzangakhona Zulu</a></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.
Afrikaner leaders were convinced that God had given this victory in exchange
for a<i>Voortrekker </i>vow to keep this day
sacred as a holy day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
day marked the 1961 founding of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umkhonto_we_Sizwe" title="Umkhonto we Sizwe"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Umkhonto we
Sizwe</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(Spear of the Nation), the armed wing of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_National_Congress" title="African National Congress"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">African National Congress</span></a>. As white
South Africans celebrated an ancient victory over black people, this became a
day that many black South Africans renewed their commitment to overthrow white
minority rule. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsoOW4uUXuMlYnIqas10cLhYlVSsmdy23O41KvwbeUc5vGorVlxWL5RXzS5ayE4ekhKQFxyqq6dbkyT6CZ4UUOwo8RGZS-KxBXfr1qCdGkwDoRljNScZeQbxRLkX6Rnp6lCmBoCcCulvj/s1600/reconciliation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsoOW4uUXuMlYnIqas10cLhYlVSsmdy23O41KvwbeUc5vGorVlxWL5RXzS5ayE4ekhKQFxyqq6dbkyT6CZ4UUOwo8RGZS-KxBXfr1qCdGkwDoRljNScZeQbxRLkX6Rnp6lCmBoCcCulvj/s1600/reconciliation.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
becomes a difficult day for the new South Africa: two such different meanings
make this an emotionally divisive day. Those who proposed the new list of
national holidays chose this as “The Day of Reconciliation” – but we continue
to be a nation divided by race, privilege and history. A New Constitution, or a
majority governing party, or tough minded determination cannot force people to
be reconciled to one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am convinced that the Christmas story offer us the only real hope of
reconciliation. Christmas begins as a story of betrayal and shame... and ends
with reconciliation. A righteous young man is betrayed by his fiancé, who is
pregnant and he knows it isn‘t his child. He is shamed as a man and as a
faithful Jew. Yet he sets aside his personal beliefs and chooses the tougher
route – the route of reconciliation. This is not romantic, and is extremely deliberate.
And this is only possible because God is in it: as Matthew points out – “</span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Emmanuel," which means,
"God is with us."</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
then becomes the hope for my South African nation – and for every nation in
need of reconciliation; this is the hope of divided families, and of individuals
who are divided one against another: <i>Emmanuel</i>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
God is with us we are enabled to embrace the gritty task of reconciliation. The challenge of Christmas is for us to be
reconciled to one another. Reconciliation is the real meaning of this season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">For
Thought<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">He came down to earth from heaven,<br />
who is God and Lord of all,<br />
and his shelter was a stable,<br />
and his cradle was a stall;<br />
with the poor, the scorned, the lowly,<br />
lived on earth our Saviour holy.<br />
</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Words:
Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895), 1848</span><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Fourth Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">4. God is with us<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 32. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-57853623835197287212014-12-15T21:14:00.000+02:002014-12-15T21:14:03.963+02:00Immanuel עִמָּנוּאֵל "God is with us"<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Isaiah 7:10</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz,
saying, <span style="color: teal;">11</span>
Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as
heaven. <span style="color: teal;">12</span>
But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. <span style="color: teal;">13</span> Then Isaiah
said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary
mortals, that you weary my God also? <span style="color: teal;">14</span> Therefore the Lord himself will give you a
sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name
him Immanuel. <span style="color: teal;">15</span> He shall eat curds and honey by the time he
knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. <span style="color: teal;">16</span> For before the child knows how to refuse the
evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will
be deserted. <span style="color: teal;">17</span>
The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on your ancestral
house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from
Judah--the king of Assyria." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Ahaz was King of Judah
in the mid-8<sup>th</sup> century BC. He found himself in the precarious position
of being forced by the neighbouring Israel to join a coalition against </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria" title="Assyria"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Assyria</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">, - something he desperately
wanted to avoid. In the above passage, the prophet Isaiah brings a word that Ahaz
does not need the coalition to be secure, because God will protect them. He is
then given a sign to ‘prove’ this prophesy: a young woman would give birth to a
child, who will be called “God with us” (<i>Immanuel</i>).
The threat from the enemy kings would be ended before this child grew up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Nearly eight hundred
years later, Matthew draws on this history to address the fear and insecurity
experienced by the followers of Jesus (Ch 1:23). Some in Israel had relied on a
political arrangement with Rome to keep the peace; others had thought to build
an underground movement of zealots to overthrow Rome. Most were just afraid...
a fear expressed in a terrified <i>diaspora</i>
when Jerusalem was burned to the ground by the Roman army. Matthew tells his readers
not to be afraid: because the birth of another child will become the sign of
God’s presence – <i>Immanuel</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">This becomes the
recurring theme for those of us who follow Jesus: Christmas is the reminder that no matter how
desperate our circumstances, we do not have to twist and turn in the wind,
relying on our wits or our scheming. To be safe - we do not need to trust in
our military power or our personal weapons; we do not require our financial
investments or educational qualifications; we do not need our powerful families
and political connections. Instead God steps out of eternity into our lives and
walks alongside of us. As with Ahaz and
Isaiah, and with the generation who read the Gospel of Matthew, we too can know
that God is with us – <i>Immanuel</i>. This
Christmas – choose to trust that God has your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><b>For Thought</b></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Emmanuel, God with us<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Emmanuel<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Emmanuel, God with us<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
The son of Israel<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="verse">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">And still he calls through the night<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Beyond the days of old<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
A voice of peace to the weary ones<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Who struggle with the human soul<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">All of us, travelers, through a given
time<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Who can know what tomorrow holds<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
But over the horizon surely you and I will find<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Emmanuel, God with us<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Emmanuel<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Emmanuel, God with us<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
The son of Israel<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/emmanuel-god-with-us-lyrics-amy-grant.html#ixzz3Lzku4tZ2"><span style="color: #003399;">Amy Grant - Emmanuel, God With Us Lyrics </span></a></span><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Second Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">4. God is with us<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 32. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-52802473708171911532014-12-13T20:46:00.002+02:002014-12-13T20:46:33.993+02:00A Returning Saviour<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Act 1:1</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> In the first book,
Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning <span style="color: teal;">2</span> until the
day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy
Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. <span style="color: teal;">3</span> After his suffering he presented himself
alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days
and speaking about the kingdom of God. <span style="color: teal;">4</span> While staying with them, he ordered them not
to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father.
"This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; <span style="color: teal;">5</span> for John
baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many
days from now." <span style="color: teal;">6</span> So when they had come together, they asked
him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to
Israel?" <span style="color: teal;">7</span>
He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that
the Father has set by his own authority. <span style="color: teal;">8</span> But you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." <span style="color: teal;">9</span> When he had said this, as they were watching,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. <span style="color: teal;">10</span> While he
was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white
robes stood by them. <span style="color: teal;">11</span> They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you
stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into
heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Advent
is a season that reminds us of a returning Saviour. We not only look back at
the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem all those years ago – but we look forward to
the one who “will come in the same way” as he was taken. Christmas sits at the
nexus between the past and the future. And it offer an opportunity for us to be
reminded of Jesus – who came to save his people, and who continues to inspire
salvation songs in our hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For Thought<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">I will rise from waters deep</span></i><i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background: white;">Into the saving
arms of God</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background: white;">I will sing
salvation songs</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="background: white;">Jesus Christ has
set me free</span></span></i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hillsong - What The Lord Has Done In Me Lyrics </span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Third Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">3.The Coming of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 26. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-60264403930468304732014-12-12T20:46:00.001+02:002014-12-12T20:46:52.311+02:00Be alert for his coming....<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Luke 12:35</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> "Be dressed for action
and have your lamps lit; 3<span style="color: teal;">6</span> be like those who are waiting for their
master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for
him as soon as he comes and knocks. <span style="color: teal;">37</span> Blessed are those slaves whom the master
finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have
them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. <span style="color: teal;">38</span> If he comes during the middle of the night,
or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. <span style="color: teal;">39</span> "But know
this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he
would not have let his house be broken into. <span style="color: teal;">40</span> You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is
coming at an unexpected hour." <span style="color: teal;">41</span> Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this
parable for us or for everyone?" <span style="color: teal;">42</span> And the Lord said, "Who then is the
faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves,
to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? <span style="color: teal;">43</span> Blessed is
that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. <span style="color: teal;">44</span> Truly I
tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. <span style="color: teal;">45</span> But if that
slave says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and if he begins to
beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, <span style="color: teal;">46</span> the master
of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour
that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the
unfaithful. <span style="color: teal;">47</span>
That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself
or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. <span style="color: teal;">48</span> But the one who did not know and did what
deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has
been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been
entrusted, even more will be demanded. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">This year it is particularly difficult to be
excited about Christmas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Hostages have been killed by the Taliban and
al-Qaeda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Ebola ravages the lives of many in central west
Africa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The American CIA admits to horrific torture of
prisoners (and few other governments say anything)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">And closer to home:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">ESKOM denies that there is any crisis when we
face repeated power cuts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The President of our Country denies any wrong
doing on his part when his private residence is upgraded at state expense at a
cost of over R220 million.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">And the Office of our Public Prosecutor is in
disarray. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
passage above is particularly appropriate for this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
passage was written for the next generation of Jesus-followers. This is the
generation who had witnessed the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, the
persecution of those who did not swear total loyalty to the Emperor, and the
consequent fear filled scattering of those who were loyal to Jesus. Luke writes
to reassure them that despite the very difficult circumstances, they were not
to lose hope because “</span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">the
Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour”.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
passage has continued to serve as encouragement through many generations of
Christ-followers. Each Advent we anticipate once again the arrival of the Son
of Man – and we encourage each other to </span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit”.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Let us not be discouraged by the gathering darkness
in our country: the Son of Man was born for a time such as this.</span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;">Lig jou hande na bo (Sing Halleluja)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;">Gee eer aan Hom (Halleluja)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;">Ons Koning kom</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;">Loof sy heilige naam</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;">Lig jou hande na bo (Sing Halleluja)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;">Vertrou op Hom (Halleluja)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;">Ons Koning kom</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;">Hy kom om ons te haal</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;">Elke knie sal buig</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;">En elke tong sal getuig</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;">Hy't die dood vir ewig oorwin</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;">Hy't opgestaan!</span></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Juanita du Plessis</div>
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<o:p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Third Sunday in Advent</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">3.The Coming of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 26. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-7123417314354951562014-12-11T19:38:00.001+02:002014-12-11T19:38:28.610+02:00A new kind of Shepherd<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<b><i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Ezekiel 34:1</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> The word of the LORD came to
me: <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Eze 34:2</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Mortal, prophesy against the
shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to them--to the shepherds: Thus says the
Lord GOD: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should
not shepherds feed the sheep? <span style="color: teal;">3</span> You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with
the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. <span style="color: teal;">4</span> You have not
strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the
injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost,
but with force and harshness you have ruled them. <span style="color: teal;">5</span> So they were scattered, because there was no
shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild animals. <span style="color: teal;">6</span> My sheep
were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my
sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with no one to search or
seek for them. <span style="color: teal;">7</span> Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of
the LORD: <span style="color: teal;">8</span>
As I live, says the Lord GOD, because my sheep have become a prey, and
my sheep have become food for all the wild animals, since there was no
shepherd; and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the
shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; <span style="color: teal;">9</span> therefore,
you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: <span style="color: teal;">10</span> Thus says the Lord GOD, I am against the
shepherds; and I will demand my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their
feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue
my sheep from their mouths, so that they may not be food for them. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ezekiel
speaks to the chaos that was left after the Babylonians had invaded Judah and
carried off their leaders. Ezekiel castigates the leaders for being too busy
enriching themselves to pay attention to the people. These are shepherds who
failed their flocks. But God is not blind to this, and Ezekiel says that God
will no longer rely on these shepherds. Instead, God sends a new kind of shepherd.
Advent marks the birth of Jesus – one who cames with love and compassion for
the lost sheep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">May
this Advent season be a time when we who are lost are found by the Shepherd;
and those of us who know the Shepherd learn to follow more closely in his
footsteps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For Thought</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesu, Shepherd of the
sheep<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pity my unsettled soul<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Guide, and nourish me, and
keep<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Til thy love shall make me
whole;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Give me perfect soundness,
give<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Make me steadfastly believe.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Charles
Wesley Hymns and Poems 1749<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Third Sunday in Advent</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">3.The Coming of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 26. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-7846953088291697542014-12-10T20:14:00.000+02:002014-12-10T20:14:20.058+02:00every eye will see him<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<b><i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Revelation 1:1</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> The revelation of Jesus
Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he
made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, <span style="color: teal;">2</span> who testified to the word
of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. <span style="color: teal;">3</span> Blessed is
the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who
hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near. <span style="color: teal;">4</span> John to the
seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who
was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, <span style="color: teal;">5</span> and from
Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of
the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his
blood, <span style="color: teal;">6</span>
and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him
be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. <span style="color: teal;">7</span> Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye
will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of
the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. <span style="color: teal;">8</span> "I am the Alpha and the Omega,"
says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
letter was written at a time when people were persecuted for giving their
loyalty to Jesus rather than to the Roman Emperor. It uses language normally
reserved for the Emperor: phrases such as “ruler of the kings of the earth” and
“to him be glory and dominion forever” have been transferred from the Roman
Emperor to Jesus. These are revolutionary words that have put the followers of
Jesus in danger. But they are to remain strong “for the time is near” when
Jesus will return: “every eye will see him” and he will be established as “the
Almighty”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Advent
is the annual opportunity to be reminded of this rich history.... and to be
challenged about our own loyalties. The true essence of Christmas asks us to
place the teachings of Jesus at the centre of all our decisions and subsequent
actions. Revelation challenges us to be “faithful witnesses” to a Gospel that
reminds us that the one who lived amongst the poor of the earth is the ruler of
our consciences and actions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Third Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">3.The Coming of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for the
day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for
Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 26. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-42489868619597234802014-12-09T20:33:00.000+02:002014-12-09T20:33:18.169+02:00A new kind of Christmas<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Luke 21:25</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> "There will be signs in
the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations
confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. <span style="color: teal;">26</span> People will faint from fear and foreboding of
what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. <span style="color: teal;">27</span> Then they
will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. <span style="color: teal;">28</span> Now when
these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your
redemption is drawing near." <span style="color: teal;">29</span> Then he told them a parable: "Look at
the fig tree and all the trees; <span style="color: teal;">30</span> as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for
yourselves and know that summer is already near. <span style="color: teal;">31</span> So also, when you see these things taking
place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. <span style="color: teal;">32</span> Truly I tell you, this generation will not
pass away until all things have taken place. <span style="color: teal;">33</span> Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words
will not pass away. <span style="color: teal;">34</span> "Be on guard so that your hearts are not
weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and
that day does not catch you unexpectedly, <span style="color: teal;">35</span> like a trap. For it will come upon all who
live on the face of the whole earth. <span style="color: teal;">36</span> Be alert at all times, praying that you may
have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand
before the Son of Man." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
would love to say that I know what is going on here. Some writers claim that
this is a prophesy of the second coming of Jesus. Others have said that Luke
wrote this after the destruction of Jerusalem, and so he drew on this
experience to put these words onto the lips of Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
do not have the confidence to offer unequivocal explanations on this passage. But
I do have an awareness of the irony in meeting these words of Jesus at
Christmas: </span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">"Be
on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and
drunkenness</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“...
this because Christmas becomes an excuse for the over indulgence of food, of drink
and of newly acquired things – in other words ‘dissipation and drunkenness’. Jesus
invites us to “</span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Be
alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these
things...”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let
us be challenged to new Christmas practices this year: let us move beyond the
immediate escape of alcohol, or food, or new possessions – and instead discover
the spiritual satisfaction in standing in a stable / backyard room / shack and
offering the glad tidings of comfort and joy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<div class="verse" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">God
rest ye merry gentlemen<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Let nothing you dismay<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
For Jesus Christ, our Savior<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Was born on Christmas Day<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
To save us all from Satan's powers<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
When we were gone astray<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="verse" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 12pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Glad tidings of comfort and joy<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Comfort and joy<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Glad tidings of comfort and joy<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 12pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
"Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern" 1833 gathered
by William B. Sandys. The lyrics of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen are traditional
olde English and are reputed to date back to the 15th century although the
author is unknown<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br style="box-sizing: border-box; mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Third Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">3.The Coming of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 26. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-92192391662439436832014-12-08T23:03:00.000+02:002014-12-08T23:03:25.417+02:00Choose Life<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<b><i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mark 13:1</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> As he came out of the temple,
one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and
what large buildings!" <span style="color: teal;">2</span> Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these
great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be
thrown down." <span style="color: teal;">3</span> When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives
opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, <span style="color: teal;">4</span> "Tell
us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are
about to be accomplished?" <span style="color: teal;">5</span> Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware
that no one leads you astray. <span style="color: teal;">6</span> Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!'
and they will lead many astray. <span style="color: teal;">7</span> When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do
not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. <span style="color: teal;">8</span> For nation
will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes
in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the
birth pangs. <span style="color: teal;">9</span>
"As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to
councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before
governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. <span style="color: teal;">10</span> And the
good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. <span style="color: teal;">11</span> When they bring you to trial and hand you
over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is
given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. <span style="color: teal;">12</span> Brother
will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise
against parents and have them put to death; <span style="color: teal;">13</span> and you will be hated by all because of my
name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">In this second week of Advent: I
hear of hostages in Yemen who are executed by al-Quaeda, a friend who is mugged
at knife point on her way back from the beach, and a power crisis in our
country while the CEO of the power company earns more than R22 million a year –
and I wish that Christmas could miraculously take it all away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">As we struggle with the human predicament of life we
become frightened of “wars and rumours of war”, and earthquakes, and famines.
Our fear leads us in search of people who will guarantee us safety and security.
And many Christian preachers respond with a gospel of prosperity and guaranteed
blessings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">In the passage above, Jesus warns against people who use
his name to offer an escape from the difficult moments in this life. He says
that these things “<i>must take place</i>”
as part of life. His followers will not be exempt from the struggles, fears and
betrayals endemic to human life together. The good news, however, is that the
Holy Spirit accompanies us through such trials, and will enable us to endure “to
the end”. Christmas therefore becomes a moment to be reminded that God comes to
the difficult places of life – the stable, the manger, and the straw of life. God comes to live with us in our struggles. So l</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">et us choose life – life in the midst of difficulty. And
let us choose to live alongside the difficulties experienced by the people we
encounter. The Spirit of God will accompany us through it all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Third Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">3.The Coming of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 26. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-83439645152702114142014-12-06T21:07:00.001+02:002014-12-06T21:07:29.285+02:00Living Simply<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
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<b><i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mark 1:1</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> The beginning of the good news
of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. <span style="color: teal;">2</span> As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; <span style="color: teal;">3</span> the voice of
one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths
straight,'" <span style="color: teal;">4</span> John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. <span style="color: teal;">5</span> And people
from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going
out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their
sins. <span style="color: teal;">6</span>
Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his
waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. <span style="color: teal;">7</span> He proclaimed, "The one who is more
powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the
thong of his sandals. <span style="color: teal;">8</span> I have baptized you with water; but he will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mark
draws on an ancient prophetic tradition to describe John the Baptiser: Like
Isaiah, John is calling people to prepare to encounter God: this is achieved
through repentance, and re-commitment to the faithful practice of their
beliefs. The one remarkable thing about John was not his words – but his
practice. This was a preacher who practiced a simple lifestyle..... no fancy
clothes, no sumptuous meals, and no luxurious home. John wore the clothes of
the poor, ate the food of the poor and lived on the margins of society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
wonder if we could draw on this tradition as we prepare to encounter God afresh
this Christmas season: Could we choose to live on the margins of the vortex of
fashion, food and fetish? And most
especially for those of us who are preachers of Jesus: Let us all be challenged
to dress simply, eat more simply, and live with less ostentation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For Reflection</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">: <i>Could this Season of Advent challenge us to live more simply, without the overwhelming drive for excess and acquisition</i>? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Second Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">2. Preparing the W</span></i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">ay<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 20. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-69390583459222591762014-12-05T21:59:00.000+02:002014-12-05T21:59:14.155+02:00The True Light<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">John 1:6</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> There was a man sent from God,
whose name was John. <span style="color: teal;">7</span> He came as a witness to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him. <span style="color: teal;">8</span> He himself was not the light, but he came to
testify to the light. <span style="color: teal;">9</span> The true light, which enlightens everyone,
was coming into the world. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">...........Joh 1:19</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> This is the testimony given by
John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him,
"Who are you?" <span style="color: teal;">20</span> He confessed and did not deny it, but
confessed, "I am not the Messiah." <span style="color: teal;">21</span> And they asked him, "What then? Are you
Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?"
He answered, "No." <span style="color: teal;">22</span> Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let
us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" <span style="color: teal;">23</span> He said,
"I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the
way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. <span style="color: teal;">24</span> Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. <span style="color: teal;">25</span> They asked
him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah,
nor the prophet?" <span style="color: teal;">26</span> John answered them, "I baptize with
water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, <span style="color: teal;">27</span> the one who is coming after me; I am not
worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">John
comes as a witness to the imminent arrival of the Light-Bearer. John is clear
that he is not “The One”. Instead his task is to be </span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">"...the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight
the way of the Lord.'"</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> For this to happen, the
community needs to repent of their wayward lives and return to the God of their
ancestors. John treats them as if they have no faith and requires them to be
baptised – something normally reserved for those who convert to the Jewish
faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">We who await the Christmas arrival of the Saviour
could do well to hear the invitation of John: Turn away from the faithless
practices of our secular celebrations and discover the deep spirituality of this
season. Or as John might say – ‘why be content with fake Christmas lights when
we can get to know the One who brings the real Light of Christ-mass?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlPK0Q-wR0hlz1zKmQMlHj4Q6x7UjOx2dfaku6ZylJWJJB3sTmS6bHTXzpJCOtwFZBOqtPebq93cTKVoeL_fC_SEtBM4vveHC8jcUXJ-41uwvqagK6RtD9L6qxzsNNsdjH6yevIqouqjJ/s1600/Candle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlPK0Q-wR0hlz1zKmQMlHj4Q6x7UjOx2dfaku6ZylJWJJB3sTmS6bHTXzpJCOtwFZBOqtPebq93cTKVoeL_fC_SEtBM4vveHC8jcUXJ-41uwvqagK6RtD9L6qxzsNNsdjH6yevIqouqjJ/s1600/Candle+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">For
Thought<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Light
of the world<br />
You stepped down into darkness.<br />
Opened my eyes, let me see.<br />
Beauty that made this heart adore You<br />
Hope of a life spent with You..........<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<em><b><span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">Lyrics</span></b></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">by Chris Tomlin</span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">First Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">2. Preparing the W</span></i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">ay<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 20. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-52397038411375090622014-12-04T23:18:00.000+02:002014-12-04T23:18:02.975+02:00Living in Hope<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
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<b><i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Isaiah 62:1</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> For Zion's sake I will not
keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication
shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. <span style="color: teal;">2</span> The nations
shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be
called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. <span style="color: teal;">3</span> You shall be
a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of
your God. <span style="color: teal;">4</span>
You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be
termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land
Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. <span style="color: teal;">5</span> For as a
young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the
bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. <span style="color: teal;">6</span> Upon your
walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted sentinels; all day and all night they shall
never be silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest, <span style="color: teal;">7</span> and give him no rest
until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned throughout the earth. <span style="color: teal;">8</span> The LORD has
sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: I will not again give your grain
to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink the wine for which
you have labored; <span style="color: teal;">9</span> but those who garner it shall eat it and
praise the LORD, and those who gather it shall drink it in my holy courts. <span style="color: teal;">10</span> Go through,
go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the
highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples. <span style="color: teal;">11</span> The LORD
has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, "See, your
salvation comes; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him." <span style="color: teal;">12</span> They shall
be called, "The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD"; and you shall
be called, "Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVndnohRRhGi5bgm9ZhmxJip-V5KWDgrGVYNzVW_Qab7Y8fcC6JU5aZYl9Ps27_bNY7JFo4lafiBNW70iriyF0jNRgfLpMAv5IV58TZFePQgUDP0AnkAvRlPS5h3hk2kJKzrQyNphBUif/s1600/hope.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVndnohRRhGi5bgm9ZhmxJip-V5KWDgrGVYNzVW_Qab7Y8fcC6JU5aZYl9Ps27_bNY7JFo4lafiBNW70iriyF0jNRgfLpMAv5IV58TZFePQgUDP0AnkAvRlPS5h3hk2kJKzrQyNphBUif/s1600/hope.jpeg" height="239" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
passage is a statement of hope. Those who worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob have been carried off into exile in Babylon. But the Prophet Isaiah
speaks of the hope that “</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">You shall no more be termed
Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; ...for the LORD
delights in you, and your land shall be married”. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">As
a sign of their confidence that God will restore their land, the people who
remained in the land are to “</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear
it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">
While their new world is not yet visible – they are to act as if it is on the
way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ever
since then the people of God have appropriated this passage to their own
historical context. Each generation has reclaimed the hope that we are not
abandoned by God but instead we can look forward to “the end of the earth” and
our salvation as “the Redeemed of the Lord”. This is not to be confused with
those who call for the destruction of this planet in favour of a human
transplant to heaven elsewhere. Instead, this captures the intention of Isaiah –
God will save his people from oppressive, cruel Babylonian governors. And the
people are to live as if this is a present reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
Advent offers yet again a promise of renewal: the Saviour is coming who will
enable his people to throw aside the Babylonian chains of injustice and
establish the rule of God. So let us begin preparations that express this as a confident
hope: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nationally</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> we will live lives of
integrity in the midst of corruption and greed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In Community</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> we decorate our homes in
defiance of those who would tear them apart through robbery or violence against
women and children, and the inner demons of jealousy and disrespect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Personally </span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">we will speak words of
love and joy in the face of cynicism, anger and despair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For Thought<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="background: rgb(254, 255, 255); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br style="max-width: 728px;" />
<span style="background: #FEFFFF;">Naught be all else
to me, save that Thou art</span><br style="max-width: 728px;" />
<span style="background: #FEFFFF;">Thou my best
Thought, by day or by night,</span><br style="max-width: 728px;" />
<span style="background: #FEFFFF;">Waking or sleeping,
Thy presence my light.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white;">Be Thou My Vision is a
traditional Irish hymn attributed to Dallán Forgaill, the sixth century Irish
poet. The music is based on the music of the Irish folk song 'Slane' which is
about St. Patrick defying the pagan King Lóegaire of Tara by lighting candles
on Easter Eve.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: #FEFFFF;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">First Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">2. Preparing the W</span></i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">ay<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 20. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-59662493436306761162014-12-03T21:17:00.000+02:002014-12-03T21:17:13.167+02:00The Rule of God has come near....<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<b><i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Matthew 3:1</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> In those days John the Baptist
appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, <span style="color: teal;">2</span> "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has
come near." <span style="color: teal;">3</span> This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah
spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" <span style="color: teal;">4</span> Now John
wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his
food was locusts and wild honey. <span style="color: teal;">5</span> Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea
were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, <span style="color: teal;">6</span> and they
were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. <span style="color: teal;">7</span> But when he
saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You
brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? <span style="color: teal;">8</span> Bear fruit
worthy of repentance. <span style="color: teal;">9</span> Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have
Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to
raise up children to Abraham. <span style="color: teal;">10</span> Even now the ax is lying at the root of the
trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and
thrown into the fire. <span style="color: teal;">11</span> "I baptize you with water for
repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not
worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
<span style="color: teal;">12</span> His
winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will
gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable
fire." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">John
the Baptiser lived at a time when the leaders of his people betrayed their
integrity in the reckless pursuit of wealth and power. They openly collaborated
with the Roman oppressors: </span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Herod was granted the title of "King of
Judea" by the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Senate" title="Roman Senate"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Roman Senate</span></a>, and enjoyed </span><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">the support of Caesar Augustus</span>. Joseph Caiaphas
was appointed High Priest in AD 18 by the Roman<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judea_(Roman_province)" title="Judea (Roman province)"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">prefect</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerius_Gratus" title="Valerius Gratus"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Valerius
Gratus</span></a> in exchange for his loyalty to Roman rule. And the merchants
of Jerusalem readily lined their pockets with the proceeds of lucrative fish
and corm contracts with the Roman military. In response to this John offered his nation’s
leaders an opportunity to renounce their greedy ways through baptism. No longer
could they claim their proud Abrahamic lineage. New behaviour was needed - they
should “</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Bear fruit
worthy of repentance.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
resonates deeply with the world I inhabit:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like
John, my world is led by leaders who are greedy for wealth and power. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Internationally</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Vladimir Putin grasps at
the Ukraine and </span><em><b><span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-style: normal;">Benjamin Netanyahu</span></b></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">does
all he can to avoid sharing the land with the Palestinian people.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nationally</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jacob Zuma refuses to
admit that he stole state money to build his personal home, and surrounds
himself with government leaders who enrich themselves at tax-payer’s expense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">South
Africa has one of the biggest pay gaps in the world - with CEOs of the JSE's
top listed companies earning as much as 725 times their workers' average salary
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Advent
is an opportunity for people of Christian faith to take up the unfinished task
of John the Baptiser. We are to invite the greedy leaders of our world to
renounce their grasping ways and begin again – because “one who is more
powerful” is coming into our world. South African leaders need to hear again
the words of Scripture: To paraphrase the words above:</span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Do not presume to say to
yourselves, 'We have Nelson Mandela as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is
able from these stones to raise up children to Mandela”.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
if we discover the lust for wealth and power within our own souls, let us ask
the Christ of this Season to baptise us with new values and fresh vision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Prayer for Advent</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 249); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">O God: Guide me in these weeks to what you want
to show me this Advent. Help me to be vulnerable enough to ask you to lead me
to the place of my own weakness, the very place where I will find you the most
deeply embedded in my heart, loving me without limits.</span> Amen<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html"><span style="background: #FFFFF9; font-size: 13.5pt;">Creighton University's Online
Ministries</span></a><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">First Sunday in Advent<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">2. Preparing the W</span></i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">ay<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The Scripture passage for
the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer
for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 20. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reflection is from my own
devotional exercises for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-67235818334846837842014-12-02T22:27:00.000+02:002014-12-02T22:27:04.307+02:00Go therefore......<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><i>Matthew
28:18</i></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><i> And Jesus
came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. <span style="color: teal;">19</span>
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, <span style="color: teal;">20</span> and
teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am
with you always, to the end of the age." </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is the conclusion to a story about Jesus written to an audience of Jewish-Christian
people who lived in Roman Syria. Its purpose was to persuade them to discover
the call of Jesus to share their Religious life with “all nations” – this through
inviting people to baptism, through teaching, and through an assurance of the spiritual
presence of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
“Great Commission” can be lifted from the First Century to become our call to prepare
for Christmas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">our
modern Christmas is especially seductive in its quest to focus us on the gluttony
of food, alcohol and acquiring possessions. Let us turn away from our self-absorption
and be baptised/immersed in the cause of Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">let
us teach our families and our communities the real values of Christmas – values
such as love, and generosity, and compassion;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 39.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">let
us open our eyes to look for the presence of Jesus – which will ask us to turn
our greedy eyes away from the things we desire and see those who live in “the
manger” of poverty and exclusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Go
therefore..........” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-1919364496858421262014-12-01T22:35:00.001+02:002014-12-01T22:35:10.116+02:00Prepare the Way of the Lord....<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Luk 1:5</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> In the days of King Herod of
Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order
of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ......<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Luke 1:57</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Now the time came for
Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> <span style="color: teal;">Luke
1:67</span> Then his father Zechariah
was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:<span style="color: teal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">68</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> "Blessed be the Lord God
of Israel, for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them.<span style="color: teal;">69</span> He has
raised up a mighty saviour for us in the house of his servant David, <span style="color: teal;">70</span> as he spoke
through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, <span style="color: teal;">71</span> that we would be saved from our enemies and
from the hand of all who hate us. <span style="color: teal;">72</span> Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant, <span style="color: teal;">73</span> the oath that he swore to our ancestor
Abraham, to grant us <span style="color: teal;">74</span> that we, being rescued from the hands of our
enemies, might serve him without fear, <span style="color: teal;">75</span> in holiness and righteousness before him all
our days. <span style="color: teal;">76</span>
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you
will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, <span style="color: teal;">77</span> to give knowledge of salvation to his people
by the forgiveness of their sins. <span style="color: teal;">78</span> By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from
on high will break upon us, <span style="color: teal;">79</span> to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">John,
the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, is born to prepare the way of the Lord by giving
knowledge of salvation, forgiveness, light to those in darkness, and guidance in
the way of peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
we enter the season of Advent, we too are invited to “prepare the way of the
Lord”. Instead of allowing shopping malls, ‘end-of-year-specials’ advertising
and Christmas jingles to become the stuff of our preparation – let us choose the
way of John: forgiving those who have hurt us; bringing light to those who face
their darkest fears at this time of the year; and working for peace in our
communities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">For thought</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Comfort
ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.<br />
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is
accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned.<br />
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness; prepare ye the way of the
Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">(Isaiah 40: 1-3)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Georg Friedrich Händel MESSIAH (1742)
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<i>A Sacred Oratorio</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-55842172886517036122014-10-28T20:11:00.001+02:002014-10-28T20:11:59.916+02:00Awake, thou that sleepest<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
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<b><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Ephesians
5:1</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved
children, <span style="color: teal;">2</span>
and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a
fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.......... <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">8</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> For once you were darkness,
but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light-- <span style="color: teal;">9</span> for the
fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. <span style="color: teal;">10</span> Try to find
out what is pleasing to the Lord. <span style="color: teal;">11</span> Take no part in the unfruitful works of
darkness, but instead expose them. <span style="color: teal;">12</span> For it is shameful even to mention what such
people do secretly; <span style="color: teal;">13</span> but everything exposed by the light becomes
visible, <span style="color: teal;">14</span>
for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
"Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." <span style="color: teal;">15</span> Be careful
then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, <span style="color: teal;">16</span> making the most of the time, because the days
are evil. <span style="color: teal;">17</span>
So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. <span style="color: teal;">18</span> Do not get
drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, <span style="color: teal;">19</span> as you sing
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making
melody to the Lord in your hearts, <span style="color: teal;">20</span> giving thanks to God the Father at all times
and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">On Sunday 4 April 1742 John Wesley preached to
the students of Christ Church, Oxford. His text was Ephesians 5:14: </span><i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">"Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the
dead, and Christ shall give thee light." </span></i><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;"> He preached a three
point sermon, beginning with those who are asleep, calling on them to wake up,
and promising that Jesus would give them light. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Wesley, preaching to a chapel filled with Church of England members, invited
them to want more than just their Church baptism: Seek more, seek the Holy
Spirit within you. True religion, he says, is to have the life of Christ living
within you. This will lead to holy living, and happiness, and peace. If we do
not have these then we fall short of true Christianity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt;">So here is an invitation for us to be driven by a life of passionate
faith – a life that is awake to songs, thanksgiving, and light; a life of holy
living. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ordinary 31 <o:p></o:p></div>
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53 God Can
Change Lives <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Scripture
passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide
to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983),
323. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the
day.</div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-51729847277181785342014-10-24T21:05:00.000+02:002014-10-24T21:05:23.633+02:00turn away from evil and do good<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
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<b><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">1Peter 3:8</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Finally, all of you, have
unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble
mind. <span style="color: teal;">9</span>
Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary,
repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called--that you might
inherit a blessing. <span style="color: teal;">10</span> For "Those who desire life and desire to
see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from
speaking deceit; <span style="color: teal;">11</span> let them turn away from evil and do good; let
them seek peace and pursue it. <span style="color: teal;">12</span> For the eyes of the Lord are on the
righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is
against those who do evil." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> It
is thought that the Apostle Peter wrote this letter from the city of Rome in
about 67 A.D. <a href="file:///C:/Users/Pete/Documents/My%20Dropbox/Daily%20Devotion/52%20True%20Humility/Friday.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
This was the time of the outbreak of the persecution of the Roman Christians by
the Emperor Nero, and the subsequent scattering of the followers of Jesus. This
letter is written to "the exiles," or "the strangers in
dispersion:" (1 Pet 1:1b-2a) to encourage them to remain faithful to
all they have learned from Jesus. Despite their suffering they are instructed: “</span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Do not repay evil for evil or
abuse for abuse....</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">repay with a blessing”;
</span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> In spite
of the violence and fear “<i>seek peace and pursue it.” </i></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus followers are to “<i>desire life and desire to see good days</i>”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
passage such as this does not need me to add to it. This is inspirational.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Clearly
it is also difficult – if it was easy it would not have been written down. But
at the same time this resonates with our deepest longing for a life driven by the
values of Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let
us live the Jesus-life to the very best of our ability, refusing to give up the
values of love and justice for the grubby impulses of revenge and bitterness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lord of all creation holds
our lives in His hands<br />
The God of all the nations holds our lives in His hands<br />
The Rock of our salvation holds our lives in His hands<br />
He cares for them just as He cares for you<br />
<br />
So love them like Jesus, love them like Jesus<br />
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions<br />
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side<br />
Love them like Jesus<br />
Love them like Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Casting
Crowns “Love them like Jesus”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ordinary 30 <o:p></o:p></div>
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52 True
Humility <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Scripture
passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide
to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983),
317. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the
day.<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Pete/Documents/My%20Dropbox/Daily%20Devotion/52%20True%20Humility/Friday.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Peter says he wrote it from Babylon (5:13) –
a term that was commonly used by the Christians of that century to refer to
Rome,</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-47890525800941754432014-10-23T21:51:00.001+02:002014-10-23T21:51:10.106+02:00Obey your Rulers?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Romans
13:1</span></b><i style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Let every person be subject to the governing
authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities
that exist have been instituted by God. <span style="color: teal;">2</span> Therefore whoever resists authority resists
what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.<span style="color: teal;">3</span> For rulers
are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of
the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; <span style="color: teal;">4</span> for it is
God's servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid,
for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to
execute wrath on the wrongdoer. <span style="color: teal;">5</span> Therefore one must be subject, not only because
of wrath but also because of conscience. <span style="color: teal;">6</span> For the same reason you also pay taxes, for
the authorities are God's servants, busy with this very thing. <span style="color: teal;">7</span> Pay to all
what is due them--taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due,
respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. <span style="color: teal;">8</span> Owe no one
anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has
fulfilled the law. <span style="color: teal;">9</span> The commandments, "You shall not commit
adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet";
and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor
as yourself." <span style="color: teal;">10</span> Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore,
love is the fulfilling of the law.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">These
words must have been very hard for the Jesus-followers in Rome to hear. Paul is
asking them to “<i>be subject to the
governing authorities</i>”. He continues
by pointing out that “<i>whoever resists
authority resists what God has appointed</i>”. The prospect of obedience to Caesar and the
Roman Empire was particularly unpleasant, because the Empire persecuted the
followers of Jesus. Paul is asking the
followers of Jesus be respectful of the Emperor, even though the circumstances
were extremely difficult. This is not condoning the cruelty of the Emperor, but
is asking the followers of Jesus to be circumspect in their dealings with the
Empire. They were to live lives of personal holiness, and so fulfil the law -
but not challenge it. This is probably
because the Christians in Rome were an extremely small and vulnerable group,
who would do best in setting personal examples of love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">These
words resonate through history as amongst the most abused in the Bible. Oppressive
governments – such as the <i>Apartheid </i>government
of Dr Verwoerd and PW Botha – use these words to solicit obedience to their
evil laws. It must therefore be said
that while we note these words of Paul, we do not live in Rome. Neither are we
a struggling minority religion. We are therefore not obliged to follow Paul’s
advice to remain out of sight. We live in countries that allow Christian belief
and practice, and where the Christian voice is often powerful and influential. We
are challenged to find ways of living faithfully within political systems /
states / empires that are often wicked and ethically irresponsible. Paul’s
suggestion that followers of Jesus ought to live holy lives is a useful
suggestion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At
the same time Paul adds that rulers are “</span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">God's servant for your good.“</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> This then becomes the obligation of those who
govern – to represent the goodness of God. It therefore follows that when
rulers stop being “God’s servant for your good" they forfeit the right to rule. And at this
point, the followers of Jesus are to use every vote, all their political
influence, all the social pressure they can muster, and the collective power of their
prayers to remove rulers who refuse to serve God for the good of the people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let
us be good citizens – of the Kingdom of Heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For thought<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Tyrant
thrones and idol shrines,<br />
Let them from their place be hurled;<br />
Enter on Thy better reign,<br />
Wear the crown of this poor world<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Empires, temples, scepters, thrones,<br />
May they all for God be won;<br />
And, in every human heart,<br />
Father, let Thy kingdom come</span></i><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Lyrics: <a href="https://www.hymnal.net/en/search/all/author/John+Page+Hopps?t=h&n=795"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">John Page Hopps</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"> </span><b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">1834</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ordinary 30 <o:p></o:p></div>
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52 True
Humility <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Scripture
passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide
to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983),
317. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the
day.<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8183796285057737791.post-47375091516739597742014-10-22T21:11:00.001+02:002014-10-22T21:17:03.220+02:00If my people.......<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
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<b><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">2Chronicles 7:11</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Thus Solomon finished the
house of the LORD and the king's house; all that Solomon had planned to do in
the house of the LORD and in his own house he successfully accomplished. <span style="color: teal;">12</span> Then the
LORD appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: "I have heard your
prayer, and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. <span style="color: teal;">13</span> When I shut
up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the
land, or send pestilence among my people, <span style="color: teal;">14</span> if my people who are called by my name humble
themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. <span style="color: teal;">15</span> Now my eyes
will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. <span style="color: teal;">16</span> For now I
have chosen and consecrated this house so that my name may be there forever; my
eyes and my heart will be there for all time. <span style="color: teal;">17</span> As for you, if you walk before me, as your
father David walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and
keeping my statutes and my ordinances, <span style="color: teal;">18</span> then I will establish your royal throne, as I
made covenant with your father David saying, 'You shall never lack a successor
to rule over Israel.' <span style="color: teal;">19</span> "But if you turn aside and forsake my
statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other
gods and worship them, <span style="color: teal;">20</span> then I will pluck you up from the land that I
have given you; and this house, which I have consecrated for my name, I will
cast out of my sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all
peoples. <span style="color: teal;">21</span>
And regarding this house, now exalted, everyone passing by will be
astonished, and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to
this house?' <span style="color: teal;">22</span>
Then they will say, 'Because they abandoned the LORD the God of their
ancestors who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they adopted other
gods, and worshipped them and served them; therefore he has brought all this
calamity upon them.'" <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">.......if my people who are called by my name
humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I
will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.......</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;">2
Chronicles 7:14 is a very well known text, mostly used to encourage people to
return to the ways of God. Various countries – including South Africa – have
witnessed national calls to repentance, followed by pleas for God to </span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">fulfill</span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: small;"> his
promise to heal our land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
the “lifting” of this test into our contemporary context is understandable, we
need to remember that this is history. Chronicles was written after the
Israelites returned from exile to explain why they were conquered. As the rebuilding
of the temple was undertaken by Ezra, the question loomed large: “what must the
people do to avoid a repeat of the destruction of the next temple?” The
Chronicler goes back to the dedication of Solomon’s temple and records the
injunction to “be humble, pray, seek God’s will, and turn from wicked ways”.
Hope is found in the promise that God will forgive and heal the nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
who follow Jesus can learn from the history of our faith: we are called to a
life of obedience to God. When we stop being obedient, our relationship with
our Creator, with our fellow citizens, and even with our land is broken. The healing of God is available. This is not
divine magic that falls from heaven, but is rather a consequence of our humility
and repentance. We are thus active participants in the healing of our lives –
in partnership with God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ordinary 30 <o:p></o:p></div>
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52 True
Humility <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Scripture
passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide
to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983),
317. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the
day.<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Pete Grassowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02871713300314160309noreply@blogger.com0