Thanks from Lou Ann

The mission trip to Inner Mongolia was wonderful! I am always so blessed by how God pulls just the right people together for the team! Each morning we traveled an hour by bus to a rural clinic site. As our team leader said many times, this was a mission trip like no other! Our hosts were inspired to do all that they could possibly do for us & then some. The Red Cross was a wonderful blessing, and we were so thankful for their support and kindness. What a privilege it was to serve and reflect the love of Christ to our Chinese friends. He truly did join us together with His great love, and it made a wonderful impact for the kingdom. Thank you so much for the prayer support. It was most definitely felt & so appreciated! I praise the Lord for all that He has done, and for His grace in allowing me to be a part of His wonderful work. I’m so thankful for the fruit that He brought forth for us to see, for the seeds that were planted in the soil, and even for the soil that we cultivated that may be made ready for someone else to plant the seeds. Please continue to be in prayer for our patients & for all that we had the opportunity to touch. Rejoicing in the potential harvest and in His goodness~ Lou Ann

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Nader: Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolvable

[both Democrat and Republican leaders of Congress] don’t understand that the greatest move toward national security in our country and in the so-called effort against terrorism would be to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. . . . This is an eminently resolvable conflict. There’s a lot of former Israeli military and intelligence people who know how to do it, people in the Knesset who know what needs to be done. But as long as the US basically says to whoever is in charge, “You can do whatever you want over there, and we’ll still pump $3 – $4 billion and cluster bomb weapons, etc.,” there’s not going to be a resolution. As long as there’s no resolution, there’s going to be an inflammation increasing all over the Islamic world, and our national security will be compromised.

Ralph Nader, consumer advocate and former Presidential candidate, in Democracy Now! [click here for the whole interview]

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Bible readings for November 12, 2006

Ah, beloved Jesus! How unlike you I am!

I suspect that if Jesus came to modern America (rather than 1st-century Bethlehem) he wouldn’t be found at the university or the U.S. Capitol or the Empire State building. He’d figure that people in those places had many advantages: they could find him. Those he’d cast as heroes in his stories would be people who don’t get much respect in the U.S. – perhaps they’d be Muslims or Mexicans. He’d turn up where poverty and humiliation and despair were at their worst, and quietly go about honestly listening as if they were God and he were the student. When he saw generosity or faith or simplicity, he’d turn to his disciples and say, “See? Be like that.”

As I read this story, I am so attracted to him. And then I think, “Man, I’ve got a long ways to go!”

What do you see as you read? Care to share it in “comments”?
Proper 27 (32): Ruth 3:1-5,4:13-17;Psalm 127;Hebrews 9:24-28;Mark 12:38-44

Mark 12:38-44
38-40He continued teaching. “Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function. And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they’ll pay for it in the end.”

41-44Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Hebrews 9:24-28
23-26That accounts for the prominence of blood and death in all these secondary practices that point to the realities of heaven. It also accounts for why, when the real thing takes place, these animal sacrifices aren’t needed anymore, having served their purpose. For Christ didn’t enter the earthly version of the Holy Place; he entered the Place Itself, and offered himself to God as the sacrifice for our sins. He doesn’t do this every year as the high priests did under the old plan with blood that was not their own; if that had been the case, he would have to sacrifice himself repeatedly throughout the course of history. But instead he sacrificed himself once and for all, summing up all the other sacrifices in this sacrifice of himself, the final solution of sin.

27-28Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Ruth 3:1-5,4:13-17

1-2One day her mother-in-law Naomi said to Ruth, “My dear daughter, isn’t it about time I arranged a good home for you so you can have a happy life? And isn’t Boaz our close relative, the one with whose young women you’ve been working? Maybe it’s time to make our move. Tonight is the night of Boaz’s barley harvest at the threshing floor.

3-4 “Take a bath. Put on some perfume. Get all dressed up and go to the threshing floor. But don’t let him know you’re there until the party is well under way and he’s had plenty of food and drink. When you see him slipping off to sleep, watch where he lies down and then go there. Lie at his feet to let him know that you are available to him for marriage. Then wait and see what he says. He’ll tell you what to do.”

5 Ruth said, “If you say so, I’ll do it, just as you’ve told me.”

4.13 Boaz married Ruth. She became his wife. Boaz slept with her. By God’s gracious gift she conceived and had a son.

14-15 The town women said to Naomi, “Blessed be God! He didn’t leave you without family to carry on your life. May this baby grow up to be famous in Israel! He’ll make you young again! He’ll take care of you in old age. And this daughter-in-law who has brought him into the world and loves you so much, why, she’s worth more to you than seven sons!”

16 Naomi took the baby and held him in her arms, cuddling him, cooing over him, waiting on him hand and foot.

17 The neighborhood women started calling him “Naomi’s baby boy!” But his real name was Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Psalm 127
A Pilgrim Song of Solomon
1-2 If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys
giving rest to those he loves?

3-5 Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?
the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you;
you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

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