P.S. As I finished writing this note, I tuned my ears to the lesson Joann was teaching the after school children. A piping little child's voice was speaking: "you should love your neighbor as yourself, and if it is a stranger, you should be kind to them."

Today, we have Twitter rants and long Facebook posts. Luther's list was really just a repost compiled of other ideas already pinned and spoken about for over a century.

As for the cookie bribes? I saved them as snacks for the entire car to enjoy on the road trip. 

Two weeks ago, only two weeks ago, I wrote these words: "The strong community fills our gaps, makes us whole, supports us in time of need, rejoices when we are happy."

Our feast is but a microcosm of the great feast of God where all are welcome at the table. 

A strong community can take these differences and sit at the table together and enjoy the company and fellowship. 

Think about someone in your life you have learned wisdom from: how did you learn wisdom from this person, what wise traits do they embody?

The ways of Wisdom are foolish to the simple, laughable to the scoffers, and incomprehensible to those caught up in the ways of this world. 

"nothing of significance happened on this day, September 11. If you know of an important historical event to share, please email {the webmaster}."

James asks us which siblings are we?

if someone were to see your actions, would they know you are a person of faith? Would they know you are a loving and caring person? Would they know both, or neither?

Those disciples that said "this is a hard teaching" were right, but it is hard in a different way for us than it was for them so many years ago. Culture and time change some meanings, and in the change, the truth is revealed.

This wonderful gift of spiritual nourishment and spiritual life is something that God has been trying, in different ways, to gift us all for a long time.

"Not Another Bread Passage...Please!"

Bread is simple to make with a few ingredients: flour, water, yeast, and salt. Let it rise, bake it until crusty. Voila! Bread.

When is a fish not a fish, and bread that we take not bread to eat? 

We may have had a great crowd of children, but unlike the great crowds Jesus encountered so long ago, these "sheep" have had excellent "shepherds", and I hope they remember the lessons learned this week. 

Did they display, demonstrate a standard of behavior for others to follow, or would they ponderously crash into people, knocking them off their perch, a catalyst for change?

I was so distracted by the contingency stuff, the baggage I carried, that I neglected to remember the important part, the reason for going out in the first place.

for if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has