I read Acts 11:1-18, where Simon Peter is criticized for hanging out with the "wrong" kind of people.  You see, Peter and those who criticized him are Jewish, and according to the law they aren't supposed to associate with and eat with the uncircumcised -- or Gentiles.

In Acts chapter 10 you read about Peter going to visit Cornelius -- an uncircumcised Gentile -- after being called by God to minister to Cornelius's family.  Even Peter had a problem with this at first, but God told Peter, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.& ...

John 3:30 reads "He must become greater; I must become less."  (NIV)  I ran across this verse in my readings today, and later thought of some of the people that our churches help financially.  This past Sunday we had an offering at Sharon UMC for a family short on paying rent.  I have more calls coming all the time from people needing various help, and I often wonder whether the requests are legitimate.

I was cooking sausage for breakfast (yeah I know, not healthy, but really tasty) and stopped to say a prayer for the family we just helped.  I prayed that they prosper and are able to make it through these tough times.  I prayed that they really needed the money and just wer ...

John 3:30 reads "He must become greater; I must become less."  (NIV)  I ran across this verse in my readings today, and later thought of some of the people that our churches help financially.  This past Sunday we had an offering at Sharon UMC for a family short on paying rent.  I have more calls coming all the time from people needing various help, and I often wonder whether the requests are legitimate.

I was cooking sausage for breakfast (yeah I know, not healthy, but really tasty) and stopped to say a prayer for the family we just helped.  I prayed that they prosper and are able to make it through these tough times.  I prayed that they really needed the money and just weren't scamming the church -- after all, many of the people who handed me the money Sunday morning probably don't have a whole lot to spare, themselves.

Finally, I prayed that IF this family scammed us -- they either didn't ...

The passage from Luke 1:46-55 is known as "The Magnificat" or "The Song of Mary."  I like to look at a passage of scripture in context of the contemporary situation.  By "contemporary situation" I am referring to the events, feelings, emotions, stressors, and all other life experiences that are going on at the time.

In this case, Mary was a single unwed teenaged mother-to-be.  As bleak as this situation would be for a girl in the 21st century USA, think of the context around Mary's pregnancy.  Her pregnancy was beyond socially unacceptable -- it could have resulted in punishment up to and including death.

But despite this, Mary is grateful, and has faith that God has selected ...