Once upon a time there were 3 brothers. When these babes were born they were given certain gifts or talents. All had been given these gifts to use to the benefit of all.
Living the Kingdom on Earth
A True Story In 1928, a very interesting case came before the courts in Massachusetts. It concerned a man who had been walking on a boat dock when suddenly he tripped over a rope and fell into the cold, deep water of an ocean bay. He came up sputtering and yelling for help and then […]
JT walked for a few days until he came close to the ocean. As he came close he saw people pulling carts full of firewood past him.
It was not odd that only firewood was in the cart. However, it was strange to see so many carts that had nothing else but firewood. Normally people would come to town selling fish, vegetables, livestock or firewood. This was just firewood, and it all seemed to be traveling the same direction.
One night a shoemaker named Conrad had a dream that the next day Jesus was coming to his humble shop. He got up early the next morning, and went to the woods to gather green boughs to decorate his shop, in order to receive so great a Guest. Stood Up By Jesus? He waited all […]
JT walked all that day and the rest of the week until he came upon another town. It was unlike any town he had ever seen. There were dumps in between all the houses. At a distance it looked like a normal town, however the closer JT came, the worse it began to smell.
As you celebrate the excitement and the promise of a NEW YEAR, here are some tips to help you get in the swing of things!
1. BE HOPEFUL AND LOVING: I love the hopefulness of a NEW year! It brings the chance for a do over and the opportunity to work on improving certain things: I will eat healthier, I will exercise more!! How about adding: “I will spend more time with the people I care about putting them first before work, commitments and other “good” things.”
JT had been finding so many people who acted in ways that he did not want to be like. He had found a few he wanted to be like and was glad to learn from their lessons.
A little further down the road he found 2 walls, one on each side of the road. They were close to the road and at one spot there was a big barred gate for each of them. He could see towns behind each of them. Further down the road, just beyond the wall, was a very small settlement.
JT left that building and continued walking around the town. As he came to the edge of town he found a man laying by the side of the road, he obviously had been robbed. As a small child, he wasn’t sure what he could do but he began to approach the man.
A man in rich priestly robes, with an entourage, passed by the man lying on the side of the road smirking. Waving at the man, he said haughtily, “Oh leave him, he probably had too much wine and fell in with bad company. We don’t have time for him. I forbid any one of you to help him!” Some of the man’s followers looked sadly as they walked by; but they followed their leaders’ direction and went on down the road.
The hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations are underway. Gifts to be bought and wrapped. Cookies to be made and decorated. Trimming the Christmas tree, stocking up on food, food, food for the endless meals and get togethers. Santa seems to be everywhere: in the stores, at the malls, on the streets. Children line up for a chance to see Santa and ask for those precious gifts that they are waiting for ALL year long.
Yet…
Where is the line to see Jesus?
Are we taking the time to tell the greatest story ever told? Teaching our children and grandchildren that a child was born in Bethlehem so very long ago?
JT walked down the forest path and wound up in another town. This town was much larger and had some quite elegant buildings. In addition, there were also structures that were little better than shacks. It was easy to see some here were rich and others quite poor.
When he got to the center of town he found a simple but imposing building. He saw quite a long line of people in front of the building. They ranged in ages from children to quite elderly. The older people stood leaning on canes.
