An Eternal King to Reckon Time: Some Thoughts on the Liturgical Calendar and the Reign of Christ

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; John 18:33-37

Daniel 7 recounts a portion of a vision the Prophet had, according to 7:1, "in the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon." In the ancient Near East time was often reckoned according to the reign of monarchs. Whereas we would date the calling of Isaiah to the year 751 B.C., the Prophet himself simply recounts his calling as taking place in "in the year that King Uzziah died" (Isaiah 6:1). When it came to the calendar monarchs mattered.

Knowing this is critical for understanding the Book of Daniel. That the Jews in exile now reckoned their own time by the reign of their oppressor kings was a constant and bitter reminder that they had no earthly king of their own because they had no homeland of their own. And they had many years and more than a few monarchs by which they were forced to reckon time, not only in exile but after exile being ruled by foreign powers in their own homeland.

Hey God! No Fair! A Parable on Generosity and Gratitude

Matthew 20:1-16

We want justice; we want fairness. When justice is not served and when fairness is not implemented, we feel that something is clearly amiss. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard is about justice and fairness, but on God's terms.

A landowner had a large vineyard and it was harvest time. He went out early in the morning to the marketplace to hire workers. The marketplace, which the Greeks and Romans called the "agora," was the center of activity from the smallest town to the largest city. The marketplace was where all kinds of things could be purchased, most importantly food, but clothing and other necessities of life and perhaps some luxuries were available as well. It was the place where the women would come early in the morning to draw water from the town well for the day's use; and as they filled their jars, they socialized. The men would gather at the agora to talk about the latest news, including politics. The marketplace was also the default employment agency. Laborers went to the marketplace to be hired and those needing laborers went to the agora to hire them.

Scriptures and Prayer for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 1:4-20 or Daniel 12:1-3

Psalter: 1 Samuel 2:1-10 or Psalm 16

Epistle: Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-25

Gospel: Mark 13:1-8
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God our rock, you hear the cries of your people and answer the prayers of the faithful. Grant us the boldness of Hannah that we may persist in prayer, confident in your steadfast love. Amen.

Saturday at the Cinema: Seven Dangers to Pastors Who Don't Read the Bible

Wise words from my friend, Scot McKnight.

Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction: Football Can Cause Alcohol Abuse

New Jersey Man Blames DWI On The New York Jets

11/14/2018 06:49 pm ET

 New Jersey man accused of DWI tried to put the blame on the real culprit: the New York Jets.

Christopher Greyshock, 57, of West Milford, was charged Sunday afternoon after he rear-ended another vehicle, injuring at least one woman in the process, according to NBC New York.

Officers from the Wayne Police Department said Greyshock was “staggering and swaying, unable to walk straight in danger of falling onto the highway.”

They also noticed a “heavy odor” of alcohol on his breath and “stains of liquid” on his clothes.

Greyshock allegedly admitted he rear-ended the car that was stopped in traffic in front of him. 

That’s when authorities performed a field sobriety test on Greyshock. 

He allegedly failed the test by registering a blood alcohol level of 0.13 percent, well above New Jersey’s legal limit of .08 percent, according to NorthJersey.com.

During the test, Greyshock allegedly told police, “I drank too much because the Jets suck!” according to The Associated Press.

About an hour before the accident, the Jets had their own tragedy, losing 41-10 to the Buffalo Bills.

Greyshock apparently went to great lengths to drown his sorrows: He allegedly had an open bottle of whiskey and suspected marijuana in his car.

He now faces charges for facing assault by auto, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence, reckless driving and open container of alcohol in the motor vehicle charges.
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Source: Huffington Post

11.11.1918 at 11:00 a.m. The Guns of World War I Fall Silent

Listen to the last moments of the war.

Scriptures and Prayer for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Old Testament: Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 or 1 Kings 17:8-16

Psalter: Psalm 127 or Psalm 146

Epistle: Hebrews 9:24-28

Gospel: Mark 12:38-44
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God of widows and strangers, you protect the oppressed and forgotten and feed the hungry with good things. You stand among us in Christ, offering life to all. Give us open hearts and minds to respond with love to the world, caring for those for whom you care. Amen.

A Few Notes on Voting

My friend, Henry Neufeld offers his list. I mention only three:

1. I have not read a single social media post that influenced me on an issue.

4. I found that most candidates had uninformative web sites. I appreciate those who had a good summary of experience and political positions. Neither "conservative" nor "liberal" attract me unless I see specifics. I have encountered nuts under every label.

7. Character is now, and always has been, central to my voting decision.

Check out the rest of his list and other comments here.

Scriptures and Prayer for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Old Testament: Ruth 1:1-18 or Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Psalter: Psalm 146 or Psalm 119:1-8

Epistle: Hebrews 9:11-14

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34
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Beloved Companion, you deal with us kindly in steadfast love, lifting up those bent low with care and sustaining the weak and oppressed. Release us from our anxious fears, that we, holding fast to your commandments, may honor you with all that we are and all that we have. Amen.