A few of my journals

"If you enjoy something in this world without saying a blessing,

it is as if you stole it."

Talmud Berachot 35A

"Remember now thy Creator

in the days of thy youth."

Ecclesiastes 12:1

Thursday evening, Sam, my 16-year-old son shared his heart with his youth group. He spoke about the parable of the talents, the story of a master who, before going on a journey,  entrusted his possessions to his servants.  The crux of his meditation was Matt. 25:25, when upon the master's return, one servant replied, "I was afraid, and I went away and hid your talent in the ground; see, you have what is yours."


'I was afraid...'


My son, Sam, said to a roomful of teenagers, "Alot of people say, 'I can't _____, or, I'm not ______ (fill in the blanks) because of fear. Fear keeps us from doing and being."
My son ministered to me as he spoke. Sam reminded me that fear is the great forgetter, and that a lie repeated and believed begins to sound like truth. He reminded me why I journal, and, why I return to former journals. I need to remember from whence I've come.


The fearful servant in the parable hid his master's possession. Centuries before, another servant spoke of hiding something. He said, "I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Psalm 119:11. Eugene Peterson words it this way- "I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt." 


I praise God for my Sam. He has the energy and passion of youth on his side. He is a blessing to me. And, he reminds me that through Christ I can do all things.

Introductions

introduce- in-truh-doos

to present (a person) to another so as to make acquainted.
L intrōdūcere  to lead inside, equiv. to intrō-intro-  + dūcere  to lead
from Dictionary.com




It's a long life, baby,
when you reach out broken hands and feel
that there are no hands reaching back for you.
When the worlds gone crazy,
I make a cry of desperation
and hear my echo bouncing off cold walls.
All I know, is it's a long life baby.
Chorus- Mile Long Driveway
by Jeremy Current


A necessary part of being human means meeting other humans. Sometimes we introduce ourselves, sometimes we are introduced by others. This week I finished reading two books- My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok and What God Starts, God Completes by Michael Milton. Both were autobiographies, the one about an imagined person, the other real. Since childhood I have enjoyed reading biographies, especially autobiographies. Everyone has a story. It takes courage to share the story with others.


I will never meet Asher Lev, though I was introduced to the fictional character by my friend Amy AcNelis (a fellow bibliophile and extraordinary teacher of English). I did meet Michael Milton. My good friend Glen Robinson invited me to attend a dinner with him; a celebratory introduction to the Chancellor/CEO Elect of Reformed Theological Seminary, Dr. Michael Milton. When Dr. Milton introduced himself to me he gave me a bear hug. He exuded joy that cannot be faked. As I watched and listened that evening, the words of Jesus came to my mind, "Behold a true Israelite, in whom there is no guile!" RTS is blessed indeed.


Relationships begin with an introduction.
Sometimes those introductions lead to a better understanding of ourselves.


"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness how will people taste godliness...you're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world."
Matthew 5
The Message

One Fish At A Time

The Tribute Money

Masaccio

1426-1427

Fresco, 255 x 598 cm
Cappella Brancacci, Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence

Thursday, I discussed the life and work of Masaccio with my students. We viewed a slide of The Tribute Money as I retold the story from Matthew 17:24-27. There is a moment in this story that captivates me. Here is the scene, from The Message-

24 When they arrived at Capernaum, the tax men came to Peter and asked, "Does your teacher pay taxes?" 25 Peter said, "Of course." But as soon as they were in the house, Jesus confronted him. "Simon, what do you think? When a king levies taxes, who pays--his children or his subjects?"26 He answered, "His subjects." Jesus said, "Then the children get off free, right? 27 But so we don't upset them needlessly, go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull in the first fish that bites. Open its mouth and you'll find a coin. Take it and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us."

Detail

Simon Peter and the fish

Here is the moment that grabs me- "cast a hook".

The greek word for hook in this verse is  agkistron and is used once in the entire New Testament. I commented to my students that fishing in 1st Century Galilee usually involved the casting of nets. So, I asked my students, "Why did Jesus tell Peter to use a hook?" I posed the question to all 5 art classes and each time at least one student responded, "Because he only needed to catch one fish!" Truth is elegantly simple. One fish contained one coin which was sufficient for two. 

Detail

Removing the coin

Matthew Henry's commentary reads:

"Peter felt sure his Master was ready to do what was right. Christ spoke first to give him proof that no thought can be withholden from Him. We must never decline our duty for fear of giving offense; but we must sometimes deny ourselves in our worldly interests, rather than give offense. However the money was lodged in the fish, He who knows all things alone could know it, and only Almighty power could bring it to Peter's hook. The power and the poverty of Christ should be mentioned together. If called by providence to be poor, like our Lord, let us trust in His power, and our God shall supply all our need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. In the way of obedience, in the course, perhaps, of our usual calling, as He helped Peter, so He will help us. And if any sudden call should occur, which we are not prepared to meet, let us not apply to others, till we first seek Christ."