combs​Naima, my newer kitty, loves to have her neck, cheeks and chin scratched. She rubs on everything: doors, shoes, books, chairs. Spiral is fond of the same thing, but not quite as intensely. So, when I saw an advertisement for a cat self-groomer, I ordered 3. It took quite a while for them to arrive, but they finally came. I put one together and stuck it on the side of my desk. The instructions suggested that if they didn’t get close enough to it, to put some catnip inside to attract them. So much for instructions.
 
My cats, being rescue cats, are very sensitive about anyone trying to put them anywhere they don’t already want to be. They also have NO interest in catnip. They view this new grey contraption with great suspicion. I’ve placed their favorite toys nearby, including their scratching post. That has not worked yet.
 
I started to brush Spiral with one of the combs so she would have her scent on it. She loves it when I do that, but as for letting me put it down so she can rub herself on it, nothing doing. She has bitten it a couple of times, but not a single rub. I find myself wishing I were a cat, at least for a few minutes, so I could show them what to do. They will enjoy it so much!
 
In reflection, I realize this must be how God felt about the human race. He sent so many messages and prophets to try to explain how much he loved us, but we just didn’t get it. So, finally, he sent Jesus, a human like us, to show us what a great gift we were being offered. Many see the blessing and receive it with joy, but many others run away from the blessing as if it were a curse.
 
I wonder if my cats will ever understand? I wonder that I so often forget the great love that Jesus has offered me.

This is a reflection on Luke 5:1-11, considering what Peter may have been thinking when Jesus asked to use his boat.
 
Peter may have felt like a prop in the larger play when Jesus asked to use his boat. He’s been up all night, but had to wash out his nets before going home to bed. He heard what Jesus said at least with half an ear. It had been a disappointing night’s work – caught absolutely NOTHING. No sales. No money today. His wife would NOT be pleased. He knew these hard times all too well. As Jesus was wrapping up his talk, Peter looked forward to going home, whatever the consequences.
 
“You want me to WHAT?!” Peter must have thought this itinerant carpenter was crazy to think he knew ANYTHING about fishing. I can hear him saying, “Go out again to fish? We’ve been there and done that!” There are NO fish in the lake and daytime is NOT when you fish. I’m tired and I do NOT want to do this, but whatever…He will soon find out this is a useless exercise.”
 
Nets put out. “What’s happening? Fish! My nets are full, so full I can’t haul them into the boat! Better get some help. I’ll call James and John.”  “I’ve never seen so many fish! Where have they been all night? Wow, we have a boat full, and there are still more. In fact, I think this boat is starting to sink! OOPS! How is this happening?”
 
“Why is Jesus smiling?” Could he have caused this? He must have! Who is he anyway? How did he bring all these fish here at this time of day? That’s a God thing! He must be a holy man to have that kind of power. And he’s done this for me! Why? I’m just a poor fisherman who let him use my boat. I don’t deserve this, and he must not realize how unholy I am! I must ask him to leave because I’m not worthy to be in his presence. It’s all just too much!”
 
Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid. I have a job for you and instead of my leaving, I want you to come with me. I want your company, your presence, your friendship. Leave the work you are comfortable with and join us in telling the world the Good News of the Gospel. I am life, light, all you will ever need. Come with me.”
 
So, Peter, James and John all got out of the boat, left the boats, the nets, the fish and followed Jesus. Life would never be the same. When they lost their way after Jesus’ crucifixion, they went back to fishing. Once more, Jesus called them to let down their nets for a catch, and when they realized who he was, they left all, never to return.

In recent days, many things have happened that caused people to be afraid – wars, elections, earthquakes. As I was reading Luke 8, I was struck by four situations in which people became very fearful for different reasons. Each of these situations occurred in the presence of Jesus Christ. The results were very interesting, and I found insightful.
 
In Luke 8:22-25, the Jesus’ disciples found themselves in the midst of a fierce storm on the lake, with Jesus asleep in the back of the boat. This was a serious weather event in which the boat was filling with water, they were too far from a coast to swim to safety, and drowning had become a real possibility. They woke Jesus up, perhaps expecting that he either worry with them about their fate or at least help them bail the water out of the boat. They did not expect him to address the storm and tell it to be still. Amazingly, the storm obeyed and all became calm.
 
In Luke 8:26-39, the disciples and Jesus all arrive safely to shore, only to be met by a crazy man. He was totally out of control, breaking chains, living among the graves and running around with no clothes on. The community had tried to subdue him without success. This crazy man had caused fear among the population for some time because of his unpredictable and bizarre behavior. Jesus got straight to the root of the man’s problem, and within a short while, had him sitting calmly and fully clothed.  When the local citizens came to see, the change in this man caused more fear than his previous behavior had. Jesus had done the impossible, and it shook them to the core. They begged him to leave them, and he prepared to go. However, the formerly crazy man was left behind as a witness to the power of God.
 
The next incident is found in Luke 8:40-48. Jesus is walking along with a large crowd pressing on him. A woman, who had been bleeding for years, slipped up and touched his robe. She was unclean, and thus it was a serious offense to touch a man and thus make him unclean. To touch a noted rabbi was especially offensive. So, when Jesus insisted on exposing her, she was really afraid of what would happen to her. She had performed an illegal act, and technically could lose her life as a result. Jesus affirmed her healing publically and even commended her faith. He accepted her and made her whole.
 
The final incident in this chapter is found in Luke 8:49-56. Jairus had a daughter that was very ill and about to die. He was urging Jesus to come to his house and heal her before it was too late. In the midst of the incident with the woman above, messengers arrived to tell Jairus that it was already too late; his daughter was dead. Perhaps he had delayed too long to go to Jesus, or these “other people” got in the way and now all was lost. But Jesus only told him to have faith, and went and raised his daughter from the dead.
 
We fear so many things: the elements, loss of property, events contrary to our expectations, condemnation from others, or the loss of loved ones in death. We are usually in a position of powerlessness and that causes us to fear and often to be overwhelmed. The difference in the stories discussed above is the presence of Jesus. He is the ONLY one who is not helpless, but commands those fear-producing forces. The words he spoke to the people, and to us are: “Where is your faith?” and “Don’t be afraid!”
 
These words are important for us today, whatever situation we fear. We have access to a power beyond us, beyond the forces that seem to control us. So, when we find ourselves feeling terrified, remember Jesus’ words: “Where is your faith?” and “Don’t be afraid!”

What is the difference between the verbs ‘to end’ and ‘to finish’?
 
When one comes to the end of something, there is no more they can do. The race is over, the workday ending time has arrived. The time has come to quit whatever activity until another time comes to start. I’m coming to the end of my time in Africa. On a certain day, I will get on a plane and go to my home country. At that point, I will no longer have my role. My home will be dissolved, my housemate will, likewise, depart. That’s the end of my work here. But that’s not the same thing as finishing.
 
Finishing means you have goals and plans, and those need to be completed before you get to the end. So, finishing takes longer than an ending. Finishing is active engagement, a sense of purpose.
 
What does finishing mean for you? For me? Why is finishing important anyway?
 
I started with a task to do. I’ve worked hard and pretty much completed it. Handing off is the major problem now. So, documentation is my next best option. The temptation is to keep tinkering with it, but I must set a time and hold to it. Deadlines have their importance. Then I have fulfilled my side of the commitment to the best of my ability. What happens next is not up to me. I must leave all in the hands of God.
 
John 19:20 Jesus said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
 
Jesus finished, then it was the end. Joyce Rupp, in Praying Our Goodbyes, describes this as Jesus’ “Goodbye”.  But then came the “Hello”!
 
Jesus’ disciples were focused on the goodbye, but Jesus had moved on to the Hello – to Mary, to the disciples, on the road to Emmaus, at the beach, “Come and have breakfast.”
 
Beginning and start have the same parallels as finishing and end. Start is a beginning point at which one takes action – a new action. Start the race, start the car. But when you start, you need to know what to do. What are you beginning? Beginning implies it is the first step of many – that there is a goal or plan involved. One begins a journey.
 
Genesis 1:1, 3 In the beginning, God created (started creating) the heavens and the earth…Then God said, “Let there be light” and there was light.
 
Before God started, He had a plan. What is my new beginning? How will I start? The prospects are endless. But it takes courage to start. LORD, give me the courage that I lack to start anew.

John 20:15-16
“Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener.  “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
“Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
 
All Jesus said to her was her name, and yet she immediately recognized who he was. It must have been the intonation, and of course, we don’t know what that was.
 
“Mary!!” (what do you mean you don’t recognize me! I’m standing right here!)
“Mary?” (don’t you recognize me?)
“Mary.” (Look up and see who I am)
“Mary…” (I’ve come to meet you because I know how much you love me and hurt because of what has just happened.)
 
I personally think it was the last one. Why? Because of what Jesus says next, “I have not yet ascended to my Father.”
 
Why ever not? His Father had just raised him from the dead! What was he waiting for? I think he was waiting to see Mary Magdalen. She must have loved Jesus very deeply. He had completely changed her life and those who are forgiven much, love much. The previous two days had been her worst nightmare. Her beloved, gentle, kind, loving teacher had been brutalized and cruelly murdered. She had seen the spear pierce his side. There was no doubt he was dead. He had been in the tomb for more than 36 hours. And now he was gone and she was devastated. Where could she go? She wanted to stay here near where he had been, weeping. All was lost.
 
But then she hears her name. That familiar voice; that gentle, loving intonation that said, I understand how you feel, but I’m here now. All is well. I haven’t ascended to my Father because I knew you would be here, and I wanted to come to comfort you. I waited for you to be alone so we could talk. I don’t want your pain to continue any longer than necessary because I love you and value you. Now, while I go to see my Father, please go to tell the others the good news. And don’t worry, I’ll see you again soon.
 
Those tears of grief turned to tears of joy, relief, amazement. Death was conquered. Her beloved was no longer dead, but very much alive, more alive than any of us have ever been.
 
He calls my name, your name, so we can also hear his words of comfort and victory.

Does reading a newspaper or news magazine cause you to despair at the state of the world?  Do you want to turn off the television newscasts, or never watch them in the first place?  Do you feel the level of violence, corruption and poverty is out of anyone’s control?
If the answer to any or all of these questions is “yes”, then read on.
 
Do you believe that God is sovereign over the world?  Do you believe He has conquered evil and is at work to bring people to himself through the trials and tribulations that we all experience?  Do you want to be a part of His work in the world?  Do you want to make a difference?  Then, this is the book for you.
 
Our world is faced with many serious and very disturbing problems.  At times things do seem out of control, and they certainly are out of our control.  However, the Bible teaches that nothing is outside of God’s control.  However, our faith is often too small to grasp the enormity of what He is doing, and certainly our words fail us when we try to pray for issues that occur right around us.  If we struggle with local issues, how can a person begin to pray for the desperate state of our world?
The struggle to pray for BIG things started for me when a godly woman named Pam Bendor-Samuel mentioned in a conference that she was trying to pray for big things and often found it hard.  My thought at the time was, “You find it hard? I find it impossible!”  And for many years, I did not even try to overcome this barrier.  However, God has been continuing to use these words to challenge me to try, and so with the encouragement of several other godly women, we have begun together to pray for BIG things: war,  terrorism, the seriously ill, our leaders, and more.

If during the US elections you want to join in prayers for them, I offer 7 prayers from Scripture. These same prayers can be used for church leaders, employers, any leaders. In His mercy, may God hear our prayers.

​(The pdf is in booklet form. Print double sided. Fold and cut in half lengthwise. Cut at the fold. Put pages together and staple.)

It probably began centuries ago as rival people groups fought each other over resources for their cattle. The Dinka and the Nuer ethnic groups are linguistically and culturally very similar. But as sometimes happens, those similarities do not help them get along together. Loyalties are first to the family, then the clan, then the ethnic group and lastly to the nation in which they live. The expectation for anyone in leadership is that the wealth that comes from that position should be shared freely with one’s kinsmen. So, when the nation of South Sudan was born in July, 2011, it was naïve to think that the President, Salva Kiir (a Dinka) would manage to successfully share power with the Vice-President, Riak Machar (a Nuer). That arrangement lasted two and a half years before a power struggle broke out between these two people-groups in December 2013. Since that time, the world’s newest nation has gone from struggling to devastated to starving and destroyed. Other people-groups are being dragged into the fray, and multiple attempts by the world community have so far failed to find a means of reconciliation. The current attempt at resolution is to restore a power-sharing government with the same two leaders.
 
In Matthew 12:25 we read, “(Jesus) said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.’” (English Standard Version)
 
Watching the deterioration of a country where I’ve lived and worked has been very painful. Every family I know has suffered some loss, either of family members or homes or jobs or all of these. Most of my friends are part of the third-party – neither Dinka nor Nuer. I’m frequently reminded of the African proverb “When the elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers”.
 
I frequently read postings on a South Sudanese Facebook site, and am disappointed to find so much hate speech. It doesn’t take more than a second or two to figure out if the writer is Dinka or Nuer. It is ALL or NOTHING from both sides, no compromise, no forgiveness. These (mostly) young men seem to be in a feeding frenzy of hate, insult and accusation. They call each other names but don’t listen to what is being said. The voice of moderation is absent in that conversation. Thankfully, that is not true in other venues, where the church leaders are actively seeking to bring about reconciliation and peace.
 
During my recent visit to my home in the USA, I listened in horror at the “dialogue” going on as the 2016 election cycle begins to heat up. While the rival parties are not ethnic in the same way as in South Sudan, the polarization is certainly similar. The voices of moderation and compromise are portrayed as being traitors to the “cause”. The loudest voices are the extremes, with the media often encouraging the most radical to speak even louder.
 
Our “tribes” are the Left and the Right politically, yet we are walking down the same road to destruction that has led to the disaster that is South Sudan. Where is diplomacy, reason, moderation? Yes, where is a willingness to compromise so that ALL sections of the population can feel united, heard, part of the nation? We are a nation of immigrants, people who have come to a place where we want to be free to say what we think and do what we want. But up until now, those rights have been moderated by a willingness to allow those freedoms to everyone, not just those who share “my” opinion. In the current climate, anyone with a different opinion may be characterized as evil, stupid, racist or without moral values. Do we really want to destroy ourselves in this way? Aren’t we better than that?
 
Where is the voice of Jesus in all of this? Where is the willingness to be gracious, kind, forgiving, and patient? Is the church contributing to the divisiveness?
 
As I reflected on these thoughts last night, I found myself praying for unity for my country. Let us pray for peace, for repentance from our pride and selfishness, and maybe God will be merciful and restore our land. Maybe God will stop us before we destroy ourselves.
 
A Prayer from 2 Chronicles 6: 37-39
 
LORD, may we turn to you in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly. May we turn to you with our whole heart and soul and pray for this land you gave to our ancestors—toward this place you have chosen for us, then hear our prayers and our petitions from heaven where you live, and uphold our cause. Forgive us who have sinned against you.’
 
LORD, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

A seedpod is the result of a mature plant. As they dry, the seeds drop and blow and spread - reproducing themselves, starting the cycle over once more. Prickles on the seeds catch on some unsuspecting passerby so that they end up in far-flung spaces. 

​We must let our seeds go to see how they can fare, what abundance can result, what blessing they may bring. The parent forgotten, but without whom the now would never be.