“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said,“and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-22

“THE TEMPTATION IS always to reduce life to size. A bowl of cherries. A rat race. Amino acids. Even to call it a mystery smacks of reductionism. It is the mystery. As far as anybody seems to know, the vast majority of things in the universe do not have whatever life is. Sticks, stones, stars, space—they simply are. A few things are and are somehow aware of it. They have broken through into Something, or Something has broken through into them. Even a jellyfish, a butternut squash. They’re in it with us. We’re all in it together, or it in us. Life is it. Life is with. After lecturing learnedly on miracles, a great theologian was asked to give a specific example of one. “There is only one miracle,” he answered. “It is life.” Have you wept at anything during the past year? Has your heart beat faster at the sight of young beauty? Have you thought seriously about the fact that someday you are going to die? More often than not do you really listen when people are speaking to you instead of just waiting for your turn to speak? Is there anybody you know in whose place, if one of you had to suffer great pain, you would volunteer yourself? If your answer to all or most of these questions is No, the chances are that you’re dead.” (Buechner, Frederick. Listening to Your Life . HarperOne. Kindle Edition.)

Do you think Jesus would have used social media if he was trying to find his disciples in the 21^st century? As I ponder this question I am more apt to think he would not. We are all becoming just a little leery and jaded by social media posts and websites and potential fake news with the proliferation of ways we are bombarded with information. I believe Jesus would know enough to realize people need to hear from him personally and individually, like he did with his original disciples if he wants to get their attention long enough to listen to his teachings.

Jesus sought out followers when he began his public ministry – and he approached them and, in many cases, called them by name – and then he offered them life. He called them from their busy lives and sought out their attention away from earthly concerns – for the promise of eternal life. While most of us cannot leave everything to be a follower of Jesus, we can set aside more of our time to be devoted to his teachings and his ministry. In 2021, let us resolve to spend less time on social media and spend more time in our bibles – and our churches.

Pastor Dave

“Adam knew his wife Eve, and she…gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4:1-9

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. ² For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. ³ Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

“A police officer jumps into his squad car and calls the station. “I have an interesting case here,” he says. “A woman shot her husband for stepping on the floor she just mopped.” “Have you arrested her?” asks the sergeant. “No, not yet. The floor’s still wet.” (Rose Mattix, Illinois)

“Our Pilot, Our Guide”  The following passage is taken from a seminary commencement address given by Frederick Buechner: “CHRIST IS OUR employer as surely as the general contractor is the carpenter’s employer, only the chances are that this side of Paradise we will never see his face except mirrored darkly in dreams and shadows, if we’re lucky, and in each other’s faces. He is our general, but the chances are that this side of Paradise we will never hear his voice except in the depth of our own inner silence and in each other’s voices. He is our shepherd, but the chances are we will never feel his touch except as we are touched by the joy and pain and holiness of our own life and each other’s lives. He is with us—that is our faith—but only in unseen ways, as subtle and pervasive as air.” (Buechner, Frederick. Listening to Your Life . HarperOne. Kindle Edition.)

We do not really understand why Cain killed his brother Abel though we have our suspicions. As we heard, Able received affirmation from the Lord for his offering – while Cain’s offering did not. We do not know if Able made fun of his brother or in some other fashion embarrassed his brother for the Lord’s rejection, but it bothered Cain  enough to take revenge – revenge that was not his to take. Just imagine if Cain and Able had FaceBook pages. Able might have posted: “Received good news from the Lord: liked my steaks. Going to be a good season for herding.” While perhaps Cain posted: “I work and slave for months, and all I get is rejected. Watch out brother…”

It is not always clear what the Lord thinks about our actions – both public and private, positive and negative. But it is good to remember the Lord’s warning to Cain: “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” As long as we strive to do what is right, both in the eyes of G-d and through the teachings of Jesus, then we surely will be accepted and loved.

Pastor Dave