May 20, 2024 — The Dollar Spot Devotions

Tootsie Roll – the “Super Size”

“When people began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that they were fair; and they took wives for themselves of all that they chose.Then the Lord said, “My spirit shall not abide  in mortals forever, for they are flesh; their days shall be one hundred twenty years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went in to the daughters of humans, who bore children to them. These were the heroes that were of old, warriors of renown.” Genesis 6:1-4

“The Tootsie Roll is a chocolate flavored, taffy-like candy that has been manufactured in the United States since 1896. The candy has qualities similar to both caramels and taffy without being exactly either type, and does not melt while being transported during hot summer months.  The manufacturer, Tootsie Roll Industries, is based in Chicago, Illinois. It was the first penny candy to be individually wrapped in America. (Wikipedia)

The Tootsie Roll candy is a favorite in my family. When the Tootsie Roll candy is collected at Halloween, it does not last very long. In the Dollar Spot at my local store, it came in the jumbo size. I don’t know why you would need the jumbo size Tootsie Roll, but I guess it gives you enough to share with your friends.

One of the biggest mysteries in the bible is the story of the Nephilim (Genesis 6). The bible calls them “heroes and warriors of renown” – but many people see them as nothing short of “Super Men”. Could Goliath have been one of the Nephilim? It sure seems that he fits the stature and reputation of a warrior of renown. But as to who they were and what happened to them, and as to whether any fossilized record can account for their presence on the earth is something to be debated. 

But what cannot  be debated is the fact that there are many mysteries about prehistoric times and how G-d related to creatures before the known fossilized record was determined. It is not out of the realm of possibility that G-d created giants that once roamed the earth. And if so we would be richer in knowing so that this biblical account could once again confirm what we know – G-d is truly mysterious, unpredictable, and awesome.

Pastor Dave

May 21, 2024 — The Dollar Spot Devotions

Sixlets – If it has chocolate, it has to be good!

“…and a woman there had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.”  Then He laid His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God.  But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.”…Luke 13:11-14

Sixlets are small round candy-coated, chocolate-flavored candy made by Oak Leaf Confections, a SweetWorks company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The chocolate centers are made from a mixture of cocoa and carob, giving them a “malted” taste.  One hypothesis for the name’s origin is that the candy, when originally manufactured, was sold as a penny candy with six candy beads to a tube.

Isn’t it fascinating to learn how candies get their names. In this case, the Sixlets were named probably because only six could fit in the original packaging. Possibly it was the precursor for naming the “Six pack of beer” and the “Six pack Abs”. Nevertheless, six was the magic number.

Six was also the magic number for the synagogue leader in the lesson above.  He wants to make it clear to all who can hear him, including Jesus, that the Sabbath is not to be a day considered for healing. It went against Sabbath rules. Notice the leader is not particularly interested in the fact that Jesus healed a woman – right in front of him. This was not enough to get him to flinch. Would you have stopped and wondered in amazement if someone healed a person right in front of you? I sure would. But not this leader. He is only concerned with following the rules of the synagogue. “There are six day of the week to work – come on those days and be healed.”  Does the leader even hear himself? Does he know he is suggesting the supernatural – the amazing work of G-d in his midst should only be done on the days that humans determine? How presumptuous of us to say G-d can only work on certain days. It would be like a pastor saying “G-d is only available on Sundays.” 

The message is clear – we cannot try to put G-d in a box and presume we know when and where G-d will work. What we need to do is be prepared to respond with prayer, praise and thanksgiving when G-d does amazing things in our lives.

Pastor Dave

May 19, 2024 – Pentecost Year B

“When the day of Pentecost had come, [the apostles] were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ”

Pentecost – what does it all mean? I will suggest to you that what it all means is this: It was G-d’s plan all along. That is what Pentecost means. It was G-d’s plan all along—and G-d planned to use the least likely of people to pull it off – but isn’t that always G-d’s way? The first Pentecost sermon was preached by Peter – and after his three time denial of Jesus, you would think G-d might select someone more qualified or more committed to preach such a sermon. Yet, the Lord picked someone lacking as many qualifications as you and me. After all:

Peter denied Christ – just like we often deny Christ in the decisions we make.

Peter often spoke out of turn and without thinking – just like we often speak out of turn and without thinking. And Peter was often afraid – just like we often are afraid, especially to speak to others about Jesus. In other words, it is our humanness that initially disqualifies us in many, many ways.

What qualified Peter for preaching that Pentecost sermon was:

1.        He was chosen by G-d

2.        He had the power of the Spirit

3.        He was open to the Spirit.

In receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter seems to go through some physical, or ontological, or even meta-physical change – because he was empowered – and there seems to be no other reason to explain his complete reversal. He had to open himself up to the Holy Spirit—it is the only way—it is the way the Spirit works: Though hearing, through seeing, and through speaking.

Seeing the work of G-d in our lives takes focus—it takes real focus. Yes, the big ways that G-d works in our lives often smack us over the head. But when G-d works in the small, everyday sorts of ways, there is more of a chance that we will miss them. After all, we get busy trying to survive—hoping to thrive—waiting to die—maybe even baking a pie (I needed a word to rhyme with die). In other words, we get so busy it is easy to miss G-d’s presence in our lives. If you remember the Old Testament stories about G-d’s presence, the people of Israel knew G-d’s presence as fire—fire consuming their sacrifices, fire leading them through the wilderness, G-d speaking to Moses and Abraham through fire.

How do you see G-d’s presence in your lives? It is a necessary and important question to ask ourselves—individually and as the church. How do we see G-d active in our lives? Do you feel or see the fire of the Spirit—or can others see the fire of the Spirit in you?

Pastor Dave