May 10, 2024 – The Dollar Spot Devotions: The “Yoda” Tote Bag – Because Nothing Says “I Have It All” Like Yoda Products

“And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.  He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’   “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.  And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’   “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’   “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:16-21

My dollar spot excursion brings me next to a tote bag. But this is not the usual tote bag – it is a tote bag with a big picture of Yoda on the side. Now, Yoda is a character from the “Star Wars” movie. Yoda was a Jedi Knight Master who taught Luke how to use the power of “The Force” – which is some hidden power within the universe that only Jedi Knights can tap into. 

Yoda is of an indiscriminate species, and possibly someone out there in the Star Wars “Blog-O-Sphere” would be able to tell me exactly what species Yoda is. However, only the people who would know this would also want a Yoda tote bag – at least that is my opinion. Or, if you are looking for such a Tote Bag, it might also mean you have too much stuff — if this is what you need to add to your collections.

Jesus tells the parable of the rich man in response to a question about helping someone divide inheritance within a family. Jesus goes on to say: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15) I was listening to the radio this morning and they were talking about the salary for an NBA basketball player. His salary is, as it stands right now before he is eligible for “Free Agency” (which only means more money) his salary is $34 million a year. Take a second to gather your breath after hearing that sum of money. If I spent 100 dollars a day every day, it would take me more than 500 years to spend that money. Now, consider the fact that in many parts of the world, people live on $2 a day or less. That is what their salaries allow them so spend — $2 a day. Do you think there is a problem with wealth distribution in this world?  No, I am not advocating for “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” equal distribution for everyone advocated by Karl Marx – but if Christians are not leading the charge to help the poor and the oppressed to receive more that will allow them to live better lives, then who will?

Pastor Dave

May 9, 2024 – The Dollar Spot Devotions: The Floppy Hat – A Must For Climate Change

“At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,  and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.  So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me;but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.  My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.”  John 10:22-28

The older I get the more things change for me. Before I began to lose my hair, I never wore a hat outside. Now, I have a hat, a backup hat, and a backup hat for my backup hat. Why? Because I have to keep the sun off my head, my nose and my ears because – well because I never wore a hat when I was a kid, and now I have to worry about skin cancer. So, everyone should have a floppy hat or a cowboy hat of some kind to keep the sun off our noggins. 

Weather has been around since the beginning of time – that is a ridiculously obvious statement. And now, the weather seems to be changing – or something new is going on. And, that is only my observation, not my politics. But isn’t it nice to know that even Jesus had to deal with the weather – winter and summer, a short spring or fall.  Maybe Jesus was using the Portico of Solomon to avoid the cold wind, or the cold rain.  Either way, Jesus had to deal with it, just like we have to deal with it. 

On the day of the crucifixion, the sky turned dark – and an earthquake shook the ground. Weather and natural “disasters” are a part of our lives – whether we are talking about earthquakes, hurricanes, swarms of locusts, or massive dust storms. With each event, we are reminded of our utter dependency on the Grace and mercy of G-d. No matter what steps we might take to control these events, we will never be able to completely keep them from harming people and the earth. And yet, through each event, we are reminded that G-d does not forsake us in these disasters. Just as the Spirit was released when the earthquake struck on the day of the crucifixion and many of the dead were seen roaming the streets, the same Holy Spirit is released when disaster strikes today – and it can be seen in the actions of first responders, assistance agencies, neighbors, communities and religious organizations across the world.  

Disasters will always be with us – but that does not mean that G-d abandons us. Instead, G-d releases the Holy Spirit to sweep into the lives of those affected to sustain and keep them in his love, mercy and Grace.

Pastor Dave