03/21/2019
Today is the first day of spring (hallelujah!). I love all the seasons and am always ready for them to change. The first day of spring is always a reminder to me that grooming is to begin for my dog. I love letting her hair grow all fall and winter as she looks like a teddy bear but that does not serve her well when the temperatures rise.
My dog, Ava, went to her groomer yesterday. The groomer is so devoted to dogs and her grooming business. When I tell people about her, I always explain that she is very eccentric--and in a very good way. Outside of her business she dog sits regularly--I cannot imagine how she does it with so many dogs. It seems like over spring break it is nothing for her to be caring for up to a dozen dogs whom she takes home with her every night! In her grooming business, she has a living room setting where the dogs hang out between their grooming sessions. It can be loud but amazingly well controlled. When you meet the groomer, she is a tiny woman who always is dressed with patterns of dogs or the present holiday and her hair is always so neat and creative with braids. She hand makes bandanas for the dogs which relate to the season or holiday of the moment and she sends her clients home with a baggie of dog goodies which always coordinate with the season. I admire her. You clearly know that she loves what she is doing, she is knowledgeable and is passionate. And so I describe her very lovingly as eccentric.
I wonder about our lives as Christians. What would it be like if people described us as eccentric because everything we did and said showed that we do love Jesus, that we clearly know the Word of God as it directs our lives, and people would clearly know when engaged in conversation with us how dedicated we are to God. I know that this is radical thinking but what if…
Ava is no longer a fluffy teddy bear but instead is shaved and skinny but I value those visits to my groomer which make me think.
We live because of the cross and resurrection,
Patti
Archived Posts
Everything You Wanted To Know About Judas Iscariot
(Drawn from online sources)
Jesus Hears A Who
Few people know that Horton Hears A Who comes from the 25th Chapter of Matthew.
Matthew 24: One More Thing...
I sometimes stumble on old documents I’ve created but have completely forgotten about. I cannot remember why I created them or what purpose they were originally supposed to serve....
Keeping the Church Doors Unencumbered
Sunday, we considered Jesus’ disruptive actions in the Temple in light of his frustration with keeping gentiles from worshipping in their designated courtyard. We then reflected on how we still tend to throw up roadblocks to those who don’t normally attend church. I found the following, but didn’t have space for it in the sermon. It’s provocative and worth chewing on for a while.
What Was the Crowd Celebrating on Palm Sunday?
I came across this list which feels a little like a "Greatest Hits of Jesus' Ministry". I share it with you today for your inspiration and edification. Enjoy!
The Best Kind of Trouble-maker
While working on this last week’s sermon I was looking through Phillip Yancey’s excellent book—The Jesus I Never Knew—when I came across a section that I found profound. It didn’t quite fit my sermon, but it caught my eye enough that I copied it down.
Practical Tips To Avoid Judging Others
When I research a sermon, such as Sunday’s message on judgmentalism, I always try to think through some practical steps or tips in how to implement God’s desire for our lives. I rustled together a herd of ideas this week and I offer them to you.