Random thoughts and musings of a Pastor, Leader, Teacher, Father, Husband, Brother, Son, and Child of God.
Today we welcome the newest addition to our family. His name is Joshua-Ray Caden Nugent. He was born at 9:09 am on September 7, 2012. He is 7.03 lbs, 21 inches. So far he is doing fine, and has even latched on for a 15 min first feeding. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Luke 9: 51-56
The people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.
The Samaritans of the town had been passed over, treated unfairly, discriminated against time and time again. On a normal day this would occur, but more so when the special times of the year came around and people who traveled to Jerusalem were seeking to “keep themselves pure”. No one could blame them for being fed up, not wanting to take it anymore. And so when another traveler comes to town looking for a place to stay the night on their journey to Jerusalem they decide to put their communal foot down and turn him out of their city. We are not going to help you in reaching your destination, you are not welcome!
Little did they know that this was Jesus; the Son of God, God with us, and the Promised One. To them they only saw his disciple with a hand out and a request. They could not know that this was to be the Lamb of God who would take away their sins as well as Israel’s. They could only see another Jew on his way to Jerusalem. And as a result of their prejudice they turn away He who would be the most important visitor that would every grace the gate of their city.
There have been times in my life when, with good reason, I have been less than welcoming to another person. The sum total of my experience with “their kind” has taught me to be wary of “them”, is what I tell myself. But what if in my passion to protect SELF, to express my displeasure, to do right by ME I have turned my Savior away?
Prayer: Lord, you are welcome in my soul today, and every day. And may it be that when you enter that your first order of business will be to place a sign in the doorway of my heart that says, “Prejudice, Not Welcome Here!”
Mark 14: 18-19
I can’t imagine being asked that question by Jesus, but I try, and I will tell you why. Because without the realization of how wretched I can be, I can’t appreciate just how necessary Christ’s sacrifice was and is.
You see its not just the original disciples that find themselves sitting at the table with Jesus. No,each time I come to communion I face him. The question is, this time around, which disciple am I? At this place in my spiritual journey which one of them do I most relate to?
– Peter, just about to loose it in the face of pressure to acknowledge his relationship with Jesus.
– Thomas, holding off any commitment, for right now, at least till all the facts are in.
– Judas, more interested in getting Jesus to do what he wants then he is interested in doing what Jesus wants.
– John, so close to Jesus that it is uncomfortable for others of lesser connection to watch the two of them.
Before I conduct a Communion Service, or take the body and blood of Christ, I take a good hard look at myself and identify where I am sitting at the table this time around, but not only that but also, by the power of the Holy Spirit, where I want to be the next time I find myself AT THE TABLE.
I pray that you find some time to do the same.
1 Corinthians 11:28-29
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!
It’s long over due for me to have an official place on the web to present an organized collection of my experiences, testimonies, failures, triumphs – all to the Glory and Honor of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I pray you’ll come back often and that you’ll be blessed by the content of this website. To the members of the two church’s God has ordained and charged me to lead – it is my intention and heartfelt joy to be the conduit through which God can bring you into a saving relationship with him day by day.
But this is what the LORD says: “Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save.
Isaiah 49:25
-ACNugent
