Monday, February 27, 2006

Good Morning

 

-- Amazingly, the Volume 2 books are in already.  I have them in our Sunday School room.  We'll probably start on those books in a couple of weeks, so you've got plenty of time to get one.

 

-- Don't forget the ASP lunch and dessert auction on this coming Sunday.  The men of the church will be making the desserts for the auction.

 

-- Note that Lent begins on Wednesday, March 1, and I thought I would pass along some links to help in your preparation for Lent:

 

-- A general FAQ from the UMC web site:  http://www.gbod.org/easter/

 

-- A nice simple definition of Lent  http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=2870

 

-- Some information from the Upper Room site http://archives.umc.org/frames.asp?url=http%3A//www.upperroom.org/askjulian/default.asp%3Fact%3Danswer%26itemid=65366

 

-- Some additional information from the GBOD site: http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=3864&loc_id=9,612,48

 

-- Some information from the MethodX site about Lent:  http://www.methodx.net/articles/columns.asp?act=showitem&item_id=71138

 

Actually, MethodX is a great site that I stumbled on - associated with the Upper Room, MethodX is a site for young adults -- college to 30s.  Has some really good resources and links at www.methodx.net .

 

Today's Reading:  Revelation 4:4; read pages 166 - 168 in Barclay; stop at "Around the Throne"

 

--  Today's section talks about the twenty four elders surrounding the throne of God.  Barclay gives some interesting alternatives as to who these people are, before settling on the idea that they are representative of the faithful people of God.  He also provides some thought as the meaning of the number 24 (in his opinion, it represents a doubling of the number 12, which is the number of the tribes of Israel.  Since at this point, the church is comprised of Jews and Gentiles, then 24 symbolically represents the total church).

 

-- the most fascinating thing I read today had nothing to do with Revelation.  Barclay, in one of his earlier possibilities as to who the 24 elders were, refers to an interesting bit of language in Genesis  -- Gen 3:22, where God says that "the man (Adam) has become like one of us".  Like one of who?  Based on a quick internet search, it seems like the consensus is that it is a reference to the Trinity. That makes sense to Christians.  The interesting thing is how does the Jewish faith explain this plural, since in their view, there is no Trinity.  That is where the idea of a council of God that Barclay talks about comes from -- for the plurals to work here and elsewhere, there has to be some sort of council to have the plural make sense --- unless of course you are a Christian.

 

Today's Scripture

 

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage!  It is I.  Don't be afraid."

 

Matthew 14:27

 

Today's prayer requests:   Margaret Rose Severance

Brigette's grandmother has been battling complications from a broken leg.  She needs our prayers to help her recover more fully from the broken leg and the complications and immobility that has resulted.

Today's class member prayer:

Matt Rocksvold

Have a great day.

Jay