“WILL YOU GIVE ME A DRINK?” – IV. “WHEN JESUS ASKS”

 “WILL YOU GIVE ME A DRINK?” – IV. “WHEN JESUS ASKS”

A sermon by the Rev. Dr. John A. Dalles

Sunday February 1, 2015

Ps 111; NT John 4:7ff

The one who provides living water is asking for a drink.

Is he truly thirsty?

We know that Jesus did get thirsty.  In fact one of the last things Jesus said was: I thirst.

It is an indication that Jesus led a strenuous life. He walked everywhere he went, he kept long hours, he slept in uncomfortable places, he went out of his way to meet people in need, and then he MET THEIR NEEDS.  It is any wonder that Jesus knew what it was to be tired, and hungry and yes, thirsty.

 

So there at the well outside the city of Sychar, he said to the woman at the well: “WILL YOU GIVE ME A DRINK?”

We appreciate the fact that Jesus knows what it is to be thirsty.  To feel parched and dry and to wish for the coolness and the refreshment of pure water.  We have been thirsty.  And we have been thirsty for good things – righteousness is the way Jesus says it.

“Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness.  They shall be filled.”

Even as an empty water jar, on a hot Middle Eastern day at noon, is filled with water that is gold and quenching.  They shall be filled.

 

It took work, for the woman to draw the water and share it with Jesus. Sometimes we don’t think much about the work that is behind meeting needs.  But there is always work to be done, resources to be expended, time to be given—a gift that is also a sacrifice.

In olden days homes did not have running water.  You had to go to the well to get it.  The walk was long, the path was uneven, the weather was fickle and the jar was heavy in one direction and even heavier on the way back.

You can suppose that everyone who went to the well wished that they did not have to go.  They wished for easier lives.  They would marvel at our homes today, where we can simply turn the spigot and there’s the water.  I wonder how many of the women who went to wells down the ages prayed for easier lives.  They were thirsty for easier lives.  And who knows, maybe their combined prayers brought us to the place we enjoy today…

But there are other needs and concerns we pray for nowadays…aren’t there?  And they are so much like those other prayers of long ago.  If we picture the people who went to the well in Jesus day, as people who were on their way to have needs met, what do we find…?

It is much like what Phillips Brooks (who wrote the beloved Christmas hymn, O Little town Of Bethlehem) once said,

“Do not pray for easy lives.  Pray to be strong… do not pray for tasks equal to your powers.  Pray for powers equal to you tasks.  Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle.  But you shall be a miracle.  Every day, you shall wonder at yourself—at the richness of life which has come to you—by the grace of God.”

He was talking to people like you and like me. 

          Have you though of yourself as a miracle? 

          The psalms say we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  The very fact that we are here is a miracle. 

          Have you though of yourself as a miracle? 

 

          The fact that we have grown and learned, and worked at jobs that make a difference and cared for others – these are also miracles. 

You may have a story to tell about the miracles that God has done for you—cured you of an illness, comforted you in sorrow, opened a new pathway for you when you thought every door was shut.  Guided you through dangerous places to a haven of shelter and calm.  Given you a second chance in life, or third or fourth.

I am reminded of a story that Harry Emerson Fosdick used to tell.  He lived for awhile in Bronxville New York, and every morning, he would take the early train for the 27 – mile ride into Manhattan – to his office. 

He noticed that every morning, a fellow commuter – whom he know causally and who always rode the same train – would pull down the window shade as the train crossed over 128^th Street.  And then he would close his eyes. 

One morning, Fosdick said something to the man across the aisle. 

“I have watched you pull down your shade as we neared 128^th street, every morning.  And I am curious to know why?”

The other man answered:

“I was born in that slum.  And I find it painful to remember those early days.  Besides there is nothing I can do about it anyway”

After a sympathetic silence, Dr. Fosdick, who had seen so much of the city's needs, said:

“I don’t mean to poke around in your private life.  But, surely, at least, you could leave your shade up”

 

          How do we go from thirsty people to being a miracle?

Leave your shade up.  Be open to what Jesus is doing now.  Let Jesus fill you in ways you may not have imagined or guessed.  Jesus can do that.  Jesus will do that.

Christians do get thirsty.  We look at the world around us and we are thirsty on behalf of others.  We see the problems of the world, and know that Jesus wants them to be addressed.  We may have a part in addressing them.  We may look at the needs and they seem all too big, for us to know how to address.

 

You have perhaps felt that way. 

Think of that woman at the well—and everyone Jesus has filled  with living water…

          “They responded to the Lord where they were.  And God transformed their little defeats into his great successful victories. 

Let us look at our lives—at our service for Jesus Christ, and say:

I will do what I can.  And maybe someone else will join me. 

 I’m not sure of success.  But I leave that in the Lord’s hands.  You see, it isn’t a question of whether God is on our side.  God is not a partner in our efforts.  God is the effort itself.  We are God’s instruments. 

And God does not fail.”

-         Be open to what Jesus is doing now. 

-         Let Jesus fill you in ways you may not have imagined or guessed. 

-         Jesus can do that. 

-         Jesus will do that.

 

“DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?” – III. WHEN JESUS ASKS

“DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?” – III. WHEN JESUS ASKS

Sunday, January 25, 2015

A Sermon by the Rev. Dr. John A. Dalles

Ps 62:5-12; John 3:1-16

Don’t you understand?

Faith seeking understanding is the theme of the visit that Nicodemus made to see Jesus.  I like that idea.  We have a living faith, and we are convinced of God’s presence love and grace.  Day by day, we are living in that confidence. It allows us to move into a day with expectancy, hopefulness and purpose.  In some days, we move ahead with all of those, and feeling blessed and surrounded by the Holy Spirit’s guidance.  We are thankful for such days.

There are times, though, when we are feeling other things.  Nicodemus was feeling such things.  The faith that he had was changing, as a result.  The signposts of devotion that he k new, had been moved.  The winds of inspiration had shifted.  The old ways that seemed so dependable, were becoming less so.  He did not know where to turn, but he did turn, and he turned to Jesus.

Jesus was there.  We sometimes forget that when we turn to Jesus, Jesus is there.  He is always there.  He is always more ready to receive us than we are to go to him.  We are reluctant because of our own moods or circumstances.  So we delay.  Perhaps we delay long into the day.  And when the day is long spent, then we finally emerge and make our way stumbling in the darkness, to the one who is the Light of the world. 

That is what Nicodemus did.  He found his way to Jesus and yes, Jesus was more than ready to welcome him, to receive him, and to share with him what we wanted to know.  Think what a disappointment it would be if we were to finally and at last turn to Jesus for help with our faith question, and he said, No I am busy doing other things, I cannot help you now, take a number so we can serve you better, sometime in the future.

Jesus does not do that.  When we turn to him, he welcomes us.  Think what a blessing that is.  We have someone who knows us through and through, who understand our every need, who wants only the best for us, ready to hear what we have to say.

The conversation that unfolded between Nicodemus and Jesus was one of the most memorable in the entire bible.  More than 70 percent of all Christians can tell you by memory what John 3:16 says.  And many of them, the vast majority of them, say it is their favorite verse in Scripture. 

But it did sound odd to Nicodemus to know that he and to be born again… something Jesus said right before the eternal words of John 3:16. 

We have said several times before in our conversations about that passage that the ancient Greek language that is used can mean:  Born again.  Born anew.  And born from above.  We know it best as born again – and we know that there is a whole company of believers who ask the question of every Christian: Have you been born again? If Jesus says we must, then we must.  We must not be the old person that was born on what we look at as our birthday, but the new person who has made an intentional commitment to having Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

           Born again.  Born anew.  And born from above.  It seems simple to us.  We have heard it all our lives.  We know it to be true.  That when we place Jesus at the very center of our being, the rest of the experiences of life fall into place.  We can understand them as we ought.

When our family goes on vacation we usually have a table in the corner of the room where there is a jigsaw puzzle out for anyone and everyone to work on, especially on rainy days.  Have you ever put together one of those 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles?   Not the ordinary kind with a full color photo f a red barn on a crisp autumn day or shining waterfall in a deep glad, but one of those harder ones where all of the colors are just about the same  and all of the puzzle pieces are cut just about identically.   And where the picture of what you are putting together is not to be consulted…  Yes.  It is a challenge.   Takes some concentration.  And teamwork too.  And yet when you put that last piece into the puzzle and it all comes together.  Voila!

Understanding… it is that moment beyond the gathering of information, when it all comes together and all of the pieces fit.  That is what Nicodemus was seeking.  He was given a good explanation of what he was seeking. It came from the only one who could explain it.  And yet, Nicodemus was not getting it.

“Don’t you understand?” Jesus asked him…

“If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can I tell you about heavenly things?”

There were still some missing pieces.

We should not be too hard on Nicodemus.  Jesus wasn’t being hard on him.  Jesus was trying to bring him from a particular way of thinking, into a new way of thinking, from a belief structure that had served him well into adulthood…to a new way of believing.  That kind of transformation doesn’t happen mechanically.  It happens organically.  What does that mean?

An organic faith is a way of believing that promotes harmony between human beings and God (and the world God made, and the other people in it).  It is a faith with approaches that are sympathetic to and well integrated with God’s intention for all of creation.  It transforms the believer in such a way that the believer is aware of and celebrates being part of a unified, interrelated composition, which we call the Kingdom of God.

Now, Nicodemus wanted to get there.  Had he not, he would not have visited Jesus that night.  Begun is half done they say and having begun Nicodemus was half way there, half way to understanding, just by placing himself in Jesus’ presence.

How sad it is that some folks miss this chance.  They have every opportunity to be with Jesus, to listen to him, to sit at his feet, to read his words, to watch his work and to ponder these things.  How sad it is that they keep them at arms’ length, or even much further away.  They deny themselves the blessings that are theirs for the asking.

It is like being invited to a great banquet, but staying home (in fact, Jesus used just that example himself).  Nicodemus had the invitation, he accepted it, and put himself in the presence of Jesus.  He is a good example for us to follow.  And then, he listened.  What Jesus said to him was so simple that it confused Nicodemus.  It was so profoundly spiritual that it puzzled Nicodemus.  He could not understand how it fit together or, more importantly, how it fit him.

“Don’t you understand?” Jesus asked him…

“If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can I tell you about heavenly things?”

Nicodemus stands for every person who carefully and cautiously must examine the new things that God may be doing.  Nicodemus represented all who subject what God may be doing to painstaking scrutiny in light of past traditions and experiences.  Nicodemus is a role model for all who do these things first, before jumping in and embracing what God is doing.  Jesus is providing a setting in which Nicodemus can do that.

Nicodemus has been called the Patron Saint of the Curious.  Those with inquiring minds, seeking hearts, open to what God is doing now and may be doing tomorrow.  When we consider his encounter with Jesus, we are offered an invitation to be born anew, born again, born from above, and born of the Spirit.  We are reminded that we can enter ever more fully into the mystery of divine revelation.  We are given an occasion in which we can ponder anew our identity as disciples.

          William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia, says:  "Being born of the Spirit is talking not about a new mystical height of experience but about a way of living out the life of God in the world. When you see like this, you see the connection between Jesus and God and you see God in Jesus not trying to compete for adoration in the market of miracle workers, but seeking to establish a relationship of love and community. The focus is life. The means is relationship. The motive is love."

“Why Do You Involve Me?” – II.” When Jesus Asks”

“Why Do You Involve Me?” – II.” When Jesus Asks”

A Sermon by John A. Dalles

January 11, 2015

Ps 29 - John 2:1-11

Don’t’ get involved….!

That kind of advice is given out often.  You hear a sound in the night that does not sound right.  You see someone who may or may not need help.  You watch as someone is trying to do something and you know that there is a simpler way or better way to do it.  But then someone says…  Don’t’ get involved….!  Is it a protective instinct…?

          Back in September, “The Guardian”, gave eight reasons why people don’t get involved…

1.     I’m not sure I want to make the commitment

2.     I have nothing to offer

3.     It’s too much work already

4.     I won’t know anybody there

5.     I don’t like this or that person who is there already

6.     I’m not like the others in the group

7.     People might think I am a hypocrite

8.     I don’t want to feel grandiose or unrealistic (or both).

Perhaps you have felt one or more of those things when the choice has been placed before you to get involved.  It is understandable.  It is something that many people feel at one time or the other, and sometimes these reasons outweigh the reasons to become involved.

 I find it fascinating that most of the articles out there about why one would get involved have to do with being part of a community such as a school or college (or, yes, a church).  It may seem obvious but getting involved means being in relationship with other people.  There are very few organizations that have only one member, very few school teams or activities that have only one participant.  Getting involved means interrelating with others.

Some people find this harder than others.  They think of themselves as natural born introverts, or painfully shy or people who prefer solitude.  You remember how Henry Higgins was, he boasted that he liked an atmosphere as restful as an undiscovered tomb…  We think it somewhat curious and odd.  But that is what he said.  Then again you never know just how much you might enjoy, or contribute, or change things for the better, if you get involved.  The sooner you involve yourself you will become connected to the rest of the community and explore the practicality for your skills.

Becoming involved places you in a group of leaders. You do not have to hold a leadership position in the club or organization to consider yourself a leader. Take time, research, go to events and activities sponsored by the clubs, and make your decision.

Getting involved may very well benefit you...  You may make new friends.  You may learn a new skill.  You may open new doors.  You may enrich your life.  You may find a new path in life.

When you get involved, you may have a group that will help you adheres to your deeply held beliefs, your earnest interests, the values that you treasure, the things that hold your attention.  In fact, if there is not something out there that addressee these, you may even start one.

Why? Getting involved will give you leadership opportunities.  It may help you grow in your vocation; make you more marketable in the world.  You may also learn some essential skills such as; time management; running effective meetings; and goal setting, just to name a few.

When do you get involved? Now.  There’s no time like the present.

One person said it this way:  "I knew I would only get out as much as I put in, so I decided to get involved."  

 All of this is pretty straightforward.  It fits in the setting of the church, and it fits in the larger settings of life.  I dare say that many of these good reasons have caused our new deacons and new elders to say yes when the Nominating Committee asked them to set aside some of their time and energies to get involved in theses ways at Wekiva.  We are grateful they did.

Does it sound a bit odd when we come across Jesus in the early days of his ministry, asking the question…“Why Do You Involve Me?”

Jesus and his disciples are at a wedding.  We make much of this when we have a wedding in the church because we gather from his presence there that he blessed the bride and groom, and their intentions, and their vows, by his very presence.  We know Jesus to have been a person of the utmost integrity—he would not have gone had he had any reservations whatsoever. 

We also gather from this that Jesus liked to be in the company of others in what we might call his leisure time.  His recreational time.  If he took a day off, and we do not know whether he did or not, then he could have done with it whatever he wanted.  Tinkered in the carpentry shop, going fishing, going for a stroll on the beach, what have you.  On this day, Jesus chose to go to a wedding, where there would be the solemn ceremony and where there would be a celebration.  We like knowing this about Jesus.  We see some of the human side of our Lord, in this.  We think of him as the unseen guest at every wedding.  Any bride or groom would have been glad to have had him as the very visible guest on that day.

There is a problem.  There has been too little ordered or too much celebrating, not sure which but the wine ran out before the guests were ready to go home.  Mary heard of it.  She told Jesus about it.  And in telling him, the implication was, “I know that you can do something about it.”

The great truth of Mary’s confidence in Jesus, is that she was exactly correct.  When something is wrong, Jesus CAN do something about it.  We find it over and over again in the bible.  Someone is ill, and the doctors say they have done all they can, and then here comes Jesus.  And we think: “Here’s someone who can help!”

Our sense of hopefulness is renewed.  Our sense of expectation is heightened. Our sense of relief is so strong we can almost taste it.  So we turn to Jesus in prayer.  Daily.  On Sundays, at other times, and yes, especially in emergency situation.  Just as his mother turned to him.  We turn to him and we pray for his help.  We would not know that if we didn’t think that Jesus could make a difference. He can.  When something is wrong, Jesus CAN do something about it. 

What Jesus does is behind the scenes.  It is not one of those out on the dance floor moves.  No the reception is going on, and people are moving about, having their meal, getting acquainted or reacquainted.  It is long enough into the party that there are no latecomers.  So out in the vestibule where the water jugs for washing away the dust of the road are stored, what Jesus does happens without much attention.

We’ve heard how it happened. The water was turned to wine by Jesus’ intentional action.  It was his first miracle anywhere in scripture.  His very first.  We can ponder that a moment.  His first miracle was not one that fed thousands, nor gave sight to the blind or cured the incurables from their disease, it was not walking on water… it was water into wine.  For the simple purpose of allowing the happy people at the wedding reception to enjoy the day.

Miracles that let us enjoy the day are all round us every day.  We have them happen so often that we do not think it miracles that the sun comes up.  But in the back of our minds we know that God made it happen.  God sent the blue skies, the small songbirds that sing at dawn, and the rosy hues that change to bright sunny yellows, the stillness of the air… 

And all through the day, other miracles come our way, that we might have missed and we might have taken for granted.  I dare say that most of the people at any wedding reception give very little thought indeed about where the food and wine comes from, who did the catering, unless they are planning such an event in the near future.  If all is as it should be, they simply enjoy it.  And so it is with the miracle of a day that God gives to us.  We simply enjoy it.  And for God, that is almost appreciation enough.  If we at the end of the day that we have enjoyed take time to tell God we did, and to thank God, then that is all the better.

Why do we involve Jesus?  Mary involved Jesus because:

a.     She cared about people

b.     She knew that Jesus could help

Those seem like wonderful reasons to involve Jesus.  On special occasions.  Or on ordinary days.  After all—every moment God gives to us is a special occasion.

“What Do You Want” - I.” When Jesus Asks”

The beginning months of 2015 have brought us an ongoing look at the questions that Jesus asked in the Gospel of John.  Here is the first of the sermons in that series.  From time to time, I will post others from the series, as well. 

 

“What Do You Want” - I.” When Jesus Asks”

A Sermon by Dr. John A. Dalles

Sunday, January 4, 2015

OT Ps. 147:12-20; NT John 1:35-40

 

This morning we are beginning an ongoing series from John’s Gospel that looks at Jesus based upon questions that he asked.  Jesus often used questions as a way to engage people, to prompt them to think about themselves and about their faith.  Jesus is the Master of the well-posed question.

The first question from John’s Gospel is very early in his ministry.  As John relates it, it goes like this:

Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"  John 1:38

This is John’s account of the call of his first disciples.  It is fascinating to note that before they were Jesus’ disciples, they had been disciples f John the Baptist.  We might want to reflect on who John was and what John did, in order to understand why people might have become h is discloses.  Then, perhaps, we can find some qualities in the first relationship of leader and disciple that carried them into their association with our Lord.

We know that Andrew was one of the two disciples who heard John the Baptist that day.  Andrew and peter were both fishermen, and came from the town of [Capernaum] on the sea of Galilee.  As the passage tells us, Andrew h ad at some point prior to our lesson, decided to follow John the Baptist.

Now john was a colorful and charismatic man, who had a message about confession of sins and of repentance.  People who came to him only once, came to let go of the sins that had weighted  them down.  They went out to John in the wilderness, heard his message, were baptized as a  sign of dying to sin and beginning fresh and clean, and then … they went back to their homes and lives.  They were changed, but their place and manner of living was not noticeably interrupted.  They began again, but they did not leave the familiarity of friendships behind…

And then there were those others who when they went out to the wilderness, stayed.  Or stayed connected to John the Baptist.  We think they may have formed a kind of retreat setting community, there in the wilderness.  It would have demanded rigorous living, and setting aside of much of their past. 

John was an eloquent speaker, he gave people a focus for living that was spiritual, and sought purity and readiness.  John’s message “Prepare ye the way of the Lord!” called people to live as if the Messiah was about to appear on the scene.  It could happen any moment.  The people around John were sure that it would happen very, very soon. 

The ancient Israelites had waited a long time for the Messiah to come, and some had grown complacent .  Sloppy expectations led to less than exemplary living.  The Messiah has con come for centuries, no matter what the prophets have been saying, (went their line of thinking) so the chance that the Messiah might appear today or tomorrow is about as likely as winning the lottery or finding a needle in a haystack...

But John the Baptist’s dimples beloved otherwise.  They were sincerely convinced that the Messiah was coming momentarily.  The Messiah, the Lamb of God, the one who takes away the sins of the world, would appear and save His people,.  Just like the Passover Lamb protected their ancestors from the shadow of death way back in Egypt—

Loudly and long, John proclaimed it would happen.  They believed him.  So they stayed as close to John as they could.  Two of them were right there with him the day he pointed out his cousin Jesus and said: “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

“Behold, the Lamb of God!”

          What they must have felt.  It is like waiting for a baby to be born, month upon month, and then the day arrives.  It is like studying long hours and going to many classes and passing many tests and finally, the day of graduation arrives.  It is like a long engagement, where far off  you know that you will hear the church bells chime and you will exchange your vows, one to another.  At the outset, it seems like the day will never come.  But on that day, when John said:

          “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

          They knew that the day had indeed arrived.

          It is a measure of a growing faith that they heard what John said and then they followed Jesus.  They had been preparing the way in t heir own hearts and minds for quite some time.  We believe that it was snot their own doing so much as it was the Holy Spirit aching in them, to draw them nearer, nearer to that moment when they would decide  to follow Jesus.  The Spirit had kindled a fire for God’s promise deep within them, and that fire had not gone out, it had not smoldered or sputtered.  No they had kept it aflame by the fiery words of John the Baptist, and they were prepared to see and follow the Lamb of God when he arrived.

 

Picture that day, with others in the scene.  A crowd.  There were people going about their daily business—and important business it was.  Making a living, creating useful and beautiful objects for sale, or simply enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.  We cannot say how many were there, or who else heard what John the Baptist said, but we do know this, that 2 of his disciples followed Jesus.  They made the choice to risk, to go, to learn, to grow, in short, to live.

          Henry Drummond once said it:  “Death is more universal than life; everyone dies, but not everyone lives.”  All round them were people who were sure to die.  But these two disciples—they who decided to follow Jesus—they were sure to live.  In this world, and in the next.

          Do you wonder how it must have felt for John, to see these two disciples leave his side and watch their backs as they went after Jesus sin the crowd?  Was he joyful, that they had understood his message and were in that moment, getting close to the Lord?  Was there a part of  him that sighed, with a measure of sadness, that they would no longer be at his side, as students and followers—

          A true leader, a true parent, a true servant to God has to be ready to send their followers and children and the ones they mentor out into the world.  To fulfill their calling.  O the temptation is strong to tie them ever to one’s side, to keep them close at hand, to stop the development of their intellect and their faith at some point that seems the ideal.

          A wise leader, a wise parent, a wise servant of God knows that sending people out to be with and serve the Lord is about the best thing one can do.  After the teaching and nurturing and guiding and discipleship have done its good work, there is that other higher calling that awaits.

          With every step through the crowd, from John to Jesus, they were following that higher calling.  They had a plan. 

          “Many people seem to think that the spiritual life necessarily requires a definite and exacting plan of study.  It does not.  But it does require a defiant plan of life.  And course in stick to the plan, not mealy for days or weeks, but for years…  This is something which cannot be hurried.  But unless we take it seriously, can be infinitely delayed.  Many people suggest by their behavior that God is of far less importance than their bath, morning paper, or early cup of coffee…” (Evelyn Underhill, alt.)

          So… There was Jesus, walking away…  and there they were, walking toward Jesus and the, all of the sudden, Jesus looked over his shoulder, and saw them following Him and asked them the question that would change their lives.

           "What do you want?" 

          I would like to believe that this is the question Jesus asked them because he wanted them to have what they wanted.  What they wanted deep in their heart of hearts.  We might call it their hearts desire. 

          If you could have anything in the world, what would you want…  might be another way of saying it.  Yes I know that sounds like the question the jinni asks before granting three whishes.  You’ve probably played that mental game of what you would ask for (a recent commercial tells us that wishing for a million bucks is not a good idea unless we are fond of deer).  But you see that is still at the superficial level.  Good health long life happiness. Those kinds of wants are getting warmer.  To live as best I can the life I was created to live… that also is a good want.

          What do you want?

          The person who asked that question that day is the one person who can give you what you want.

          In all of history, in the entire world, Jesus is the one.

          We know that Jesus – God’s word – created all that is.  And is lord of all that is and so, has the authority to share and covey and give whatever portion of all that is, to whomever He deems needs it most, or will do the most with it, or will be the most grateful.

          Andrew and that other dispel of John the Baptist stood on the brink of being able to ask for whatever they wanted.

          How did they answer?  To be successful. To be happy.  To be popular.  To be considered wise.  ….      No.

          They answered: “Where are you staying?”

          It sounds a bit odd.  But then, think about it, they had been staying where John the Baptist had been staying.  They had been keeping close to the one who would point the way to God’s messiah.  And now he was here.  So of course they would want to know where HE was staying…  so that they could learn from him. 

          And then came the invitation…  ““Come and you will see.”

That is the invitation to dispel ship, isn’t it?  “Come and you will see.”

I cannot tell you all that you will learn.  “Come and you will see.”

I cannot show you all that you will see.  “Come and you will see.”

I cannot relate to you the adventures of faith that await you.  “Come and you will see.”

I cannot let you peer down into the future.  “Come and you will see.”

          So they walked off together through the crowd.  We know some of the adventures that awaited them.  But we cannot know all of them.  We know how Jesus changed their hearts and minds, how His compassion for people was proved again and again as they saw him heal their diseases of spirit, and mind and body. 

          Watch them, those first two disciples, and Jesus… and think as you see them go…

One of them is Andrew.  The other one…That’s me.  For I too long to be with Jesus to learn from him and grow in faith.  See yourself moving into the future with Jesus at your side, your teacher, yes, your guide, yes, your friend, oh yes.

          Walk forward with Jesus.   If you don’t you will never get where  you are going.

          Jesus’ invitation is for you:  “Come and you will see.”

Majestic Mountains...

Anne and Steven have set as a goal to see all of our nation's National Parks. 

I think that is a great "bucket list" for a lifetime's worth of travel and discovery.  They have gotten Judy and me interested in the concept, and we find that we are already "behind" our kids, since they saw so many of the National Parks on their honeymoon road trip.

Anne asked me to put my interest to work, recently, when she asked me to write an article for the free travel blog called Drive the Nation, which she oversees in her work as marketing manager for the Travel Media Group here in Maitland.  So I did some armchair planning in anticipation of a some day trip to see the majestic mountains of the Grand Tetons. 

You can read about it here: Grand Teton National Park

Road Trip...!

Do you have your summer vacation plans made yet?

Let me put in a good word for a driving vacation.  A road trip is a classic way to learn, see, grow, and enjoy the wonderful world that is out there just waiting for you to explore it.  The trip can be in some far off location, or right here in Florida, depending on your interests and inclinations.

What...  You say you have teens who will grumble about a driving vacation?  Not if you make some simple plans to make the trip as enjoyable as possible for them, as well as for you.

As you know, we have driven to and from North Carolina for our summer family reunion vacations throughout our kids' growing up years.  They and we found ways to vary the trip, so that sometimes it was a get there fast kind of a drive, while at other times we explored Charleston, or Savannah, or Jekyll Island, or visited the home and chapel of one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.  By trial and success (not error!) we found very cool places to stay and very unusual and interesting places to have our meals (yes, we did do fast food too, but the memorable meals are the ones that took us to quaint or historic or out of the way local cuisine places).

I have a lot more suggestions for you of how to enjoy your summer road trip with your teens.  Just check out the article I wrote, because daughter Anne requested it,  for "Drive the Nation" at:

Road Trips With Teens

Enjoy!

Mount Dora Pottery

Do you know about Mount Dora Pottery?  You should! 

Mount Dora Pottery is created by Steve Gordon, a Central Florida master potter, who makes his pottery vases, bottles, bowls, platters, and mugs on a potters wheel, using 2-3 pounds of clay for each vessel.  Steve uses a range of glazes on his pieces, but most of the time they have a crystalline effect. 

Mount Dora Pottery can be found for sale at a display area in the Country Cottage Crafts collective gift shop in downtown Mount Dora.  We understand it can also be found for sale at the Funky Trunk in DeLand.  Moreover, it can be found in the pottery collections ranging from yours truly to Martha Stewart.  Yes, the Martha Stewart.

What could be nicer than to have something hand made and made right here in Florida to enjoy and to give.

I will include some photos of Steve's handsome and collectible Mount Dora Pottery with this post.