Flock Fodder — Acts 3:1-19 — April 26

Church of the Nativity Flock Fodder
Week of April 26, 2009 – Easter IIIB
The Psalm: 4
1
Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; *
you set me free when I am hard-pressed;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2
“You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; *
how long will you [...]

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famished — Luke 4:1-13 — April 25

Throughout church history, there have been those who, in one way or another, have denied the humanity of Jesus, the Christ.  From supposing that God couldn’t somehow be “tainted” by an outright connection with the evils of human “matter”, to theorizing that Jesus only appeared to be human for the sake of those He came [...]

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the bony finger — Luke 3:15-22 — April 24

John, the Baptist, was a sensation:  all the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah  (Luke 3:15).  It must have been heady stuff for him to become the center of attention, having been prior to this a nobody from nowhere:  not a politician, [...]

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the word came — Luke 3:1-14 — April 23

Most of us have probably had the experience of the Word of God coming to us.  Perhaps we’re in a worship service, or in prayer, or in the shower, and it seems as if we get a more-or-less direct communication from God.  It may be an answer to a question, or some guidance, or a [...]

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expansive — John 17:20-26 — April 22

It’s an expansive vision.  Notice Jesus, on the night He was to be betrayed and deserted by His own followers, soon to suffer and die on a cross, predicting not the destruction, but the expanse of His Kingdom.  As He was, in a sense, “going down”, His prayer and vision were “going up”.  Having just [...]

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my joy — John 17:12-19 — April 21

Having recently gone through Holy Week, the commemoration of Jesus’ suffering and death, the church would not be inclined to think of Jesus as having joy.  We would be thinking more of his being “a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief”.  And yet, the writer to the Hebrews reminds us Jesus, for the sake of [...]

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lay it down — John 15:12-27 — April 16

In the news recently is the remarkable story of sea captain Richard Phillips.  His cargo ship attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia, Phillips apparently exchanged his life for the life of his crew.  While he was taken hostage for ransom, they were eventually freed by the U.S. Navy.  Ultimately, Navy snipers rescued Mr. [...]

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pruning — John 15:1-11 — April 15

Today is “tax day” in the US, when most of us come face-to-face with the “fair share” (though “fair” may be debatable!) of our income which goes to support the state, the common good (though “good” may also be debatable!).  Today we reckon with Jesus’ statement, give to the emperor the things that are the [...]

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not orphans — John 14:15-31 — April 14

Yes, it is possible for orphans to survive.  Through the generosity of surrogate parents, whether they be in an orphanage, or those who eventually adopt such children in need, orphans (and the world has millions of them) can survive.  But to thrive is another matter.  From malnourishment in the early years to sensory deprivation to [...]

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show us the Father — John 14:1-14 — April 13

It would seem as if this the basic cry of the human heart:  show us the Father, and we will be satisfied  (John 14:8).  In spite of loud protestations to the contrary, having to do with the supposed “sexism” of “the Father”, the human heart and soul longs for a connection with our heavenly Father.  [...]

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