In the School of Life

In the School of Life
(a brief Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

While life may, indeed, be like a box of chocolates, I think it's also a lot like high school. I recall a little piece of wisdom from those early years that still seems to have relevance, today:


The Freshman knows not and knows not he knows not.
The Sophomore knows not, but knows he knows not.
The Junior knows, but knows not he knows.
The Senior knows and knows he knows.

It seems like everything starts all over when you leave school. That supreme confidence you have dissipates almost overnight. Suddenly, at least in the school of life, you're a Freshman again. There is SO much to know, and you really have no idea just how huge is your ignorance. Those can be trying years. Just as in high school, you encounter people who seem to have some key pieces of information to which no one has allowed you access; information for which you don't even know how to frame the request.

But then a decade flies by and you enter the Sophomore season. You experience some of life; have relationships, pay for things, get married, have kids, gain and lose some jobs. Soon you find that, while you certainly don't know everything, you at least are aware of your ignorance. There is a certain comfort, at that point, in having achieved some orientation. Having come to an understanding of what you don't know, you find you can begin to focus on what you NEED to know.

In the blink of an eye a couple more decades disappear; welcome to the Junior season. You spend this period doing a lot of things: raising your kids to adulthood, paying off mortgages, being active in the community, maybe going back for some more education, maybe trying to glue together your work experiences into something resembling a career. But all through this period there is in the back reaches of your thoughts this small voice that keeps asking, "Is this the right thing to be doing? Should I be better in some way? Are the choices I am and have been making leading to a good result?" The questions don't stop you; you keep doing. But you're just not sure . . .

And then one day . . . you just know. You know what you did right and you know what you did wrong. It's not perfect; you're not all-wise and all-knowing. But there is a comfortable certainty that you do, finally, understand many things about life; at least among those life things that are important to you. And if you've achieved this Senior season of life, you can pause and luxuriate in that certainty for a bit. Yes, there is time for a semi-victory lap. Take it. Enjoy the moment. Soak in it for a little while. After so many decades, it is just nice to finally feel like a high school Senior again.

There is a constant among these seasons of our lives, though; the dynamic tension between what is urgent and what is important. In every season we are faced with choices of how we will allocate our time and resources; and more often than not we address the urgent over the important.

They say one of the most difficult things to do in this life is NOT answer a ringing telephone. Try that sometime. It illustrates something about urgency. When we perceive something as urgent (urging us to action), it is very difficult to choose a different, perhaps even more important, activity at that time.

Oh, to be sure, there are urgent matters that are also important; that's how many of them came to be urgent in the first place. But there are also important things that arrive without the flare and blare of urgency. We know we need to do them, but . . . well . . . there are all those other things that need doing first! ;-)

It doesn't really matter, though, what or how much we know, or with what degree of certainty, if at the conclusion we've missed something of great importance. And it is into this relatively quiet moment that I wish to step with a suggestion.

Your spiritual development, if you are like most of us, has not gotten quite the time and attention as have some matters, perhaps more urgent seeming matters, over the years. Make some time for it. You'll have to, you know---make time for it. Our lives are too busy for the time to just make itself available for this very important thing.

There is a reason high school graduations are called "Commencement." But you don't have to wait for some official moment.

Start now. Whatever season of life you're in.

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt
September 14, 2012

Numbers 21:4b-9
Psalm 98:1-5 or Psalm 78:1-2, 34-38
1 Corinthians 1:18-24
John 3:13-17

Join us Friday if you can. We're still meeting at Cafe Cappuccino (downtown Waco on 6th, near the Courthouse) at 8:00 every Friday morning, eating a delicious breakfast and kicking around thoughts on this week's scriptures.

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Who knows? This one may be one of the most important of your life :-)

Enjoy the week!

The Atheist and Me

The Atheist and Me
(a brief Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

Scientist and renowned atheist Richard Dawkins has said and written quite a bit about religion, especially christianity. For example, in his book, The God Delusion, he wrote "One of the truly bad effects of religion is that it teaches us that it is a virtue to be satisfied with not understanding.”  The amazing thing about that statement is that I can, ALMOST, agree with him. If only I could switch a few of those words around. 

A statement I COULD agree with would read like this: "One of the effects of truly bad religion is that it teaches us that it is a virtue to be satisfied with not understanding.” See what I did there? 

But, to be clear, Richard Dawkins and I do NOT really agree on this point---or, for that matter, on almost all points---because he lumps all religions together. He has no use for any religion. Whereas I most certainly have a use for a particular religion.

But, I find that I am sometimes at odds with others over what is meant by the term "christianity." Quite often people claiming the label of "christian" seem to start on the wrong end of the continuum, elevating process over people, caring more about the "rules" than about relationships, being quick to judge and slow to forgive. Sometimes it seems as if the very LAST thing on their minds is loving their neighbor; when---if we are in fact following the teachings of Jesus---loving our neighbors as ourselves (that "royal law" Jesus quotes from Leviticus) should be way, way out near the front, right next to loving God.

And in THAT sense, I find Richard Dawkins and I may be in agreement on one point: "Nothing is wrong with peace and love. It is all the more regrettable that so many of Christ's followers seem to disagree." It is sobering to find that an atheist sees us so clearly, sees us for how our human-ness has "over topped" what we have been taught concerning such fundamental spiritual matters.

But don't take my word for it. Get THE word on the matter. Read the "Sermon on the Mount" or the response Jesus gave to the question: "What is the greatest commandment?"

Or, check out this week's Lectionary selection from the letter of James:

"So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.  For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.  What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works?  Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works."  Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.  You believe that God is one.  You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.  But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (James 2:12-20)

One last comment. Instead of "you foolish fellow," the Orthodox Jewish Bible addresses these matters to "oh hollow man." 

Shudder, indeed.

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt

Proper 18 (23) (September 9, 2012)
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
Psalm 125
Isaiah 35:4-7a
Psalm 146
James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17
Mark 7:24-37

I hope to see you all Friday, September 14th. In the meantime, join the group THIS WEEK at Cafe Cappuccino (downtown on 6th, near the Courthouse) at 8:00 for breakfast and Bible . . . and some big servings of love, grace, and mercy :-)

Enjoy the week!
Steve

An Instance of the Fingerpost

An Instance of the Fingerpost
(a brief Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

One of my all time favorite novels is "An Instance of the Fingerpost" by Ian Pears. It combines historical fiction, a compelling murder mystery, and fascinating characters. And, just to keep things interesting, the book is comprised of four different accounts of the "facts" as told by four different characters! Unlike many mysteries where the "reveal" comes at the end, skipping to the end of this book doesn't help; the only way to really understand what happened is to read each of the four accounts. I've never read a book quite like it. It's one of those handful that I re-read every few years.

But, an odd title; right? What, you may be wondering, is a Fingerpost? And to what "Instance" is the author referring? As to the latter, you will need to read the book. I could never explain it, here; and, frankly, I hate spoilers.

As to the Fingerpost: you know this. Really. If not from your own travels, then certainly from fairytales or Saturday morning cartoons. Picture it: the travelers arrive at an intersection of roads. There, at one side, or possibly right in the center, is a post. And on it are narrow boards on which are inscribed the names of towns or other locations. Those boards may just be pointed on one end or they may actually resemble the fingers of a hand with three curled under and one pointing. In any case, these FINGERPOSTS are oriented so that they actually point toward the location inscribed on them.

These Fingerposts are very useful, especially if you are attempting to navigate in an area with which you are not all that familiar. And if they're so useful in the physical world, just think how something like that might help us on our spiritual journey. Well, I believe there ARE spiritual Fingerposts, clear signs placed by God for us to follow.

And this week's Lectionary passages are crammed full of Fingerposts!

Do you want to know what God wants? Well here are only a very few of the many "instances of the Fingerpost" to help you know:

--> In Psalm 15: do what is right, and speak the truth from your heart; do not slander (cast no slur on anyone), do no evil to friends or neighbors; honor those who fear the LORD; do not take a bribe against the innocent.

In The Message, the same passage says: "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor. Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe."

-->The James passage clarifies the path we are to take on our spiritual journey: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress."

-->And, finally, from the Deuteronomy passage: be careful to always remember what God has done in your life, even if it was way in the past; and TELL YOUR CHILDREN and THEIR CHILDREN about God in your life.

Some useful signage to think about this week.

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Proper 17 (22) (September 2, 2012)

Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, b6-9
Psalm 15
James 1:17-27
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23


Join us if you can on Friday morning. As is our practice, we will be at Cafe Cappuccino (downtown Waco, on 6th near the Courthouse) at 8:00 to discuss this week's scripture passages and to scarf down some great food.

Um, we don't have a sign, but look for the raucous group at a horseshoe-shaped table. We'll be at the table right next to them ;-)

Enjoy the week!
Steve

The Veep

The Veep
(a brief Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

Have you heard the one about the mother who had two sons? One went to sea; the other became Vice President of the United States of America.

Neither was heard from again.

A storyteller of great repute, Alben Barkley was especially fond of telling that story. What's that? Who's Alben Barkley? Funny you should ask . . .

You've probably heard people in the media refer to the Vice President of the U.S. as "The Veep." There's even a TV show by that name. What you may not know is that Alben Barkley was the first Vice President of the United States to be called "The Veep" (suggested by his grandson while he was in office; it became a hit with the press and started its journey into enduring use)

There is some AMAZING stuff on Google about The Veep. He was a very interesting guy, politically speaking: District Attorney, Judge, House of Representatives, Senate (Majority Leader for 10 years during the FDR Presidency), and Veep. He was Truman's Vice President. It has been argued that Truman could not have won---SHOULD not have won---without Barkley on the ticket. And pretty much everyone knows how the Chicago Trib messed THAT one up.

At 71 on Inauguration Day, he was the oldest Vice President to hold the office. He was the last of the old time Vice Presidents to regularly preside over the Senate, one of the few Vice Presidents to regularly meet with the President's Cabinet, and the very first Vice President to become a member of the National Security Council. It was whispered that Truman could not have governed without him; and it may have been Truman who started that rumor!

The reason I have an interest in The Veep is that his home, when not in Washington, DC, was my hometown: Paducah, Kentucky. I grew up surrounded by all things Barkley; his name and visage were all about. There is, of course, a statue; but there’s also a street, highway, dam, and lake among other things. And, as you might expect, there are things about Alben Barkley that we Paducans just knew, but which are not common knowledge, even on Google.

There IS a lot of information about him on the Internet. But buried in all that information---buried pretty deep; I really had to look for it---is one thing NOT very well known about Alben Barkley: he was a man of faith, a longtime member of his church, and a great fan of reading the Bible. The Veep was also a prolific speaker, well regarded for his warmth and sincerity. He made so many speeches during the Truman Presidential campaign, the press dubbed him "Iron Man." And because he was a man of faith and well versed in the Bible, he was fond of quoting and paraphrasing scripture.

In 1952 when in the usual course of things he would have run for President, big labor let it be known that they could not support him because of his age; they wanted a candidate they could depend on to serve a full eight years; something that, at 74, they did not believe he could do. And so Barkley "retired" in 1952 . . . to host a national TV show on NBC ("Meet the Veep"), to write his memoirs, and, of course, to make many, many speeches!

But after a while he got bored with so little to occupy his time; so he ran for office in 1954; and, at 76 years of age, became the Junior Senator from Kentucky. Things were a little different from his "glory days" of being one of the most powerful people in the nation. On April 30, 1956, while speaking at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, Barkley was asked about this.

In response, Barkley, who was 78 at the time, reminded the audience, “I was a junior congressman, then I became a senior congressman, and then I went to the Senate and became a junior senator, then I became a senior senator, and then Majority Leader of the Senate, and then Vice President of the United States, and now I’m back again as a junior senator. I am willing to be a junior. I’m glad to sit on the back row, for I would rather be a servant in the house of the Lord, than to sit in the seats of the mighty.”

It seems fitting that this paraphrase of Psalm 84 should be among Alben Barkley’s last words. Immediately after speaking them, he collapsed from a heart attack and, shortly, passed away.


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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt

Proper 16 (21) (August 26, 2012)
1 Kings 8: (1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43
Psalm 84
Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
Psalm 34:15-22
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-69

If you want to hear the end of Barkley’s last speech, access this URL on the Internet:
http://www.who2.com/blog/2010/05/one-minute-of-historical-audio-alben-w-barkley

Lord willing, I will be at Lex Break this Friday! So happy to be able to attend for a change :-) If you can join us, find us at a horseshoe-shaped table at Cafe Cappuccino (downtown Waco, on 6th near the Courthouse) at 8:00 for some scripture, discussion, and eats.

See you there?
Steve

What You Have

What you have
(a brief Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

"Is it OK for God's people to have stuff?"

That's the question, in one form or another, I get from time to time. The questioner is concerned about materialism. And more specifically, they are concerned about the conflicting messages they are receiving from well-meaning believers and spiritual leaders.

On the one hand, we are bombarded with messages that say, in effect, if we DON'T have stuff, it's because we don't have enough faith, or enough of the right kind of faith. The message: your lack of stuff is a direct measure of your lack of faith. Simultaneously, we are bombarded from the complete opposite direction with messages telling us that we must NOT have stuff (or only have very little stuff) because stuff gets between us and God. The message: the less stuff you have, the closer to God you are.

To say the messages are confusing is somewhat of an understatement. As a result, it is quite common for us to just PICK A SIDE rather than remain confused . . . even though we are often unable to fully explain the Biblical basis for our choice.

Part of the confusion comes from the fact that we are not asking the right question. Behind the question, "Is it OK for God's people to have stuff?", is what we really want to know: "Is it OK for ME to have stuff?" As it turns out, that is a much better question, and one we can address through scripture.

Throughout the Bible there are many people depicted as having stuff; all the kings, for example. Also, there are many large land owners in scripture---including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob---who have large households, thousands of head of cattle and/or sheep, productive farming operations with many employees to perform the many tasks that attend such estates. These would be the equivalent of today's super-rich.

There are good kings and bad kings, good wealthy people and bad wealthy people. In fact, it is quite rare that the reader of scripture encounters a person who is lauded for their wealth or their lack of wealth. We read of Joseph, who comes from a wealthy background, gets sold into slavery, goes to prison, and then rises to the highest position under Pharaoh. We read of David, also from a well-off family, who goes from shepherd to soldier to sovereign.

Moses had it all and gave it all up to flee a murder charge, but ends up leading a nation. Job had it all only to see it all taken from him, and then, eventually, received even more than he had to begin with. The Prophet Elijah lives for a while on just what God gives him to eat and drink, but later has a servant and a residence. Then there is the Prophet Obadiah who worked for an evil king, lived in relative luxury during the famine, but served God honorably. Rahab is a prostitute who becomes a princess. Ruth is a widow who marries a wealthy land owner. Esther, a slave, enters a beauty contest and becomes the queen of a nation.

And then there's Solomon, someone who never knew anything but wealth. When pressed for a definitive answer, this week's scripture about Solomon is where I point people. Is it OK for you to have stuff? Personally, I don't think the answer lies with the stuff; it lies with you.

What you have
Has you.
Neither bad nor good;
Just true.

What is your relationship to the stuff? I ask that because this question about whether it's OK to have stuff is a "first world" question. It's not a "third world" question. We only ask the question because we live in a place where there is plenty. In undeveloped or underdeveloped countries, they're asking much more fundamental questions. There is not a surfeit of stuff with which to be concerned.

If God asked you, as he did of Solomon, what you want, what would your answer be? Solomon's answer perfectly reflects the idea of "Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you."

Do you have questions about materials things? or about ANY thing? Do as Solomon did: ask God for wisdom. He will give it, and more. The question then becomes, not WHETHER you may have stuff---you live in the first world; there's a LOT of stuff here---but rather what does your God-given wisdom tell you to do with it?

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt

Proper 15 (20) (August 19, 2012)
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Psalm 111
Proverbs 9:1-6
Psalm 34:9-14
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58

Lots of great selections this week on wisdom. Soak it up! :-)

We will be enjoying each other's company and some great food this Friday morning at Cafe Cappuccino (downtown Waco, on 6th near the Courthouse). Join us at 8:00 if you are in town.

Enjoy the week!
Steve

Just Like Us

Just Like Us
(a brief Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr).

Well here's another one.  Another one of those pieces of scripture the Lectionary sometimes foists on us without context or explanation (I call them "scrap-ture").  

Or is it?   Could it be the selection of these fragments is intentional, setting the hook so to speak, ploys to tempt us to head into the Book to find out on our own?  Maybe.  For me, the jury is still out on that one.  In any case, if you know any thing about Elijah, you know this scrap (1st Kings 19:4-8) is about a not-very-well-known crisis point in the life of the great prophet of God.

Crisis?  Wait.  Isn't this the guy who prayed that it wouldn't rain and got a 3-and-a-half-year drought?  And didn't he later pray the rain to start again?  Isn't he the one who led the defeat of the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel with that spectacular fire from Heaven thing?  Isn't this the guy who was the first to raise the dead?!

The fiery chariot guy, right?

Why would HE have a crisis?  That right there---that question---is why the inclusion of this particular "scrap-true" may just be intentional on the part of the Lectionary.  Elijah doesn't take up a lot of Biblical real estate: a few chapters in 1st Kings, a few passages scattered across a handful other places.  But, page count aside, he is considered the greatest prophet; clearly the one connected to the most, and most spectacular, miracles.

And yet, here he is in this week's passage begging God to take his life.

If you think about it, you know those other stories about Elijah.  And the one that follows this week's passage, too: the "still, small voice" story.  And you may have heard the one where Elijah passes his Prophet job onto Elisha.  And, of course, pretty much everyone knows about Elijah being swept up into heaven by way of a fiery chariot ride.

There is a passage elsewhere that has a bearing on this moment in Elijah's life, an "An Instance of the Fingerpost" (thank you Ian Pears!) where God is pointing us to something important.  I remember well the moment I first read James 5:17 ("Elijah was human just like us").  It stopped me in my tracks.  All I could think was, "That guy?!"

It hardly seemed possible that such a legendary figure could be the same as we.  How could that be?  It drove me to investigate.  What was it about Elijah that was "just like us?"  As I read one amazing episode after another, I began to wonder if James and I were thinking about the same Elijah.  And then I came to today's passage and I knew.

He dropped his basket. 

That's the polite southern way to say, "He lost it" or, less prosaically, "He was depressed."  You have to be a very long way from mental health before you beg God to take your life.  That kind of thing, that depression that sometimes follows those wonderful mountaintop experiences, that can happen to any of us.  And does.

Besides the frank revelation that Elijah had begun to believe more in the power of his enemies than in the power of his God---as comforting as it is to see him as human---there is also what God did about it.  In the passage that follows this one, God listens to Elijah's litany of concerns and then does something remarkable: God (a) helps Elijah see reality is not as bad as he thought, (b) re-tasks Elijah for the next phase of his service, and (c) sends Elijah BACK THE WAY HE CAME(!).

Elijah's journey, from mountaintop to depression and back, was a long one.  There had to be periods of physical rest and refreshment as well as spiritual renewal.  And one-on-one time with God was essential.  But the results made that journey worthwhile, maybe even necessary.

Elijah was human.  Just like us. 


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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt
Proper 14 (19) (August 12, 2012)

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Psalm 130
1 Kings 19:4-8
Psalm 34:1-8
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
John 6:35, 41-51

With Great Power

With great power . . .
(a brief Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

When I saw it there on the little spin rack at the corner drug store, I knew it was going to be different. It's been 50 years, but I still vividly recall that cover art, the colorful red and blue masked figure swinging high among the skyscrapers, a frightened felon casually tucked under his arms. It was August 1962 and I was holding Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance of Spider Man. No one knew how significant this would become for the entertainment industry; that this character would still be going strong 50 years later.

It was a milestone moment in my life, too, one of those hinge points we look back on and say, "Something significant changed in my life because of that."

Most people know the basic story, especially if you have seen the most recent film version of this character. But for those who do not know: Peter Parker is a high school boy who lives with his elderly Uncle Ben and Aunt May in the NYC borough of Queens, a shy science nerd (routinely the target of bullies and always turned down for dates) who gets bitten by a radioactive spider and develops amazing spider-like abilities. He then applies his scientific skills to create a super strong "webbing" he uses to swing around the city's high ground.

Initially, he employs his new found abilities to line his pockets with cash, and quickly finds himself on prime time television raking in the big dough. It soon comes to a crashing halt, though. When a thief runs right past him, Peter ignores the request of a security guard to intervene. He is later crushed to learn his inaction led to the death of his beloved Uncle Ben. He then dedicates his life to fighting crime as penance for his hubris.

Like all good morality plays, the lesson comes at the end. And it was at the end of that first Spider Man story where my own life took a turn. There, in the final panel, above a lone person walking between shadowy cityscapes are these words: "And a lean, silent figure slowly fades into the gathering darkness, aware at last that in this world, with great power there must also come - - great responsibility!"

Perhaps you're thinking something along the lines of, "Well, yes, everyone knows that." Perhaps they do, now. But 50 years ago, to a boy still in his wonder years, this was a revelation. And I don't think it is any stretch to claim that, because of Spider Man, some version of "With great power comes great responsibility" has been spoken millions of times in the last 50 years. Those with power may not always live like it, but you can bet they've heard it.

And even though it was a startling new thought to me 50 years ago, and one that shaped my thinking forever, the concept is not new. It has been around a very long time. Why, even Socrates exhorted those in power to "Rule worthy of might."

So, I'm pretty sure King David had been exposed to the concept. I think not abusing one's power easily falls under "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18 NIV). Yet, he egregiously abused his power by arranging Uriah's death to cover up his sin of adultery with Bathsheba, so egregiously that God responded by condemning David's family to generations of violence, from within and without.

Compared to a king, most of us possess very little worldly power. But power need not be at the royal level to qualify as great. If we reflect for a moment, we can probably think of someone over whom we do exercise great power: the power of love, of acceptance, of friendship, of charity, of encouragement, of joy, of prayer, of freedom.

You do have great power. Use it responsibly.


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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt

Proper 13 (18) (August 5, 2012)
2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a
Psalm 51:1-12
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
Psalm 78:23-29
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:24-35

Join us Friday if you can. We're still meeting at Cafe Cappuccino (downtown Waco on 6th, near the Courthouse) at 8:00 a.m., eating a delicious breakfast and kicking around thoughts on this week's scriptures.

Bring your own web-shooter ;-)

Enjoy the week!
Steve