July 29

You can ask God to change a bad condition FOR you, or you can ask God to change it WITH you. Which path do you think God prefers?

"An Autobiography In Five Short Chapters," by Portia Nelson

Chapter I

I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost. I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter II

I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I am in the same place, but it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III

I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in... it's a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter IIII

I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

Chapter V

I walk down another street.

July 22

Yesterday’s gospel account was when Jesus went to the home of Martha and Mary and Martha was so concerned about hospitality. This caused me to ponder. What about being hospitable to God, the hospitality of being conscious of His presence within me? Just how hospitable am I to God? How much of a “home” do I offer Him in my heart?

Something to ponder.

July 15

Justice is a process, not an outcome. Justice requires that both side work under the same set of rules and that the judge enforces them fairly and equally. The jury may render a a verdict that is good or bad according to your standards, hopes, and expectations. The outcome is just if the rules of procedure were justly applied, a concern that does not constrain the media.

July 8

Do something unexpectedly nice for someone today, especially someone who is “down” for any reason. Like an angel you are the bearer of God’s loving and caring concern.

July 1

In Jesus Christ God presents Himself to us as family. Totally unique in all of the religions of mankind, past and present, Jesus reveals to us that God is a family of Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Many consider that idea to be blasphemous, others as absurd. No other religion or philosophy would ever dream of seeing God that way. It was and is astonishing.

Even more astonishing is the fact that Jesus Christ invites us to enter in that family and brings those who accept His invitation into into that Family.

TRULY AMAZING AND WONDROUS!