An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

  "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,." (from Psalm 23 ) Psalm 23 highlights God's comfort and care also inviting us to connect with the deeper radical claims confronting our experiences of suffering, fear, hostility, and alienation. The rural comparation connects strongly with Christians, especially in seeing Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Pointing to God’s ongoing blessing and presence. Awareness of Psalm 23 can hide new meaning in the Psalm. Careful study reveals it as a journey from rest through valleys, always guided by God. For example, there is a real “Valley of the shadow of death” known as the Wadi Qelt. steep-sided desert valley (wadi) in the Judean Desert, extending from near Jerusalem to Jericho. Known as a "valley of the shadow of death" due to its steep, treacherous terrain, considered the setting for the Good Samaritan parable. Travelers on the dangerous 7-mile journey from Jerusalem to Jericho could expect to be beaten and ro...

Hawk's Nest Overview "  Now on that same day  two of disciples were going to a  village called Emmaus,  about seven miles [  from Jerusalem,  and talking with each other  about all these things that had h9appened."  (from   Luke 24:13-35 ) The Hawk’s Nest is a scenic, cliff-hanging stretch of NY State Route 97 offering dramatic views of the Delaware River.   Originally a one-lane dirt road built in 1859, it is known for bald eagle sighting, scenic overlook, and its twists and turns.   "Just as the Hawk’s Nest Road winds unpredictably, so too do our days.   For example, one day started off unpredictably, with the electrician arriving at 7:30, followed by the plumber at 8:30, and then a sincere thank you note delivered in person at 9.   "Our current polarized society creates complex, unexpected twists and turns that are difficult to navigate." The Emmaus Road story is one of hope in times of twists and tu...

'Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance." (from Psalm 16 ) As I sat at the breakfast table this morning enjoying my cup of coffee, I watched two blue birds, several sparrows, a Downey woodpecker, and the usual band of deer make their appearances." Just as a cup holds what sustains us, I choose the Lord to fill my life with meaning and strength each day." When I am looking for a closer, more intimate connection, I read from the Psalms because      “the Lord is my chosen portion and cup” Some Psalms I read over and over, while others I return to less frequently, but each time I reflect on them, my relationship with the Lord deepens. For example, Psalm 16 has comforted me during difficult times, reminding me that I am never alone This has been true for centuries, as the psalms describe the Lords actions in people’s lives, especially in...

  To trap Jesus, the Sadducees who don’t believe in resurrection, asked complicated question about a widow who’d     been married seven times according to Moses Law. Sadducees ask, “Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?” Jesus states they are wrong because they do not know the Scriptures or God's power. He explains that in the resurrection, people neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven . Earthly marriage systems, Jesus says, don’t apply to the resurrected state. The Sadducees basically asked an uninformed question. Over the years I preached on the Resurrection that as a Christian you must believe it   Resurrection is something you conveniently declare during worship. Jesus’ resurrection isn’t something we completely understand. Caroline Lewis tells of the time, after a lecture a woman spoke to her saying, “My cup was empty. Today was my road to Emmau...

John Wesley     And first let us inquire, "What is salvation?" The salvation which is here spoken of is not what is frequently understood by that word, the going to heaven, eternal happiness.  It is not the soul’s going to paradise, termed by our Lord, ‘Abraham’s bosom.’   It is not a blessing which lies on the other side death, or (as we usually speak) in the other world.  The very words of the text itself put this beyond all question.  ‘Ye are saved.’ It is not something at a distance: it is a present thing, a blessing which, through the free mercy of God, ye are now in possession of.  Nay, the words may be rendered, and that with equal propriety, ‘Ye have been saved.’  So that the salvation which is here spoken of might be extended to the entire work of God, from the first dawning of grace in the soul till it is consummated in glory.”  ~ John Wesley (The Scripture Way of Salvation)

“Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind” (from John 9:1-41 ). Otto, a fish in the children’s book, A Fish Out of Water , is overfed even after careful feeding instructions. "When you feed a fish, never feed him a lot. So much and no more! Never more than a spot, or something may happen! You never know what." What happened was Otto outgrew every container until he finally became too large for the town swimming pool. The man born blind story appears to have undergone similar development, as much of the discussion centers on the story of his healing. This is a typical pattern in John. Jesus performs a miracle; people try finding the meaning and usually miss the mark. In the parable, Jesus is asked, “Who sinned?” The question comes from the ancient people’s belief that a sin was committed since there is suffering and sickness. Jesus questions that kind of theological thinking creating a complex answer: “Neith...

   Pozzo, Andrea, 1642-1709 Many of the Samaritans from that town   believed in him because  of the woman’s testimony,  “He told me everything I ever did.” (from John   4:5-42 ) The Well Back in Jesus’ day a wells were used for more than drinking water. A man would go to a new place, meet a woman at the well, and chat about water. The man and woman drink water together, she tells her community about him, the community welcomes him.  This usually results in a wedding. This explains why Jesus talks to the woman about her marriage situation, expecting some kind of marriage story to follow. Remember the well is a well with running water so when Jesus mentions living water, it’s confusing. The Woman The woman shows up around noon probably pushed aside by her community.  She’s unmarried to the one she’s living with and had five husbands. Probably, her marriages ended due to circumstances beyond her control. Yet she’s someone people liste...