Sign sightings
Dear friends,
Yesterday the scripture reminded us we are looking forward to God's coming realm. That longing we feel for a better world is something we share with generations who have preceded us. William Willimon describes it this way: "By the time Luke’s Gospel was written, the church had been waiting for 75 or 80 years for the return of Christ, and that was a long time to be standing on tiptoe. It’s difficult to maintain a sense of crisis for 80 years....'There will always be a tomorrow,' some must have begun to say. 'After all, there have been about 29,000 tomorrows since Jesus told us that he would return for us.'"
Jesus says we can see signs. Are you looking for them? Do you see things that speak to the coming Kingdom of God? Last evening at the Bethany Church of the Brethren's hanging of the greens service, I heard a nice story. One of the women had been to Chicago with her husband and their adult children. Since they all had cell phones, they had gone their separate ways anticipating that they would call and check in about meeting places. When the father called his daughter's cell phone, a man answered the phone. Assuming he had dialed the wrong number, he dialed again. The same low voice said "hello." After some sputtering about and careful effort because of language differences, the father discovered that the daughter had left her cell phone in a taxi. The taxi driver brought the phone to the father standing on a street corner. Later when the family gathered in, the father asked the daughter what she wanted this year for Christmas. With resignation in her voice she said, "I guess I need a new cell phone." "Merry Christmas" he said as he handed her the phone. Isn't it nice to experience the good help of strangers? Could it be a sign?
May your week of waiting include sign sightings!
Pastor Beth
Yesterday the scripture reminded us we are looking forward to God's coming realm. That longing we feel for a better world is something we share with generations who have preceded us. William Willimon describes it this way: "By the time Luke’s Gospel was written, the church had been waiting for 75 or 80 years for the return of Christ, and that was a long time to be standing on tiptoe. It’s difficult to maintain a sense of crisis for 80 years....'There will always be a tomorrow,' some must have begun to say. 'After all, there have been about 29,000 tomorrows since Jesus told us that he would return for us.'"
Jesus says we can see signs. Are you looking for them? Do you see things that speak to the coming Kingdom of God? Last evening at the Bethany Church of the Brethren's hanging of the greens service, I heard a nice story. One of the women had been to Chicago with her husband and their adult children. Since they all had cell phones, they had gone their separate ways anticipating that they would call and check in about meeting places. When the father called his daughter's cell phone, a man answered the phone. Assuming he had dialed the wrong number, he dialed again. The same low voice said "hello." After some sputtering about and careful effort because of language differences, the father discovered that the daughter had left her cell phone in a taxi. The taxi driver brought the phone to the father standing on a street corner. Later when the family gathered in, the father asked the daughter what she wanted this year for Christmas. With resignation in her voice she said, "I guess I need a new cell phone." "Merry Christmas" he said as he handed her the phone. Isn't it nice to experience the good help of strangers? Could it be a sign?
May your week of waiting include sign sightings!
Pastor Beth
posted by EVCoB at 2:13 PM
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