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March 7 Transference

Transference is the psychological term for the phenomenon in which someone unconsciously redirects feelings from one person to another.  For example, when you have a morning argument with a family member about access to the bathroom, you may unconsciously redirect your anger to someone at school or work when you arrive there.  We're in a bad mood; and other get the brunt of it.  This is because it is difficult for us to simply shut-off our emotions and feelings when going from one situation to the next.

Jesus: "Priceless" - March 6

Have you ever seen one of those "Visa: Priceless" commercials on TV?  I'm not sure how you couldn't have seen one by now!  They usually have a script that goes something like this: "Ballpark hot dog - $2.50... Baseball cap for your favorite team - $10.00... Price of admission - $20.00...

Please, Sir, I Want Some More-March 5

In Charles Dickens’ classic “Oliver Twist” a group a boys are starving after slaving in the workhouse. The daily reward for their labor is a bowl of gruel. Oliver is chosen by the boys and makes his famous request, “Please, sir, I want some more.”
 
Mark 8:1-13 tells how people were following Jesus for 3 days without food to eat. They were so hungry for Jesus’ message they would not leave. Nowhere in the text does it say they were begging for food. But Jesus knew their physical condition an

March 4 Compassionate Christ

Like a doctor who is "on call", a pastor can get a phone call in the middle of the night.  Imagine be sound asleep, when you are startled by the sound of the phone.  You want to rest, but your mission is to serve the crisis laden person on the other end of the line.  I must admit that there have been times that my heart has not been so eager to help in that moment.
 
But consider Jesus.  His disciples have just returned from an exhilerating and exhausting mission (Mark 6:30).  Jesus know that they need a break, the 3 R's of

Strangers... Yet Family - March 3

People in our country have a tendency to be suspicious of strangers.  Maybe it's the fact that the evening news is constantly reporting stories of unsuspecting people who have been hurt or taken advantage of by strangers.  Maybe it's the way that TV shows constantly depict the worst kinds of violence and evil that people out there are capable of.  Or maybe it's the fact that our technologically advanced society is just finding it easier and easier to avoid having to come into contact with real people face-to-face, and this promotes mutual suspicion.  Whatever the re

When E.F. Hutton Talks... March 2

Do you remember ever seeing those commercials back in the 80s for EF Hutton? Dozens of people are mingling at a crowded party and every conversation comes to a halt when a person is overheard saying “Well, my broker is E.F. Hutton, and he says…”  People thought any words E.F. Hutton said were so golden and sacred that everyone had to hear.  

March 1 He Just Took It

In trying to take in this climax of Jesus' earthly life as recorded by Matthew, I am struck by the fact that Jesus just took it.  He had clearly confounded the religious leaders in the temple just days before.  But now He is silent in the trial before Pilate. 

I've always seen that as fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7- "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened ot his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth."

What Makes a "Good" Sheep Good? - February 28

Listen to the picture that Jesus paints of the Final Judgment in today's reading from Matt. 25-26 (ESV) 

So let's see if I'm understanding what Jesus is teaching here...

The "sheep" always did good and always showed compassion to those who were in need, so they went to heaven, but the "goats" never did anything good and never showed compassion to anybody who was in need, so they went to hell... right?

Be Prepared - February 27

When I was in scouts I learned the Boy Scout motto… Be Prepared!  The problem was it sure would have been nice to know what I was preparing for.   It would have been nice to know if I needed this 1st Aid training for a medical emergency.   It would have been great to know how making clothes into a flotation device would be useful for saving my life or someone else. I haven’t had a chance to use a lot of what I learned. But I know I am prepared if the need arises. 

Feb 26 More Than Quick Thinking

As I reflect on Jesus in these chapters of Matthew, I marvel at how He thinks and responds to the wave after wave of hostile religious leaders.  I am amazed at how quick thinking He is; how is able to take an extended analogy (parable) and make it hit his opponents right between the eyes...as a hard call to wake up and repent.

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