Overheard at Booth 1: Thankfulness in Thessalonia

 Thankfulness
1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus
Note how the passage says to give thanks IN all circumstances, not FOR all circumstances.
This challenges us to find the good in the difficult times.
From Howard Vanderwell (2005)
The Heidelberg Catechism says that belief in the providence of God makes it possible for us to be "thankful when things go well" and "patient when things go against us" (Q&A 28). So sometimes we are thankful, and sometimes we are patient. Paul sums things up this way. He says it is God's will for us to be thankful "in all circumstances." Really? Well, it may help to note that Paul is not saying we should be thankful for all circumstances but in them. When things seem to go against us, I think God expects us to be grateful that his hand holds us and helps us to endure under the strain. That's a big challenge--to look for reasons to be thankful when the going is tough. Sometimes it can be equally difficult for us to be thankful when things are going well. We might not think it would be that way. After all, when things go well, we have so much to be grateful for. But the very nature of human beings, even if we are Christian, is to overlook the crowd of God's good gifts to us every day. Let me suggest that today you sit still where you are and exercise the gift of noticing. Notice what you see, what you have, and who is with you. Notice the color, beauty, and variety around you. Keep noticing, and make a list of the gifts you notice. Then give thanks to God, the great giver!
Prayer
O great Creator and Giver of all gifts, give us today the great gift of being able to notice all your gifts. Open our hearts to a spirit of thanksgiving, we pray. For Jesus' sake, Amen.
***

Matthew15:35-37, Luke 10:21-24, John 11:39-44, Luke 22:14-20
Russ Ramsey (2018) When Jesus gave thanks
In Matthew 15, Jesus gives thanks for the bread He is about to multiply to feed the hungry crowds. In Luke 10, He thanks God that the mysteries of the kingdom of God are hidden from the learned, and are revealed instead to His disciples. In John 11, just before raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus thanks God for hearing Him, and says He is praying aloud so that those gathered will believe that He and the Father are one. Finally, in Luke 22, we come to the institution of the Lord’s Supper, where Jesus thanks God for the bread and the cup, which represent His body and blood.
What do these passages have in common? What is Jesus thanking God for in each of them? In a word, communion. Jesus gives thanks for communion between God and man. When Jesus gives thanks, He thanks God for being near to His people—for being not only present, but active in a saving, nourishing, and illuminating way. Food for the hungry. Truth for the disciple. Healing for the dead and dying. The body and blood of Christ for sinners. Jesus thanks God for being near.
The beautiful irony here is that, ultimately, Jesus is thanking the Father for His own incarnation. He would feed the hungry, draw His children near, raise the dead, and deliver us from our sin. He would be with us. He would make Himself known. For this, Jesus thanked His Father. If this is what Jesus gives thanks for, why would we imagine He is distant?
Ponder that, you who feel alone in the world. You who feel overlooked, forgotten, and cast aside—consider that when the Son of God gave thanks to the Father, it was for the opportunity to draw near to us and to respond to our deepest needs. The Son of God incarnate is the greatest gift we’ve ever been given, and Jesus Himself thanks God for this gift. “He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘This is my body, which is given for you’” (Lk 22:19).
***

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:6-7
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Overheard at Booth 2: Christmas Poem 12

Christmas Poem 12

 

son asked me what are
you gonna get Mom
for Christmas.

well I said
that new house
and that new floor

I think that pretty much
wiped me out for
anything else.

good point
he said
and walked away.

MR

2021-1212

Overheard at Table 4: Christmas Poem 11

Christmas Poem 11

 
Wife in El Salvador,
A son in San Antone.
Daughter in her apartment
On the other side of town.

Got another son:
We haven’t spoken in years.
I still send out prayers
That I hope he somehow hears

The houses on my block
Have all put up their lights.
Starting to feel like Christmas,
'Cuz it just got cold tonight.

 

 

MR

2021-1211

Overheard at Table 1: Christmas Poem 8 (For John)

Christmas Poem 8 (For John)
 
He sang us Happy Christmas
He asked if we had fun
He told us to reflect on all that we'd done

He sang for peace and unity
And an end to all fear
He implored us to help make a better new year

He sang war is over
If we make the choice
We have the power with our deeds and our voice.
 
So what is our choice?
What will we do?
Will we ever make the peacemakers dreams all come true? 
 

Or will we keep killing
Bodies dead in the street
Everyone suspicious of everyone we meet 
 

If we want peace
and an end to all fear
then we have to choose to be loving, sincere
 
So have a happy Christmas
I hope that you do,
And that we all do what's right for me and for you.
 
So let's stop the war
Let's clean up our home
We will all live together or we will all die alone.
We will all live together or we will all die alone.

 

MR

2021-1208

Overheard at Table 4: Christmas Poem 7

Christmas Poem 7

Title for a book:

The only Rabbi in Wyoming.

Time split among Jackson, Laramie, Caspar

Driving to Bat Mitzvah's in snowstorms.

500 miles for weddings, or funerals.

A labor of love.

#Christmas2021

From an NPR article heard 2021-1206 about the only Rabbi in Wyoming and how he lives in each of the three cities throughout the year and how he drives to all parts to perform his functions.  It called to mind that archetype of the "Wandering Jew" and I began to imagine a collection of stories based on this character, along the lines of the Jewish folklore tales that, like fables, always have a moral or a message embedded inside them.

https://www.npr.org/2021/12/06/1061816201/hanukkah-is-a-busy-week-for-wyomings-only-rabbi

Overheard at Table 5: Christmas Poem 1

Christmas Poem 1


This Christmas, is a map
to a place 
in my heart
that no longer exists.

there are no embers left 
here, no steam from hot cocoa,
against the chilly snows
that bites the nose,
freezes the toes,

there is only slush,
consuming rush,
and an oppressive
whisper
hush

MR

2021-1201

Christmas2021

Overheard at Table 3: Figgy Pudding

Otis Redwing: ... and about these Christmas carols, just what the hell is 'figgy pudding'?

Lucky Moran: I think it's a euphemism for 'pussy'.

Otis: 'We won't go until we get some'?

Lucky: Exactly!