my careless contagion

I was at the YMCA when the inspiration for this post landed in my lap. Literally. In the form of a ping pong ball. My son finished soccer camp that day and had swimming lessons that night. And the Y was having a bash of sorts. There was a guy in a jackalope suit (or something like that) and lots of college kids milling about. Free food! My son had the largest hot dog I've ever seen, and I had the pulled pork (which seemed to upset my stomach, but everything does these days). We were chilling out, eating, when the kids playing ping pong started to catch my eye. The boy was dressed in his baseball uniform and was hitting the ball way too hard, sending it across the room several times (and many times where we sat). The girl was having a ball and was so pretty with her big smile and even bigger curly hair. And then he hit her in the face with the ball. She was silent (the unfortunate among us know that silence) and then she threw down her paddle and grabbed the ball and threw it at him...

The book of Jonah isn't very long, yet it contains a brilliant little story that is often overlooked. We've been taught the story since Sunday school, but how much have we pondered what actually happened and the ridiculousness of this story? Read on if you'd like to take a moment to consider the reality of what happened in this story of stubborn Jonah. Here is the story if you'd like to re-read it before we begin . This is not an exhaustive treatise; just observations on this little book. I've often thought that if I were ever to be like one of God's prophets, I would most resemble Jonah, as he was full of anger and bitterness. I'm no longer full of anger, though, as I spent much time being humbled in my walk and also because I've forgiven much. Why was Jonah so angry with God and the Ninevites, anyway? He was angry with the Ninevites because they were mortal enemies of his people, the Jews. They persecuted and pillaged and killed the Jews for quite some...

I began to think seriously about the topic of favoritism after a recent visit from my parents. I won't get into my family's favoritism. I saw it go as far back as my grandfather, though. I see it in the newest generation. It's clearly a problem, yet no one wants to address it.  Favoritism has long-lasting and devastating consequences in families, even generations later. The Bible has some examples of favoritism from which we can learn. I'm sure we can think of examples in our own lives too. It's a rather ugly thing. We can spot it in others a mile away. But can we see it in ourselves?  The Bible warns us not to show favoritism, as God does not show favor based on things people do, such as wealth or fame. It repeatedly warns against an uneven way of measuring or judging people. A lot of those verses are found in Proverbs. If God shows favoritism, it is only toward His people, though He clearly left the door open to heaven and His blessings to everyone in the world. (...

  The story of Jesus, Mary, and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) has long interested me. It is a short story that says many things. I pasted it below from the KJV. Let's get started. *** 38  Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. *** The story is something many of us can relate to. While we are busy doing our service, others are, seemingly, loafing. As we saw in the story ...