July 18, 2021, Lectionary

Here's a chain of logic. The house God made for David was his descendants. Jesus was a Son of David. Jesus calls us siblings. Are we then also of the House of David and heirs to the Davidic covenant promises? 2 Samuel 7:1-14

God's character is love, continuous, correcting, loyal, forever love. This is shown in God's covenant dealings with David. Psalm 89:20-37

Jesus is our rescuer, our bridge builder, and our hero, on the cross putting to death, not one side or the other, but the very hostility between sides. Ephesians 2:11-22

Jesus' well of compassion was deep. He healed and fed them as he taught them. He's my hero! Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Thoughts about Listening

If there was a "House of Listening," would you go there? If you knew that in that house you could receive for free the gift of respectful, silent listening, would you avail yourself of it? 2 Samuel 7:1-14

I can choose my thoughts and feelings about my proofreader, the one who corrects my typos and maybe bigger things. I can choose to be either grateful or irritated. Psalm 89:20-37

Can we listen, please, and talk in ways that help listening, across the great divides that separate us? Ephesians 2:11-22

Gift listening is indeed hard work. It requires rejuvenating breaks in silence or debriefing. (Debriefing here doesn't mean telling what one heard, but telling how one feels.) Mark 6:30-34, 53-5