Homiletics

 Acts 22:1-30

Content:

1. Paul addresses crowd in Aramaic with his defense. 1-2
2. Paul states he is a Jew thoroughly trained in and committed to Jewish Law. 3
3. He persecuted Jesus' followers 4-5
4. Paul tells of Jesus appearing to him on his way to Damascus. 6-9
5. And how blinded , he was taken by companions to Damascus to await assignment. 10-11
6. Ananias came to him restoring his sight, confirming his experience and commissioning him. 12-16
7. Jesus appeared to him in Jerusalem sending him to the Gentiles. 17-21
8. At this point the crowd stopped listening and started shouting and revolting. 22-23
9. Commander ordered Paul into barracks for flogging and questioning. 24
10. Paul brings up the legality of what they are doing to him as a Roman citizen. 25
11. This stops things. 26
12. Commander and Paul discus his birthright as a Roman. 27-28
13. Commander alarmed at their imprisoning Paul - a Roman citizen. 29
14. Paul released and brought before assembly of high priest and Sanhedrin.  30

Divisions:

1. Paul addresses crowd giving his testimony as a Jew transformed by a Jesus encounter and commissioned to the Gentiles. 1-21
2. Paul plays his Roman citizen "card" as he is to be flogged, bringing it to a halt. 22-30

Subject Sentence:

• Paul identifies first as transformed by Jesus, second as Roman.

Aim:

• To cause me to let me life be defined by my primary identity of "called and transformed by Jesus."

Applications:

1.  Do I look for opportunities to give testimony to Jesus calling and transformation in my life?
2. Do I see God's protection and provisions through seemingly secular situations and circumstance?

Meet the Snayke Family

If I am telling you this story in person, it can take a LONG time.  It is the reason that although I have wanted to share it with you for the past several months, have not.  Inspired by my recent acquisition of Bob Goff's Love Does, the children's version, I am going to try to share this in the "children's version."

Many years ago (okay maybe 5) at the Yellow Daisy Craft Festival, my friend Melissa bought Susy for my preschool classroom.

Susy was so great that I was inspired to try to make her some friends.  With the help of Mama Millie, what resulted was Susy's at the time boyfriend Seymore.

Susy and Seymore have resided in my classroom.  Susy is in charge of accounting and Seymore travel and adventure.  Susy is the stronger worker of the two.  Seymore "hangs out" most the time .But needless to say their romance progressed and they are now Seymore and Susy Snayke (yes that is Snake with a silent y.)

THEN there was a Pandemic!!! Okay what happened next really has nothing to do with a pandemic but it happened for quite a few who experienced quarantine.  This fall Susy and Seymore introduced the family.  They have five offspring's. There is Simone' (don't forget the accent),

 Shayde (yes with a y),

 Starr (with two r's),

 Steve,

 and Sassy (the baby)

The children reside with their parents in a stylish Thirty-One bag in Ms' Linda's preschool classroom.

They take turns helping with counting, singing and other things.  Each one has his or her own personality.  For example Shayde counts in drum beat - a one and a two and a three etc. Simone' is typically too busy to help but we understand she may be learning French.  Starr counts in the sweetest (and slowest) southern drawl you have heard.  Steve being the traveler (more about that in a minute) counts in Spanish (as long as it isn't any higher than 13) and Sassy well bless her heart, she can't count and gets her numbers mixed up.

The biggest excitement involving the Snayke Family is Steve's opportunity to travel.  So when I learned that my friend Joy's son, Jordan was headed out on tour with the News Boys as the assistant Sound and Light guy, I asked if one of the Snaykes could do an internship.  So based on size requirements, the need for sunglasses and a classroom vote, Steve was selected to travel with Jordan for 6 weeks up and down the Eastern part of the US.  What an adventure for all of us!

Thanks to Jordan being so awesome, we received weekly pictures and itinerary updates.  Evidently Steve was a favorite of the traveling Music entourage. For six weeks we tracked Steve's travel and displayed his photo's on a bulletin board.  And frequently Ethan would say "Where is Steve? I am ready for him to come back."  Steve did come back with his own little travel case and lots of great memories. 

Here are a few of mine and the kids favorite pics!  I actually squealed when I received the one of the News Boys with Steve!  And the kids hands down favorite was Steve on the toilet.  When one little girl was looking at it she giggled saying, "Steve can't reach the toilet paper!"

While Steve was on tour, Mom and I took Starr to Kansas.

Shortly after Steve returned,  I took all the children to Pigeon Forge for the weekend.  With it being such a beautiful sunny weekend, they are ALL now sporting sunglasses. 

Therefore the Snayke siblings tell me they are READY to GO!!!  If you are headed out on an adventure and would like to take a traveling companion, the Snayke kids are all about some travel. You can pick who and each will come with travel case and one way ticket home (envelope and postage) if he/she gets to be too much. I promise they don't eat much.  We just ask in return for some pictures and maybe a postcard.

No one has travel plans at the moment but Steve is excited to attend Jordan and Nicole's wedding in March.  He can't stop talking about needing to find a bow tie to wear!!!

Homiletics

 Acts 21:1-40

Content:

1. Paul and companions begin travel sailing to Cos, Rhodes, Padara, Phoenicia and on to Syria landing in Tyre. 1-3
2. A week with disciples at Tyre, Paul is urged not to go to Jerusalem but he continues on determined. 4-6
3. travel continued to Plolemais and Caesarea where they stayed at Phillips. 7-9
4. Prophet Agabus prophesized with Paul's belt that Paul will be imprisoned in Jerusalem. 10-11
5. Friends plead with Paul not to go to Jerusalem and Paul said he was committed to the Lord Jesus even if it meant imprisonment. 12-14
6. Paul and companions traveled to Jerusalem staying with Mnason. 15-16
7. Paul and companions received by Jerusalem brothers, they go to James and elders sharing testimonies. 17-19
8. Jerusalem elders explain why Jewish believers would have conflict with Paul. 20-21
9. Elders propose action for Paul - participating in a purification rite to demonstrate he is not turning away from the law of Moses. 22-24
10. They confirm their encouragement letter to gentile believers. 25
11. Paul did purification rite as encouraged to do. 26
12. Jews from Asia seeing Paul at Temple stir up crowd against him based on assumption 27-29
13. Paul is seized, crowd tries to kill him, Roman commander steps in to stop beating. 30-32
14. Commander arrest and bounds Paul as crowd shouts so loud commander cant get truth. 33-34
15. Solders carry Paul because of chaotic mob. 35-36
16. Paul ask to address crowd clarifying who he was and is granted permission to address the crowd in Aramaic. 

Divisions:

1. Paul and companions determinedly journey to Jerusalem even though many worried friends discourage him to do so. 1-16
2. In Jerusalem, Paul warmly received by elders where Paul takes action to encourage unity. 17-26
3. Asian Jews stir up crowd against Paul resulting in attack, detainment and Paul's attempt to address the crowd.

Subject Sentence:

• Determined Paul reaches Jerusalem fellowshipping with elders and facing attack.

Aim:

• TCMT be so committed to the Lord Jesus that I am willing to sacrifice safety and comfort for his name's sake.

Application:

1. Do I seek God's word and his leading when friends concerns for me lead to them to discourage my plans? Am I willing to say with Paul that I committed to Christ no matter the cost?
2. What uncomfortable or seemingly unnecessary actions is God leading me to do for the sake of unity in the body of Christ?
3. Do I seek to hide from opposition or speak truth for the sake of Jesus Christ?

Since Christmas

We have stayed mostly well. Covid is all around, we pray mom in particular stays clear of it.

Mom has embarked on a major project to declutter and upgrade her living room and kitchen. I get to help make Thrift Store drops and pick out paint colors.

Peter has started at the Community College taking both Intro to EMT and Anatomy classes. My taking him to school is helping me get to work on time!

Peter is now working Friday - Sunday at Papa Johns to be free for his Monday - Thursday classes.  Good thing Football season is wrapping up!

I entertained expanding my child life coaching side hustle into a more " Maker Space" venture that would have involved an expanded, unshared space but more expenses, responsibility and stress.  So I decided to stick with the current child life coaching path I started last year and am grateful for a handful of steady clients.

The national staff shortage has been felt in my school.  I have had a couple of days where I have wrangled as many as 12 three and four year olds by myself for most of the day.  I can proudly say we all came out alive.

It snowed on my birthday and I got to stay home in my PJ's ALL day, talk to people I love, drive NOWHERE and it was the best kind of birthday!

Today is MLK day and  snow remains so I am home in my PJ's.  I hope to get a few things done and I am working on my long range (this overwhelm me) to do list.  I am sharing here because if you are led to pray for us, these are things you could mention to God.

- We need to sell Peter's car ASAP and there are several factors that make it feel a little trickier than normal.  

- We have upcoming Dinner with Dad at the preschool and I have a good bit of crafting to complete to be ready.

- I want to be wise with time in marketing, gaining more training and planning in regards to my side hustle as a Child Life Coach.  I don't want it to lose its "ministry" in my efforts to keep it viable.

- This year my taxes include self employment - I have a good accountant but it requires some prep on my end.  I don't like paperwork.

- I like to shop and decorate so would rather help mom with her project than do my paperwork. I need balance! Pray mom stays well and energized to accomplish this project.

- I need to get my eating and sleeping back on track as my autoimmune/ inflammatory skin issues are flaring again.  I am pretty certain food and sleep are factors.  

- I want Peter to be successful in his school endeavors.  Sometimes it is hard to know the fine line of helping and enabling.  I pray for him to have a community of support and redirection if this current field of study is not the best for him.

- I want to finish Homiletics on the book of Acts.  Really I am trying,  Maybe one will appear today.

Until the next holiday or snow day .....

 

When Morning Gilds the Skies

I rarely see a sunrise that I don't think of  the first verse of this traditional hymn translated by Eric Caswell, When Morning Gilds the Skies. I think it is because there was a day the director of BSF, Rosemary Jenson had the staff all go upstairs to the outdoor prayer tower to sing this song while watching the tale end of a beautiful sunrise. 

When Morning Gilds the sky, 

My heart awakening cries,

May Jesus Christ be praised:

Alike at work and prayer

to Jesus I repair;

May Jesus Christ be Praised!!

Here are a few sunrise pictures captured on our Christmas Beach Trip.  The special effects are due to the fact I ran over my Phone Camera lens Christmas night.  Ooops.  It made for cool pictures and thanks to a generous Christmas money gift and irepair of Gainesville, I was able to get it repaired already. Let me know if you have a favorite!

I am thinking this would make a good Christmas Card!

Merry Christmas from Florida!

 If you recall our Christmas beach trip from last year you might remember that it was planned at the last minute, not the nicest of accommodations,  and a bit constrained due to being 2020.  Yet we were glad to be away and be together. Well this year feels like Redemption.  And Redemption is sweet!

In October we decided to head to Destin Florida and I went in search of accommodations.  When I found this 16th story beautiful Condo on the beach, I jumped on it! When we arrived, we weren't disappointed!  Wish I had captured Mom's look of delight and surprise when we entered.  By far the best residency and location we have had for a Christmas Beach trip yet. 

We added an extra day which has added to the relaxation factor.  Our first full day found us shopping, eating good food, enjoying our view and was wrapped up with all of us on the couch watching Home Alone.

Christmas Day included the completion of a puzzle, the now traditional gingerbread house, gifts, a possibly new traditional pancake lunch, Peter on the beach (a Christmas miracle) and relaxed time together.

Personally, I am very grateful we are not headed back today as is the usual custom. Mom and I rose up early for the sunrise and hopefully will head out for our morning walk soon.  Peter's best friend and family are also spending Christmas at Destin so we hope to spend time with them today.

The past few years have made me aware of how things can change in a moment.  There are always uncertainties with Peter's state, Mom's health and well I am not promised tomorrow either.  So for today, I am grateful, extremely grateful for this time together, in this beautiful place, with time to relax and enjoy it.

Homiletics

 Acts 20:1-38

Content:

1. Paul journeys to various places, staying various lengths of time with a variety of people encouraging believers. 1-6
2. In Troas, there was a late night gathering anticipating Paul's departure. 7
3. In the warm upstairs room, Eutychus falls asleep and out the window, dead. 8-9
4. Paul throws his arms around him declaring he is alive, reviving the man and they continued with breaking bread. 10-12
5. Paul walks on foot meeting others at Assos sailing to Milytene and on to Miletus. 13-15
6. Bypassing Ephesus due to eagerness to reach Jerusalem, Paul sends for Ephesian elders to meet him at Miletus. 16-17
7. Paul recounts his bold ministry in spite of persecution when with them, declaring faith in Jesus to Jews and Gentiles. 18-21
8. Paul is compelled to go to Jerusalem knowing by Holy Spirit hardships are ahead. 22-23
9. Paul states his life mission declaring it as gospel of God's grace. 24
10. Paul makes his farewell speech. 25
11. Paul has done his part declaring truth to them without hesitancy. 26-27
12. He encourages the Elders in their work as Shepherds of the church to be on guard and protect the flock. 28-31
13. Paul commits them to God and the word of his grace. 32
14. Paul reminds them of his example of laboring for Jesus. 33-35
15. There was a tearful farewell as they knew it was last time they would see him. 36-38

Divisions:

1. Paul travels place to place encouraging believers. 1-6
2. Paul revives Eutychus who falls out of a window at an all night meeting. 7-12
3. Paul calls for Ephesian elders at Miletus recounting his story of ministry. 13-27
4. Paul encourages elders in their own ministry. 28-38

Subject Sentence:

• Paul revives Eutychus and encourages Ephesian elders during missionary journey.

Aim:

• To cause me to encourage whomever I meet in my life journey with the gospel of God's grace through word and deed. 

Application:

1. Do I make an effort to encourage others with the gospel of grace?
2. Who in my path might I need to go to with loving embrace and Holy Spirit's power to revive or restore?
3. Do I freely share my story of God's grace in my life for encouragement of others? What platform or  opportunity is Cod giving me?
4. How do I or can I encourage others in their own ministry of the gospel?