THE CALL

This is an old picture as my computer will not down load pictures from my camera.

Yes Sandra I thought about asking you to get the bread but wanted to go for the walk.  It is important that my children know I will call if I need help.

My Canucks elf is now invisible, completely covered with snow. the paper girl leaves the paper at the bottom of the drive way which is fine by me.  There is a very light snowfall this morning. 

The bigger birds are finding food behind the stores in the alley.  I am feeding the little ones but am going to run out of food soon.  They line up on the fence rail never still for long.

Dad gets the snow blower out.  A big heavy machine very difficult to manage.  The snow has gotten heavier so it resists the blowing air.  Dad does the area he wants for me to walk and for the car to get out.

Panteli comes later in the afternoon to shovel the sidewalk and more of the driveway.

My walk over the rough icy snow is to the mail box to mail cards to Melbourne. 

Believe it or not there is a big pile of snow in the middle of the cross walk which puts me off balance.
I was embarrassed by the row of cars waiting for me to go across and staring at me.

Chapter 6 opens with Jesus on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee teaching a large group of people who had followed Jesus there.  They are now hungry and Jesus asked help from Andrew and Philip.
Food is provided but the important thing is that Jesus multiplies what is given to him by a young lad.
The story reveals Jesus as being seen as one like Moses who fed the hungry multitude in a desert.

Only Jesus can satisfy the hungry souls and only he has the power to be the very bread of life.  He can satisfy the deepest human hunger.

THE CURE

I feel bad when I see a crippled person unable to walk.

Today I was offered so much help it still amazes me.  Don from the church took my arm to help me walk up to  the door of our church.  The parking lot had been cleaned but was still icy with some snow.  I appreciated an arm to hang on to.

Randy and Sandra came over to do our driveway but we do not have a snow shovel.  I think maybe we gave it away.  We had a good visit anyway.  I took a journey over to the Safeway as dad was out of bread and pie!  The clerk helped me take things out of my basket and went I left told me to be careful.  I came home and was resting and our neighbor shovel off a pathway from the side walk to the house and also the sidewalk in front of our house. everyone is so kind.

In chapter 5 Jesus sees a crippled man waiting to be healed in the pool of Bethesda.  According to the author Jesus has clairvoyant  knowledge the   man has been there for 38 years and complains no one will help him.  Jesus tells him if he really wants to be healed to take up his bed and walk.

There is always some responsibility  on us for our healing.

  Jesus sees him after and warns him not to sink back into his fears and past behaviors.

The religious leaders are critical of his carrying his mat on the Sabbath.

Jesus replies that God continues to heal and restore life especially on the Sabbath.

Praying for others to be healed helps me to be cured of any self-pity.

BARRIER BREAKER

I really want to enjoy a beautiful walk but the snow was too deep and it felt very cold.  I could have dressed warmer but I stayed in and enjoyed an omelet that dad made and enjoyed watching the little birds coming to eat.

I think if you were reading the gospel of John for the first time you would realize by chapter 4 Jesus was full of surprises.  His willingness to break the barriers between the old traditions and the new reality again brings freedom and security.

Jesus breaks a barrier between Jew and Gentile by his willingness to heal the son of the Gentile.  This high official recognized in Jesus an aura of authority as well as his healing energy.  Jesus told him his son was healed and as the man returned home he was told the boy had been healed at the same time as Jesus had spoken the healing words.

Prejudices can prevent us seeing the humanity of others, even strangers.

The barrier between heaven and earth was being broken as the presence of God was revealed as now dwelling  within us.

We will wait and see what the roads are like before deciding to attend church.

THE FALL

These pictures were taken on Friday.

A lot more snow has fallen.

Yes the snow has continued to fall all night,

I walked down to me the paper girl in my house coat the jacket as I did not want her to fall coming up our driveway.

Chapter 4 of John's gospel is a story about Jesus meeting a "fallen" woman at the well.  He was there having a rest and the disciples have gone into town for food.  The woman was shocked and embarrassed when she arrived to see Jesus sitting there.  She was even more surprised when he asked her a Samaritan for a drink of water. There are very bad feelings among the Jews and the Samaritans.  Also men did not talk to women.  Race and religion and sex had become barriers.

Then even though he does not have a bucket he offers her living water for her soul.

She had comes after everyone had left because she was wounded by those who judged her and condemned her.  To her surprise Jesus knows her history of having five husbands and she is now living with a man but not married,

A symbolic conversation that speaks to the religious division that has separated the Jews and the Samaritans.  Jesus offers words of healing and acceptance.  He tells her it is not important where she worships but that she worships in spirit and in truth,

Their religion was based on the Old Testament character of  Abraham and Isac and Jacob and David and the temple at Jerusalem were rejected.

God accepts both the fallen woman and wipes out prejudice and hatred.  She runs to bring the news to the others in the town.  Jesus stays at this town to teach for several days.

Jesus looks into her heart and sees the goodness within her.

A story about what it means to be human.  The greatest gift we can give is about forgiveness.

THE NIGHT VISITER

      Yes it is snowing again.  It snows all day.  The tiny flakes become larger and more numerous. 

An early walk to the park.

Dad is trying to put a new light over the stove, actually he has done it but getting the covering back on is proving difficult.  It was difficult to take apart the hood and even harder to put it back.  I offer to help but my offer was not accepted.

Nicodemus is the night time visitor in John chapter 3.

The third chapter of John is famous for the term "Born Again".  In some churches you will be asked if you are born again or if you have accepted Jesus as your savior.  This does not happen in our church and I am not uncomfortable about being asked.

Jesus is talking to some one who is already very religious and yet still has questions.  His world is a rigid and controlled by the law that makes you acceptable to God.  Jesus tells him he must give up his legalism if he wants to have a spiritual rebirth,  This seems impossible as a natural birth would be impossible., but we know nothing is impossible with God.

Trying to put spiritual truth into words can be tough.  A mystical mystery waiting to be experienced.

"This church welcomes you, no matter how many times you have been born". A sign outside a church which adds a little humour to the matter.

Most of those I know have not experienced an earth shaking experience but have been slowly being transformed by the grace of God and the wind of the spirit. 

There have also been those times when we have experienced an emotional awe and wonder! 

Nicodemus comes at night not wanting to be seen by other Pharisees.

He is portrayed as enjoying the darkness of his own religious night as seen by his response of the limitations of his own mind is predictable.

Open yourself to a totally new perspective and a new way of relating to the holy!

POPULARITY

Carol came to visit with Haiti to show us her updates on her on line counseling.  Haiti was sure she was here to go for a walk with me.  The park welcomed us with sunshine and green grass.  Haiti is very popular with everyone.

After lunch dad drove me over to visit Joyce.  She was very tired and she looked very small sitting in her big arm chair and did not remember going to the hospital.  She was glad to see me as usual and perked up hearing news of the church.

After we went shopping at Shoppers for the seniors discount on diapers and formula.  The line up at the check out was very long until they called in another cashier.  It is a popular day to go shopping.

Reading the story about Jesus over turning the tables in the synagogue reveals he is not trying to win any popularity contest.  In the temple courts there were men selling cattle, sheep and doves and others sitting at tables exchanging money.  Jesus was furious and making a whip out of cords drove them cattle out, over turning tables and scattering coins.  John 2:13  The house of worship was for prayer not to be a market place.

He would continue to express his anger at the abuse of religious authority. 

I am thankful that I can express my opinions in the confidence I do not have to be popular nor am I always right.  

Be in love with your life.

Every detail of it.

What ever you are meant to do,

do it now.

The conditions are always impossible.

Doris Lessing

THE WINE MAKER

Dad and Kim work on her car because the light is not working.She is eager to learn how to fix it herself.

First they have to buy a new one.  It was a sunny day but the wind was cold.

Eve and I were on the road again off to the church for U.C.W.  Our church is hosting the world day of prayer which the women of the Philippines have written.  It is good to get together with other denominations and also to learn about another country.  We were planning our part.  We have wonderful round table but we will need help to put them out.  Some people from the congregation will help.  Our group is smaller with only 8 of us together.  It is good just to keep in touch.

Chapter 2 of the gospel of John presents Jesus as turning the purification water in to wine.  He was asked to do this at a wedding by his mother and he gave in to her request.  His mother had faith in him!

The new kingdom will be one where a new humanity is transformed into a celebration of joy.  Taste and drink in new life a gift for all.  I would think this would be an answer to prayer for the host who would have lost faith when the wine ran out. Maybe he prayed but his mother was the one who had confidence in the transforming power that was in Jesus. Answered prayer touches the heart and opens the door to faith.

This is call the first sign of future miracles.

Jesus brings joy!

The disciples were amazed.