Discipleship

Traveling Light

I did not have my regular video camera with me but I wanted to share a few thoughts about the scriptures for this Sunday. I hope this works.

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20. After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. 3Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” 6And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”* 10But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11“Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.”

Discipleship

Risky Business

Believe it or not, but we all take risks. We take a risk every time we drive, go to the store, or eat dinner at a restaurant. When we drive, there is a risk of an accident. When we go to the store, there is a risk that we could slip and fall on spilled milk in isle 8. At a restaurant, there is a risk of eating contaminated food and getting sick.

Some risks are bigger than others. Football, skiing, snowmobiling, ski diving, and racing are all risky activities. Men are responsible for 68% of all injuries, while women only 32%. Young people under the age of 24 account for a third of all injuries. Unfortunately, for me, these statistics ring true for me, but that’s another story.

Insurance companies make money by discriminating people based on age, sex, and past medical history to account for the likelihood of accidents, medical procedures, or injury. Financial companies charge people more money for loans if they are deemed more likely to default on a loan. The bigger the risk, bigger the potential reward or loss. Millions of dollars are invested in “venture capital” projects that could either fail or make a ton of money.

Risk is big business… I guess you can say a risky business.

Discipleship

How much does it cost to be a Christian?

When “The Great Recession” began in December of 2007, the stock market lost huge amounts of equity and value. The Bush administration made efforts to keep businesses and banks afloat. The word “bailout” became a catch word in our cultural vernacular. Later, the Obama administration put forward more plans and policies to try to improve the economy. Political pundits and financial consultants keep talking about the “cost” of all of these governmental plans and programs. Numerical amounts of millions, billions, and trillions were used to put a price tag on these programs. Terms like “deficit”, “gross national product”, “credit”, and “macro economics” flooded TV and radio.

Before and during this Great Recession, we saw gas prices shoot to unthinkable levels: $3.50, $4.00, and $4.50 per gallon. Prices for milk, food, and even toilet paper increased. Retailers raised prices to keep up with rising manufacturing costs. It seemed that everything was costing more and more money. People were lost (and still are losing) their homes. Now, there is talk of the cost of government offering access to affordable health care. Cost, cost, cost! Everything is about the price or value of something.

If there is a cost or price to everything, is there a price to pay to be a Christian? Continue Reading…

Discipleship

Traveling Light

Risky Business

How much does it cost to be a Christian?

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