Brandon@Random

Where would we find Jesus?

This clip goes along well with the passage for this Sunday.  We wouldn't expect to find Jesus at a Samaritan well...but we do.

Chad is one of the best communicators I've ever heard.  He is the teaching pastor at Sun Valley in Gilbert, AZ.  Check out some of his messages at www.suvalleycc.com.  Scott Ridout is the lead pastor and his messages are also online.

You know you need more exercise...

...when you have to lay down while brushing your teeth.

It really made things easier.  But afterwards I thought, "How old am I?  What kind of wimp can't stand up and move a brush around their mouth for a minute?"

Michaelangelo's "Christ and the Woman of Samaria"

About the artwork

Michelangelo Buonarotti (1475-1564), sculptor, painter, draughtsman, architect and poet, was one of the major figures of the Roman High Renaissance. He was acclaimed in his own lifetime as a genius. His working career spanned over 70 years. 'Christ and the Woman of Samaria' was made when he was about 65.

This picture shows the incident told in the Gospel of St John (Chapter IV, verses 5-26) where Christ met the Woman of Samaria drawing water at Jacob's well. Several oil versions of this subject are known, all of which are copies - either from the original by Michelangelo or from the well-known engraving of the picture made by Nicholas Beatrizet.

Art related to the Woman at the Well

 

Christ and the Samaritan Woman at the Well, 1640-1641
Artist-Guercino, Oil on canvas
116 x 156 cm

The Woman at the Well

This morning, I read something striking in Eugene Peterson's The Contemplative Pastor.  He was talking about how so much of the Bible is written in the language of poetry, but that most pastors can't stand poetry.  I happen to be a pastor who does like it, and that is probably why I was drawn to the following clip. 

On September 28 (is it almost October...really?) I am concluding the Fork In The Road Series with a message on the woman at the well.  Just by reading the words on the page, it is hard for me to see how she could get so excited that she runs back and tells her whole town about Jesus. 

This bit of poetry, helps me to see better.  Probably a little to edgy for our Sunday morning crowd, but I hope YOU dig it.

Encouraged by 21

I am not big on church attendance numbers.  I couldn't tell you what the attendance has been at Highland Park since we've been in Stillwater.  I don't even know if anybody is taking a count any more.

However, this Sunday when I invited the kids up to the front for Children's Time, I couldn't help myself.  I started counting...out loud.  We had 21 little munchkins up front!!  What a blessing that was to me...it gives me encouragement to see God bringing these little lives into our church family.

That night at Whataburger our order number was 21. 

That's my birthday too, February 21. 

I'm just saying...that has been a cool number this week.

Fork in the Road

We are starting a new series at Highland Park this Sunday--Fork in the Road.  We will be looking at choices that can change everything.

This week I am focusing on John the Baptist.  The Fork in the Road is routine or revolution. 

John the Baptist was revolutionary in the way he blasted the routines of organized religion and called for repentence.  He was revolutionary in the way he pointed to Christ.

Christ was so revolutionary, he caused John the Baptist to question whether he was the real deal.  Jesus was revolutionary in the way he pointed to us. 

It is up to us to choose our routine (however "Christian" it may be) or choose Christ's revolution.  To choose revolution is to...

(See you on Sunday for the conclusion.)