Mon, Aug 4th - 9:45PM
The old women stood before the moneychanger’s table. Her bent fingers fumbled in her small cloth purse. Behind her, several rich men laughed. Finally she pulled out one tarnished coin. The man in the robe at the table smirked and pushed two small copper coins across to her with exaggerated care. The woman picked up the copper temple approved coins and pressed them into the palm of her left hand. She smiled kindly at the moneychanger.
The large rich man behind her didn’t wait for her to step away. He pushed next to her and laid a large leather bag on the table. The moneychanger hesitated, then looked quickly at his stock of temple coins. It was enough.
He had enough coins for such a large amount because he paid attention. He had heard the rumors that the young rabbi would be at the temple today. He knew some of the important men in the temple might want to meet this rabbi. And if they wanted to meet him, it meant they wanted to impress him. This Jesus would make him a fine profit on the exchanges today.
"Eli, such a temple gift! You must have had a good month!" one of the men said to the man at the table with a loud laugh.
"I finally collected from that old carpenter. The one who had owed me since spring. I leaned on him and he finally paid."
The moneychanger measured out several stacks of temple coin. Eli counted the coins and then scooped them into his bag. He pulled the drawstrings tight and placed the bag deep in the inside pocket of his coat. He headed for the temple court as the others lined up at the table behind him.
In the middle of the court the young rabbi was speaking. He sounded angry and the people around him seemed to be getting angry at him. Eli decided that maybe this rabbi wasn’t one to be associated with. He turned to the treasury box for his big moment.
Above the box was a new large brass funnel. It was especially designed to draw attention to the giving to the temple. As the newly purchased temple coins rolled around in the funnel on their way to the box, the sound of someone giving could be heard across the huge courtyard.
Eli pulled his coin bag out from deep in his coat and felt the weight of it one last time in his hand. He poured some coins into his hand and tossed them slowly into the funnel, flicking his wrist slightly to make the coins curve into the funnel for a longer, noisier rise. As it rattled around he poured more coins into his hand and released them. With great care he kept the coins spinning for several moments.
He glanced around to see most of the heads in the courtyard turned towards the noise the coins were making. Much of the conversation in the courtyard had died down. When the coins finally stopped there was a rare quiet. Much of the crowd gathered around the young rabbi turned to see his reaction. Jesus just smiled.
The little woman stood near the treasury box, the two coins still pressed into her palm. Eli stayed before the funnel for a while, oblivious to the woman, enjoying the moment. Finally he walked away, towards his small group of wealthy friends.
The woman waited a little longer, making sure everyone’s attention had shifted back to their own matters. She walked quickly to the funnel but didn’t cast the coins in immediately. This was the last of her money. There were many foul smells in the courtyard but there was also was the smell of cooking meat from the ongoing sacrifices. She hadn’t eaten in two days. Slowly she raised her eyes towards the temple, imagining she could see the Arc of the Covenant itself, the seat of God. With a blissful smile, she cast the two coins into the funnel. They clinked twice and were gone.
She looked around to see if anyone had noticed her gift. No one in the court seemed to be looking. Then, through the small crowd around him, she saw Jesus looking at her. His look seemed to make the hundreds of people around them disappear. For the first time in many years someone was actually seeing her. And his look wasn’t pity. It was approval.
"I tell you the truth," Jesus said loudly. "This poor woman has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
The woman blushed. She looked away, uncomfortable with more attention than she had ever received in her life. But then she looked back at him, unable to resist Jesus’ look. He said something to her from across the courtyard. Somehow no one else heard him, but he said, "My daughter, there will be a feast at your house tonight."
Several rich temple leaders went home angry that day. The little woman simply went home and waited.
Luke 21:1-4
Our God is a god of little things. The God of supernovas, oceans, and great whales is also the God of ladybugs, snowflakes, and fireflies. Very few of his children are designed to lead Billy Graham Crusades or build cathedrals. Most of us are made to smile, encourage, and send cards. He loves us for all the little things we do. Because He makes great things out of little things.
Comment (3)
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Sun, May 25th - 12:47PM
From the Kingdom Grace Blog: I was having coffee with a couple of friends the other day, one who faithfully attends a church she doesn’t like and the other who, having recently left a church, doesn’t attend anywhere. The faithful attender asked me whether some mutual friends of ours had found a church yet. While my mental response was, “hell no, they’re not even looking,” my actual response was, “they are enjoying their Sunday morning breakfasts.” The non-attender friend said, “Yes we are too. Maybe we should start a breakfast club.” “Next thing you know someone would call it a church.” “Then there would be disagreements about syrup.” “And sausage versus bacon.” “Eventually someone would split off to have their own non-pork breakfast.” Breakfast. It’s complicated.
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Fri, Apr 11th - 12:34PM
Hey © Justin McRoberts If I had been far less inclined to Rush to judgement, anger and ridicule If I had been far more in love with you If I had just been more able to See your scars as what they had put you through Rather than what keeps me from seeing you O Lord help me to see them the way You see me With your eyes I know I would learn to see Beyond the fall and to the need With your eyes I know I would learn to see The only problem here is me If I had looked close and recognized It was you in that all too human disguise I’d have asked to see you with your eyes Maybe you won’t come packaged perfectly You could be inside anyone I meet
With Your Eyes
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Sat, Mar 29th - 9:28AM
Hey "Holding a grudge is like drinking poison hoping someone else will get sick" "Sweet Revenge"
Barlow Girl
Did you see that I was hurt?
Did you know that you had left me crying there?
Now I'm holding all you words close till you feel this pain too
But you live on so unaware
While I thought somehow this hate would heal me
But this hate is never ending and it's only killing me
Oh sweet revenge you've lied again
I find I can't get free till I release this vengeance that I seek
Forgive you the only thing I want to live I'm ready to be free
Maybe you've been wounded too
Maybe all this is your self protection
All the hurts you thought were hidden
Are the one now hurting me
So who will make the pattern end?
I find I can't get free till I release this vengeance that I seek
Forgive you, the only thing I want to live I'm ready to
Break these chains
Won't see this through
'Cause setting you free means my freedom too
I find I can't get free till I release this vengeance that I seek
Forgive you the only thing I want to live I'm ready to be free
Comment (2)
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Thu, Mar 13th - 9:42AM
Quote from Erica Haub's blog: "On a mission trip in Honduras a few years ago, we were all sitting with some of the villagers around a fire in the evening. One of the members of our team said, "Let's all go around and share our favorite Bible verse."
This sort of thing can be tough for us scripturally challenged Methodists! Someone mentioned John 3:16, somebody else said 1 Corinthians 13. A Honduran woman said, through a translator, "I love that passage toward the end of Luke's gospel, where Jesus says that the world is coming to an end, the moon will turn blood red, and everything will be burned and disappear. Such a comfort."
That's her favorite Bible passage? A comfort?
A nurse, sitting next to me whispered, "I talked with that woman in the clinic today. She has had four children, three of whom died in infancy because of hunger."
Then it hit me. Sometimes the difference between bad news and good news (gospel) is where you happen to be when you get the news. What sounded like bad news to me, "This world, which has been so good to you and your family, is ending. God is going to destroy all of it. This isn't the world God wanted; this is the world you built" seen through the eyes of the poor, is good news, gospel."
Comment (2)
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Name: Jon Johnson
