Good day dear friends.
Our text for today is from John 4: 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
My morning internet routine goes as follows. 1. I read the morning devotional at The Upper Room (www.upperroom.org/devotional). This morning's devotional is very good as they usually are. 2. I go to CNN to see what are the headlines for today. http://www.cnn.com/ gives an update of the headlines around the world and here in the USA.
Which is why this morning I write about religion in the news. The Pope's visit has been major headlines all week. It is his first visit to the United States and so that is headling worthy news. He has celebrated two major outdoor masses in huge arenas and that is worthy news. He is, as the Catholic church, the direct descendant of Saint Peter, the "rock" of the church. Just thinking about that and how, imperfect as the line got in some eras of our history, still the one recognized by that church as having had hands laid on him that were first the hands of the fisherman called by Jesus. That's worthy of headlines. The other news are more local, a polygamist ranch outside San Angelo (which is in the Southwest Texas Annual Conference of our church, and the children of that ranch are being helped by many UMs), has been raided by the authorities, and thankfully another "Waco" incident didn't happen.
In another part of the world, Buddhists originally slated to participate in the Olympic torch relay, have withdrawn in protest of the treatment of monks by the Chinese government, the hosts of this summer's Olympics.
The greatest news of religion today? How God is using you to make someone else's world a little better by your kind words, kind act, or listening, caring ear. These things won't be on tomorrow's headlines nor should they be, for we do things for Christ not for the fleeting glory of humans, but for the eternal glory of He who sends us out "to make disciples." And the best way to make disciples is to be one.
PRAYER: Loving God, we praise you and thank you for Jesus. We pray that in all we do today we might show that we are indeed, your disciples and in that way, help to make someone new a disciple. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
