Are You Your Brother's Children's Keeper?

Youth Choir at Toys for Tots Concert,

Skanee, MI

Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets." Matt 7:9-12 NRSV

"Am I my brother's keeper." (Gen 4:9) This was Cain's response when God asked him where his brother was after he had killed Abel. Are you your brother's keeper? Are you your brother's children's keeper? I hope that you are answering in the affirmative.

At our last congregation council meeting we discussed Christmas and how we can best help serve the children in Flagler County. We discussed a couple of different way to contribute to those in need and to help ensure that children will not get left out as most of the rest of the country celebrates Christmas.

It is about time for the Marine Corps Annual Toys for Tots Drive to begin again. Howard and I have been working with various Toys for Tots programs more than a few decades now. It started for us in Rota, Spain. But, in Spain the children at the orphanage did not normally receive gifts on Christmas day. Instead, they received gifts delivered by three young Marines on Three Kings Day, on the day the three wise men or kings brought their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby named Jesus.

Toys for Tots helps to ensure that every child will have a gift as they celebrate Christmas. I understand that there are other programs in addition to Toys for Tots in Flagler County that are here to serve children during the Christmas season. Watch your newsletter and bulletin at Christ Lutheran in Bunnell for more information on what we will be doing as a congregation.

Where ever you are there are children in need. Yes, you are your brother's keeper. You are your brother's children's keeper. May God help us to do for them even as we would do for us and for our own children.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Alone With God

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Matthew 14:22-24 NIV

When my grandchildren were young they would often ask me to take them to school or other local events. If it was something that they were going to be actively participating in, I would usually agree. If it was something they were just going to as spectators so they could hang around behind the bleachers, I would tell them. "No, gramma can't do that." Of course, they would ask "why not?" My response to that would be "because gramma is a hermit."

I am not really a hermit. I have no problem with huge crowds. But, I like to have a good reason to be in the big crowds. Proclaiming the good news; feeding the hungry; supporting family or friends in whatever activity they are actively involved in or raising funds for those who are less fortunate than we are (Toys 4 Tots is on my list of priorities) are all good reasons for participating in crowded events. I don't mind crowds. But, I really do like my alone time. I have to have my alone time with God. Even when I am alone, I do not like to have "noise" as some people like noise. I do not want televisions or radios or any other noise in the background so that I don't feel alone. I am never alone. God is with me and that is way more than enough. Listening to "noise" when I alone with God, to me, is like a teen-ager who constantly looks at their cell-phone at the dinner table. Parents don't like to be ignored. I have a feeling our Father in heaven doesn't much care for it either.

When life around me crowds out my alone time with God, I get pretty cranky. I need to talk to Him. I need to listen to Him. I need to be in His presence. In the end, it may sound pretty selfish. But, I do need Him above all others. I need Him to help me be with and help others. Without Him, I can do nothing.

Jesus spent a lot of time in crowds proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom; healing the sick, kicking out demons. But, he also spent time alone with our Father in heaven. This being in the presence of our Father in heaven is even more than a need. It is a heartfelt desire.

You will not regret taking the time to be in a closer relationship with our Father in heaven who loves you dearly. Talk to Him. Listen to Him. Abide in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Let The Children Come

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:15-16 NIV

I vaguely remember a Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign whose ads include something to the effect of "No one stands taller than one who stoops to give a child a present." It pictured a Marine in his dress blues kneeling to give a little child a gift.

I work a lot. Sometimes, I forget to take time out to have fun. But, a few minutes with a child is usually fun. Hours with them can be more fun even if by the end of the hours I may feel exhausted. Very few things are better than being around a smiling, bubbly, bouncing, child. There is no way (unless they are totally undisciplined) that I can keep from smiling, myself, when I am around children. One never knows what they might do or say. They keep life interesting for us older folks.

The disciples tried to keep the children from being close to Jesus. But, Jesus warned them not to put anything in their way that might keep them from him. "Let the little children come," he said.

Let the little children come to you and share the stories of Jesus so that they will have a greater knowledge and an even closer relationship with Jesus.

Let the little children come into your life and may the light of Christ shine upon you through them.

God's Peace - Pr. J