November 28, 2021 - Advent Week 1

 

 
 Photo by Michael Larsen Glass Beach Feb. 2021


Luke 21:5-9

5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

Each time I see or read of rocks and stones in the Bible, I envision one of God’s creations playing a vital role in one of His stories.  There are numerous references to rocks and stones throughout the Bible. Moses striking a rock to quench the Israelites thirst, the stone that David hurled from a sling to fall Goliath.  Perhaps it could be the stone that Jesus picked up to taunt the people from throwing it at a sinner or in the case of today’s story, the loose stone that formed a wall of a once great and beautiful temple and later tumbled during an imagined destruction.  There are enough stories about rocks and stones to keep a geologist or biblical scholar busy for a life time. 

My favourite story of a rock was from a priest in our own church.  During his sermon, he held up a rock and began to tell the story of what he held in his hand.  He said that a friend had brought him a rock back from an educational study trip to Israel.  In fact, to be more specific, it was a rock taken from the shore of the Sea of Galilee.  The rock was just a plain rock and not even ornately wrapped as you might see if it were purchased as a souvenir.  Just a rock.  When asked about the significance of the rock, the friend said, he wasn’t sure but he thought that Jesus had stepped on that rock when he called the fishermen as his disciples. Andrew agreed that it was possible, in fact he speculated, Jesus may have even stubbed his toe upon the rock

This simple story illustrates the simplicity of many stories we have from the Bible. A young simple girl who bore the Son of God.  Fishermen who become His disciples to spread that faith through the world.  One of those disciples even became known as the rock.  The simple story of simple rock that transformed our son’s imagination and helped form his faith.

 

Michael Larsen

 


 

Popular posts from this blog

December 1, 2021 - Advent Week 1

Image
      O nce again the cycle of the year rolls back to Advent. Each cycle has its beauty and trials. Advent is from the Latin Adventus meaning a coming or arrival. What in your life is coming or arriving in your life to make your life different? I always think of the advent of spring and waiting for the arrival of the flowers, warmer weather, longer days and new life.   Advent is when Christians await the arrival of our King. How are we preparing for the arrival of Christ? In your home getting ready for a guest to arrive takes time and preparation so all will go well when the guest arrives. For me getting the house clean and ready, spending time thinking about what will make my guest comfortable and welcome. How will the house be decorated, how will I dress, will everything be ready when my guest arrives? Today’s scripture from Amos 3:12-4:5   tells of how the Israelites were far from ready from being what God wanted them to be.   They kept sinning and wanting to co
Read more

December 24, 2021 - Advent week 4

Image
    Galatians 3:23-29; 4:6-7 23  Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24  Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25  But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26  for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28  There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29  And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise. 4 6  And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7  So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. [1] As our advent season of preparation draws to a close,
Read more

December 3, 2021 - Advent Week 1

Image
             SEEK THE LORD… Who Are You Seeking? – Mark Lawrence   Amos 5:1-17 American artist Mark Lawrence specializes in Bible verse inspired contemporary Christian abstract paintings. On his website Lawrence says, “I am driven by a mission and a vision to share God’s Word with the billions of searching people who need Jesus in their lives". I have to admit that I was not familiar with the first of today’s readings or the history behind Amos’ call or what it had to do with Advent. But what was clear to me is that four times in this short passage we find the word “seek” - three times it is used as an encouragement and one time as a warning. As I read and re-read these verses, I came to realise that this was the center of the Holy Spirit’s message to me that day and I hope you can glean something from these my ramblings. We are in the first week of Advent and it is the week of “Hope” or prophecy. This fifth chapt
Read more