Bob the Bull

We bought another bull! This is our third bull! I said to someone that we were starting a herd. They responded that we can’t start a herd with bulls and you can’t start a herd when the bulls are turned into hamburger.

If you are new or if it slipped by you let me help you understand. In the last year we have had the opportunity as a church family to purchase a couple of bulls and have them butchered. The meat was given to the Good Cheer Food Bank. The food bank has gotten about 2500 lbs of hamburger so far. This is a huge help to them in this season in our community when they are serving close to 1000 families a month.

A couple of weeks ago we received a call about another bull that was for sale. This bull is by far the biggest of the three. His name is Bob and he weighs in at 3000 lbs. The food bank will receive another 2000 lbs of hamburger and soup bones. This will feed families in a significant way.

You have done this: You who have given to SWAG, you who worked at last year at the fair and you who worked at this year at the fair. You have done what Jesus said: “Whenever you give to the least of these you have given to me and whenever you have fed the hungry you have given to me!”

One of the key verses that have guided decisions for us over the years is found in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. The word of the Lord given to Jeremiah was: Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare. (Jeremiah 29:7 NLT)

We are part of this community called to work for the peace and the prosperity of Whidbey Island. We are to pray for this community. The welfare of this community will determine our welfare.

Thanks for working and giving so that God can work in this community!

Early Christians were called Atheists

Something I have found interesting over the years is the way that words change in usage. The list might include: hot, bad, rad, cool, far-out, wicked … the list is almost endless.

A word that has changed is ‘awful.’ Historically and etymologically, ‘awful,’ meant ‘full of awe.’ When someone said something was awful, they meant that it was full of awe; it was wonderful, delightful, and amazing. Over time the word has evolved to mean exactly the opposite. Isn’t that awful?

It is interesting that early Christians were referred to as atheist. In the Roman world of the early church years the emperor was believed to be ‘a god’ and there were literally hundreds of ‘gods.’ The early Christians rejected, and didn’t believe in, the emperor as god and they rejected the pantheon of gods. They were, therefore, referred to as atheist. A pagan Roman citizen might have referred to a disciple of Jesus by saying: He’s an atheist.

This, of course, is totally different than how the word is used today. An ‘atheist’ is someone who believes or is convinced there is no such thing as God or gods or anything outside the material realm. An atheist and a Christian are on opposite ends when it comes to anything that might smack of a belief in a god or a higher power.

The early Christians didn’t just reject the emperor god or the pantheon of gods. They rejected anything that had got in the way of, or was opposed to, a life that honored God through living for the resurrected Jesus. If it meant a loss of livelihood, shelter, food, acceptance and even life – they were not going to capitulate and were proud to be called ‘atheist.’ They were proud to reject anything that hindered them in the service of Jesus.

I have to ask myself: Is there anything that I am allowing to hinder me in my service of Jesus?
What about you?