MAC KIRK

Sunday before Lent-the 40 days before Easter, or the Way of the Cross Quinquagesima Sunday before Lent Have you ever felt like a re-do? Bill Murray finally got that chance in the 1993 movie, " Groundhog Day" . He kept waking up to re-live the day until he got it right. He gets the girl and does over all the mistakes of the day . He finds compassion for the homeless and says the right things . It takes several days to keep waking up to the same day , in his case, Ground Hog Day, until he gets it right. Would that we too would have the chance for a re-do, and right all the things we said we should not have, and fix all the mistakes we made that day we regret. FEB 2  Groundhog day which we celebrated actually as the Candlemas or Festival of the purification of the Virgin Mary in the Prayer Book ( Presentation of the Lord in the Temple).  We too have chances for re-dos in our life.  Who has not experienced the encouragement of someone who did not give up on us?  " Many w...

 Good Ground Good Ground  Luke 8:4-15   Second Sunday before Lent   In the movie " Gettysburg" there is a haunting scene where the Commander of the Southern forces, Robert E. Lee, looks at how the armies have run into each other at Gettysburg and says to Longstreet, the commander of one his divisions, " I pray this is good ground."  There is a hope that even though he did not plan running into the Union Army under General George Meade, it will be good ground for "his boys."  Too many had already died.     That line from the movie " Gettysburg" reminded me of the Scripture from Luke 8, " And that in the good ground, there are they who in a heart right and good having heard the word keep it and bring forth fruit with endurance." vs 15  The other kinds of hearts are also mentioned. The seed is the Word of God, sown by the sower. 1.  Some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.  vs. 5...

 Love and truth go together. The Scriptures basically have 3 kinds of love.  Eros is greek for fleshly or human love in some forms.  Philos is greek for brotherly love or sisterly love and friendship.  The sacrificial love of Jesus is agape in the greek. Love. Romans 12 9[Let] love be without dissimulation ( not hypocritical). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10[Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly lovefrom philadelphos Definition the love of brothers, brotherly love (; in honour preferring one another; 11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality John 13. 34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. “When you love y...

 Beatitudes Sermon on the mount Matthew 5:1-12 In these short words recorded in Matthew we have what many say, “ would not the world be a wonderful place if we could live by these?” I have often heard people say this. I agree. It would be a much better place if we could live these Beatitudes. Many admire them. All of wish to be happy . According to Jesus these are happiness. Beatitude means happiness or blessedness from the latin “beatitudo” In reviewing this Scripture I noted the background of the previous chapter preaching the gospel of repentance to all. And he moved from Nazareth to Capernaum...the disciples were called, and many healings were done by Him 4:23 We might say the word itself breaks it down for us. BE . Secondly, ATTITUDE. In other words our attitudes come from within and our desires. We desire certain things in life , sometimes not always that good and they do not bring us happiness. Jesus has something to say about this. “He opened His mouth and taught them ( the...

Presentation of Christ in the Temple Luke 2  Luke 2 :22-40 CS Lewis said, "  Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." Simeon was such a man.  The Gospel of Luke says that he was a " man in Jerusalem" " and the same was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel" 2:25  ( that is he was looking for the Messiah-Matthew Henry notes) Jesus was presented in the temple by Joseph and Mary.  This was done after circumcision ( 8 days) at 40 days.  Leviticus 12 tells us about the woman & the duty of all believers and their families for purification being done 33 days after the 7 days of uncleaness .  So this was being done as Mary was offering for "her purifying" bringing a lamb .  Being poor Mary and Joseph were allowed to bring something else, Luke records " two turtledoves or two young pigeons" 2: 24 " Just and devout"  ----just means righteous & devout literally means " taking hol...