@ the khor

This is a question that I often find myself asking,  "Am I content?"

"But godliness with contentment is great gain,  for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." - 1 Timothy 6:6-8

"However, in this life men do deceive and are deceived, and they are more wretched when by lying they deceive than when by believing liars they themselves are deceived. Yet, to such an extent does a rational being shrink from falsehood and, as far as possible, endeavor to shun error, that even those who love to deceive do not themselves wish to be deceived. For the liar does not think that he himself errs, but rather that he leads into error the one who believes him. And he actually does not err in the matter which he covers up by a lie, if he himself knows the truth. But in this he is deceived, that he thinks the lie does him no harm; for every sin harms him who commits it more than the one against whom it is committed." - Faith, Hope, and Charity

This is probably a post more suited to Jelssie seeing as it was a conversation that occurred within such a context. However, I am amused enough to share it with you.

Given the age of myself and the age of my friends it is helpful to note two kinds of people in their thirties (particularly in a dating context). Firstly, there are people in their thirties that are just so middle-aged... Do you know what I mean? They are accountant-like (sorry to my fun accountant friends, but you get the stereotype), serious, ready for retirement. And secondly, there is fun thirties. People who are still in touch with their youthful-side, like to joke about, etc. yet because of their age you can still have a decent conversation with them, talk about the deeper things of life, etc. Of course, there is also a third type which are those who seem to be stuck back in their teens which just becomes sad really.

Anyway, back on track. What happens to a person that they become middle-aged thirties? I wonder if people wake up one day and realise it's their dad or mum staring them back at them in the mirror... (this thought terrifies me...), maybe this is what triggers a mid-life crisis?? Or maybe they were of the same demeanor in their twenties but now that they are in their thirties it has become apparent because the youth of being a tenty is no longer on their side... Anyway, that is the end of the thought. You can go check out your wrinkles in the mirror now.

How to teach something like this to 5-7 year olds? It is beautiful isn't it...

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” - Luke 7:36-50

We're going through Luke this term at Sunday School. I've just come to this passage and stopped for a bit... I'm still mostly scratching my head as I have done so for the last few years in regard to grasping Jesus' teaching here in the Beatitudes but one thing for sure is that it is profound.

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:32-36

O LORD, who can understand the depth of your abundance?