Year of the Good Samaritan

‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’ (Luke 10:30-37 NRSV)


As my family talked about the Ringing in the New Year post from the end of 2012 and what our priority might be for 2013, Allison suggested that we make it the year of the Good Samaritan.  We all agreed that this was a fantastic suggestion.  

This year, we will be looking at a couple of questions together as a family.  
First, who are my neighbors in need?  
Second, how might we be the neighbor who shows mercy?

This is going to be a HUGE challenge.  We are going to have to be intentional in our thinking about our neighbors and how we might be focused on responding and behaving neighborly.  In the midst of our busy-ness, we are going to have to carve out time to talk about the Good Samaritan, our neighbors, and possible responses to the needs of those neighbors.  Then...we have to take action.  I think this is going to be a lot of fun but also will be a significant challenge to our feelings of comfort and possibly our habits as a family.  But I am confident that it will be more than worth it.

Have you had an opportunity to think through something that your family might make a priority in 2013?  I would love to hear your stories, and how you think your commitments might impact your family in 2013.

If you haven't had the chance to read "Ringing in the New Year" and would like to do so, here is the link - Ringing in the New Year.  Feel free to leave your comments.

Hope your 2013 has already been a year of wonder and grace.

Peace.

Ringing in the New Year

'Tis the season for holiday get togethers, toasts, and resolutions!

In the craziness that is the busy holiday season, it can be difficult to find the time to be introspective.  There is so much to attend to and so many things that must be done.  I must confess that some of the pressures of the holiday time do nothing more than add stress and a level of guilt to an already hectic life.  It is easy for me to feel a little bit like a "pushmi-pullyu" of Dr. Doolittle fame.  It seems as though there is always something for me to do next and somewhere for me to go.

Maybe it's just me.

As we quickly approach the ringing in of 2013, the Shivers family is going to do something different.  We are going think through what we would like to make a priority together this coming year.  It is not a "resolution" or an add on to an already busy life.  Rather, it is an examination of those things that we are already passionate about.  We will look at them together, pray about them, and decide on one of them that we will try to make our family focus this coming year.

I am not sure at this time exactly what all of this will mean, but it will be fun to see how we can come together as a family and creatively make something a priority.  Perhaps we will participate in one service project a month together centered around our priority.  Maybe we will give a little extra money to a charity that has our priority as a focus.  Could be that we will study and learn together about whatever we decide on and see where that may lead us.

It will be exciting to look back on 2013 as the "Year of _________."  I am certain that somehow each one of us will be transformed by our "priority."

Here are some of the things that I can imagine will be in the running for our family priority in 2013...
Our daughter loves animals and is passionate about animal adoption.
Jennifer has a deep desire to address issues of hunger in our city.
I am finding myself more and more interested in interfaith work.

If you find this interesting and something your family might like to try as well, I would love to hear what you and your family are excited about together.  Feel free to share your ideas here on this page, if you would like.  It could be fun to hear from one another and learn from one another about what our families find to be important.

Blessings in your New Year!

Advent - Week 4 - Love

Week 4

This week we light the fourth candle of Advent Wreath. 

We light this candle to symbolize the gift of God’s love in Jesus Christ. 

Questions:

What is love?

When you think of love, what is the first thing or person that comes to mind?

What does it mean to love?

Scripture:

John 3:16-17

"For God so loved the world that God gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

Discussion:

What do hear in this passage about love?

Who in your life is an example of love?

What does it mean to you that God loves you this much?

Activity:

Write a note or card to someone who has shown you what it means to be a person of love or who you think is an example of God's love.  This would be an incredible Christmas to give to someone.

May the power of Christ’s love transform our lives.

Advent - Week 3 - Joy

Week 3 
This week we light the third candle on the Advent wreath.
“We light this candle in great joy; Jesus is our joy!”

Questions:
What is joy?
What do you think of when you consider what it might mean to be full of joy?
What are some of the characteristics of joy?
Who do you think is joyful?

Scripture:
Isaiah 12:2-6
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Discussion:
Is there joy in waiting for something?
What goes through your own head and heart when you are waiting for something to happen or waiting for a certain event to take place?
Think about these two lines…
“Shout aloud and sing for joy.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”
When do you find it the hardest to sing for joy and rejoice?
What is happening right now in your life that makes you sing for joy or rejoice?

Activity:
Sometime before Sunday, consider the things that bring you joy. 
Why do those things bring you joy? 
Think about some ways in which you might be an agent of joy in your house, your school, your place of employment.

Find a service project you can participate in that will bring joy into the lives of others.

Sign up to participate in Christmas Benevolence.  It is still not too late.

Advent - Week 2

Week 2 
This week we light the second purple (or blue) candle on the Advent wreath.
“We light this candle in peace; Jesus is our peace.”

Questions:
When you think of the word peace, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
What would it mean for the world to have peace?
What would it mean for you to have peace?

Scripture:
Luke 1:68-79
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, 
for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. 
He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, 
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, 
and has remembered his holy covenant, 
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, 
to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, 
might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; 
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Discussion:
What does this passage have to do with peace?
Luke writes that Zechariah, father of John the Baptist said at John's birth, “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
What might these words mean?
What would it be like to be a messenger of God's peace?
How can you bring this comfort to those around you?

Activity:
Sometime before Sunday, write down a list of those in your life who need comfort (don’t forget to include yourself in this list).  
Consider how you might be someone who brings comfort and peace to these people.  
How can your family work together toward peace? 
Find a service project to participate in that brings comfort and peace to those in need.

Christmas Benevolence:
Christmas Benevolence needs a lot of help!  
This week, there are opportunities to shop with some of those who will benefit from Christmas Benevolence.  Check the church website www.secondchurch.org for a full list of opportunities.

Advent - Week 1

Week 1 - This week we light the first purple (or the blue) candle in the Advent wreath.

“We light this candle in hope, the bright hope of Jesus, the Christ.”

Questions:
What do you think of when you think of hope?
Who would be an example of hope?
Where do you find hope?
For what do you hope?

Scripture:
Jeremiah 33:14-16
"The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.' "

Discussion:
What does this passage have to do with hope?
Jeremiah writes, ”The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”
What do you think these words mean?  
Does this relate to hope?  
What do you wish God would do?

Activity:
Sometime this week, write down a list of your hopes for yourself, for your family, for our world.  
Share these with another member of your family.  
Consider ways that you and your family might work together toward these purposes.
Maybe create a "Jar of Hope" in which you can place all of these hopes.
Find a service project in which you can all participate this week.

Christmas Benevolence:
This week, your family could…
Take a ham tag, gift tag or clothing tag for someone. Many volunteers are still needed.  These are located in the atrium and in McFarland Hall. Go shopping for someone in need in the Spirit of the coming Christ.

Sunflowers of Thanksgiving

Today, I had someone put something amazing on my desk.  Beautiful sunflowers arrived to brighten my day. These sunflowers were given by a student who wanted to share something precious with Tyler, Stephanie, and me (the Aspire Youth Ministries staff).

The sunflowers came with this incredible note attached...
"Every year since we were kids my mom gives me and (my brother) sunflowers to give to the person/people we were most thankful to have in our life that year.  So this year I chose you 3. Thank you so much for everything you guys do! You rock! Happy Thanksgiving!"

I am so thankful for and humbled by this young person who took the time to send a ray of sunshine into our lives through wonderful sunflowers.  This small gesture reminds me that in this busy season of thanksgiving it is so easy to forget the small yet vitally important ways in which we can say thank you to the people in our lives for whom we give thanks.

These flowers changed me and challenged me today.  I realize that I do not say "thank you" nearly enough - especially to those with whom I work and live.

I have been changed by these sunflowers.  I am committing myself this day to say a simple "thank you" to the people in my life for whom I am grateful.  There are so many, and I am sure that I will miss some of the most important people.  However, if I begin this discipline today, then perhaps I will continue to practice it every day, and I will not leave anyone out.

Who are the people for whom you and your children are the most thankful?
What are some ways in which you can say thank you to them?
How can you and your family practice the discipline of thankful living together throughout the year?

Let me begin by saying, "Thank you" to you.

If you are reading this blog, you have undoubtedly touched my life in some way this year.  I want to thank you for journeying with me this year.  I am thankful for you and for your faithfulness.

Thank you.
Brian

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, 

give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NRSV)