My thoughts (Cheryl Stonestreet):

The book of Proverbs was a guide written for Jewish men on how to best live their lives. Some of the verses are relics of their culture and are pretty hilarious. Many are utterly timeless and profound, as is today’s passage. How better to disarm your enemies than to just be nice to them?

I remember when I was in sales training. I was in a conference room with my supervisor talking to a customer and his wife about our products. Talking about me, the customer looks to his wife and said, “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about!”

If I had let my ego take over the situation, I likely would have lost my job right then and there. Instead, I simply said, “You’re right. I don’t know everything about our products; I’m in training and just now learning.” You could see the wind go out of the guy’s sail. The customer, a skeptical elderly man, who was on the verge of getting up to walk out, sat back in his chair and took a deep breath. He and his wife sat for the rest of my presentation, and even signed on the dotted line — I made the sale! Later, my supervisor congratulated me for the nice save.

It truly is amazing how being nice can change how people act. Sometimes the hardest of hearts are only looking for a little gentleness.

Thought for the day: Lord, let me be gentle and pass on your love to everyone who needs it today. Especially, Lord, to those who need it the most.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (Cheryl Stonestreet):

I remember the first time I heard someone read this passage. I nearly fell off my chair. How true this passage still is! It is heartbreaking to watch someone we love crash and burn because of an addictive disease. It’s even worse when there are innocent children in the line of fire.

Today we know a little more about addiction and addictive personality. Thankfully too today, we have a better handle on treating problems of addiction. I have had the great fortune to know many people in 12 Step programs. I have seen the miracle of hazy addicts turn, in time, into clear eyed, productive people. In all of these people, one thing is common; they have found a Loving God.

Many have returned to church or are coming for the first time in their lives, all because they have a new thirst — to learn more about this Loving God. When they walk in the door, what do they see? What does any newcomer see? Are we truly welcoming? Or are we so tied up in our own lives and agendas that we are distracted from Christ’s true message? There is life anew, for any and all who seek it.

Thought for the day: Lord, when someone new comes into my path, let me listen to them and treat them with the same gentleness and love you have shown me when I was so raw and vulnerable. Lord, let me be an instrument of thy peace.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (Cheryl Stonestreet):

“Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” (NRSV) was posted on a sign over Jesus’ head. These were probably the first words ever written about Jesus. Much to the chagrin of the Pharisees, it was his obituary; his biography in brief. They wanted Jesus to be seen only as some crazy nut who merely called himself King of the Jews. But Pilate got the last word on what was written, and in three languages, he told everyone who could read, Jesus was The King of the Jews.

I used to work for a funeral home. One of my jobs was to gather and compile information about people for their legal documents and obituaries. Usually I talked with family members, or when someone was doing their own funeral pre-planning I talked to them in person. It always seemed to start as a very solemn task. But as people began recounting their lives, or the lives of their loved one, the real stories came out. The gravity often turned into laughter. As the memories flowed, a lot of different emotions played out. The outcome in many cases was forgiveness and respect. How cathartic this process was!

We know Pilate did not want to crucify Jesus. In Matthew’s account, his wife even warned him not to. Likely there was some element of sticking it to the Pharisees, by showing them who was in charge when Pilate had that proclamation posted on the cross.

But I’d like to believe that this was an act of amends for Pilate, too. This was his chance to tell the world Jesus’ story. It may have been Pilate’s greatest achievement. This act may have been the inspiration for others to start writing about their encounters with Jesus so that we who are living now might know him.

Thought for the day: What would I write to tell others about my encounters with Jesus?

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (Cheryl Stonestreet):

As a gay person who believes in and loves Jesus, this passage resonates deeply within me. I consider myself fortunate to have never bought into the message that God and Jesus do not love us because of sexual orientation. I believe this has been a gift from the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth; I know that I am loved by God!

But I also live in the reality that there are people who would do me harm in the name of God, fully believing that they are doing what God wants. Jesus tells us, “And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me.” But Jesus has already warned us about these sorts. In today’s passage, he clearly tells us they are out there. Jesus tells us this so we will not stumble.

So how do we gather our strength when we are threatened? I am the type who gets angry and just wants to mow them all down! It would be so easy to go into barrels-a-flaring mode! Do unto other first, so they don’t do unto you.

But that is not Jesus’ way! If I am to follow his example I must re-evaluate my potential actions and follow his command: love them as Jesus loves me, and call them friend, make them my equals.

His warning shows me that he wants us to be ready. So what I take away from today’s passage is this: I need to practice love so when their hour comes, and I really need to know how to love those who would harm me, I can do it. Argh! I never liked doing my homework.

Prayer for the day: Lord, help me be willing to attempt your ways today. Help me follow your commands and treat others as I would like to be treated, even in the face of adversity.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (Cheryl Stonestreet):

Reading from the book of John, what keeps popping out at me is the word “signs.” It’s all over this book. Perhaps the theme of John is the prophecy surrounding Jesus — from the very beginning of Judaism, through his life, and beyond into today. Clearly, signs were important to the early believers.

We don’t put much stock in signs these days. We raise our eyebrows and roll our eyes at people who do. If conditions can not be recreated, producing the same results over and over again, then outcome is simply random coincidence. Rational people expect rational results, not coincidence. Coincidence is nothing more than lucky chaos.

I’ve heard that coincidence is where God chooses to remain anonymous. How many times do we experience coincidence and still walk around with our eyes shut?

Here’s an example. While driving on vacation with a friend, we missed a turn. My friend who was driving spent a moment berating herself for miss-navigating a tricky intersection. We ended up going in the wrong direction. Correcting the mistake was no big deal. We were able to turn around easily and get back on the right street. Meanwhile, something inside of me felt like it was good; because of that minor delay we may have avoided a mishap. A few miles along that feeling was confirmed as we came upon an accident. A car was flipped over; its wheels still rolling. People had already stopped, help was being called. Had we not missed our turn, we might have been involved in that accident.

It seems to me that we are missing out on God’s glory if we close our eyes and harden our hearts to God’s signs. Confessing such may “put us out of the synagogue.” But by turning away from what we see, we miss the opportunity for gratitude and get a less fulfilling faith. I am eternally grateful for all the glory I’ve been shown through signs, big and small. I hope always to keep my eyes and heart open for God’s signs.

Thought for the day: Lord, show me what you want me to see. Grant me the wisdom to use your truth honorably, to your glory, and always with love.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.

My thoughts (Cheryl Stonestreet):

I saw a wall plaque in a mausoleum (of all places) that deeply influenced my faith in Jesus. I can’t quote the poem that was inscribed on the plaque, but I remember the meaning. It has stuck with me since the moment I read it, because it came to me at a time when I had doubts about my belief in Jesus. Maybe you’ve seen this poem someplace, too. I am sorry I don’t know the name of it. In short it says, no matter what you may think or believe, or not think or not believe about Jesus, the fact is, he changed the world.

How true that is. There have been a lot of gods who came before him, and a handful of religions that have gained in popularity since. Islam, in particular is especially large and powerful. But who has influenced like Jesus? He gave us the Golden Rule, so simple yet so profound. He gave us all a way in which to seek and reach our Creator. We even measure the date by his life here on earth!

The Pharisees were right. There was nothing they could do when the world had gone after him. He came with a mission.

Prayer for the day: Lord, help me accomplish my mission with the same tenacity, grace, love, and wisdom as Jesus.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.