Special music by Brandon Coz.

Most of us have a competitive spirit to some degree.  We compete in games, sports, and work, among friends, neighbors, family members, and strangers.  Our economy is based on competition, and we encourage our children to prepare for their roles in society by being competitive in nearly everything they do.  Even in our spare time, playing games or participating in hobbies, we are often competitive.  This mentality is pervasive and generally accepted as a good trait.

This week we reflect on the passage in the Gospel of Mark that describes the competitive nature of the first disciples of Christ.  While traveling between towns, they had gotten into an argument about who was greatest among them.  When confronted by Jesus at their destination, they were afraid to admit what they were talking about, probably intuitively knowing they were acting in a way that was inconsistent with Jesus’s teaching.  Jesus tells them whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.  Interestingly, Jesus appeals to their competitive spirit by encouraging them to seek out the first position but explains it will require them being last.  It begs the question, what does it mean to be first or last?

Prayers of the People by Brandon Coz.

There are differences of opinion today regarding what is truth. Events happen around the world, and reports describing those events vary significantly. Sometimes it is had to believe the different reports are describing the same event. In other instances, large amounts of scientific data are collected, and widely differing conclusions are drawn from the same data. This has left many wondering if science can be trusted to discern the truth and provide reliable guidance. Ultimately, the issue rests on the difference between knowledge and wisdom where one can be thought of as information and the other is the interpretation and application of that information in a reliable, truthful manner.

This week we look at wisdom from the perspective of ancient Hebrew writings. In the first chapter of Proverbs, we see wisdom described as a woman desperately trying to get our attention, yet unsympathetic when people refuse to listen and suffer the

consequences. We also will look at Psalm 19 where we are reminded how God speaks the truth to us through scripture as well as through our everyday experiences. Like power, knowledge can be used for good or bad purposes, and it is wisdom that can lead us toward greater peace through responsible use of our growing knowledge.

Weekly prayers of the people by Brandon Coz.

This week we reflect on the stories of the Syrophoenician woman who begged Jesus to heal her daughter and the deaf man from the Decapolis region who was brought to Jesus for healing.  The Syrophoenician woman was expressly not Jewish, so her petition for help was initially rebuffed.  In a manner uncharacteristic of other situations where someone had sought help, Jesus responds sharply to her, telling her it is unfair to give the children’s food to the dogs.  Her reply, which did not directly contradict Jesus’s derogatory comment, suggested her request was legitimate even if she was thought to be inferior.

There seems to be a natural tendency for people to isolate themselves into groups, and Jesus demonstrates that mentality in this story.  The practice of segregation has taken place throughout history and across cultures, and the first century Jewish culture was no different.  Ironically, we do not come into this world with that attitude as we can see by the little children who do not inherently practice this behavior; it must be taught.  In this week’s passage we see the example Jesus gives of recognizing this issue and making a personal choice to break through cultural barriers by granting a miraculous healing to the woman’s daughter.  Just as he went on to heal the deaf man with a speech impediment, may we also be healed of our deafness to the needs of “others” around us and learn how to clearly speak the language of love.

Special music by Sheryl Clifton.

Prayers of the People for the week by Brandon Coz. 

Society is saddled with many sources of conflict today. There are differences of opinion on the need for masks, immigration policy, race relations, and human sexuality, just to name a few. Unfortunately, conversations on these topics often devolve into angry confrontations that raise blood pressure more than awareness. As the animosity rises between camps, mutual respect suffers, and we may say or do things that purposefully hurt others. The consequence is a fracturing of our community that makes us vulnerable to manipulation and weakens the church.

In this week’s passage, we reflect on the teachings from James that include a warning against anger. James does not forbid us from having angry feelings – that would be unrealistic. But he encourages us to be “slow to anger,” or you could say he warns us against being quick-tempered. James explicitly tells us that anger dose not produce

God’s righteousness, so we should carefully consider the motivations for our actions. Join us this Sunday as we talk about these lessons from James and how we can apply them to our everyday lives.

Special music for the week from Barb Jonson.