Our scripture passage this Sunday (9:50 a.m.) is Jeremiah 8:4-13,8:18-9:1. In the passage, Jeremiah asks questions of the people of Israel about their actions. Speaking for God, Jeremiah shows the depth of his longing for the Jewish people to leave their apostasy and idolatry (definitions on Sunday) and come back to a relationship with God.
Where is the application for this today? Do you have to think very hard to see the parallel?
You know I'm prone to do things a little differently on Sundays (9:50 a.m.). Well, I'll be doing something real different this week. It starts with this question:
"How do you kill 11 million people?"
I know it's not a normal Sunday School question but we'll look at its relevance this week. How?
That question is the title of a book by Andy Andrews. The number represents the documented number of Jews killed by the Nazis during World War II.
It's an interesting question to ponder if you look at it this way: "How did 11 million people allow themselves to be killed?".
Some say that "Politics is telling people what they want to hear, and prophesy is telling them what they need to hear". Using that definition, you'll get some prophesy from me this week.
Jeremiah's heart was broken for the nation of Israel; mine is broken for our nation. I am a huge believer in "WE THE PEOPLE". What happens to one of us happens to all of us. It's easy to blame "them" for all our problems, but that's a cop-out. Together we must look for solutions.
Here's an excerpt from the author's note of Andy Andrews' book "How Do You Kill 11 Million People":
"Don't we all want the best for our country and a secure and prosperous future for our children? Of course we do. And I believe that we can talk about divisive subjects without screaming at each other.
Somehow, for the most part, our parents and grandparents managed to disagree with their neighbors and still remain neighborly. And they usually did it from their front porches. Today, most of us don't even have front porches. We have retreated to the backyard, where a singe opinion can be isolated and enforced by a privacy fence."
Come in Sunday morning with an open mind. Check your political persuasion and knee-jerk reactions at the door. You might just find you agree with more things than you disagree.
Here's your pre-work for class. It's a six-minute interview with Andy that gives the background to his book.
For the record, I have absolutely, positively no interest in seeking political office. I'm not asking for your vote, I'm asking you to think.
Finish Friday strong. Enjoy Saturday with your family. See you Sunday!
Loyally yours,
Darren Bayne
“The punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take
part in the government, is to live under the government of worse men.” Plato
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