Friday, March 27, 2015

saying no to the sins of this world

We can change this
what this world has become
by our choices, our decisions;
saying no to the madness
to the sin of excess
forgetting Christmas
in the blur of shopping
for things we don’t need.

Thinking too of Lent
of the journey this season
how hard it is to slow down
to spend time with Christ;
how much we are like the crowd
shouting to “Crucify!” Jesus
not willing to wait,
unable to be guided by Love.

They chose the one, Barabbas,
it was only human nature,
they chose the one
the one willing to fight;
they wanted freedom
from their repression
the crush of the weight
of their Roman oppressors.

Echoed in Black Friday consuming,
part of Thanksgiving, our worship,
taking our focus off of the Christ
the reason for the season;
We can change this
by our choices, our decisions;
saying no to the madness
to the sin of this world.

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merged March 27, 2015
saying no to the sins of this world

edited March 27, 2015
saying no to the madness – v2
March 26, 2015
The one willing to fight
&
December 4, 2014
saying no to the madness
December 3, 2014
Good News of Great Joy
December 3, 2014
a stampede of shoppers
December 3, 2014
Like a herd of cattle
December 1, 2014
The Crush of Christmas
Advent book study:
Acts 1:8-14
referenced article about Black Friday death in 2008
(and website for Black Friday Deaths - http://blackfridaydeathcount.com/)
Introduction and
Chapter 1. “Beginning with the End”
Not A Silent Night
by Reverend Adam Hamilton
Spirit study led by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
&
March 26, 2015
The one willing to fight
John 19:13
John 19:1-16
Psalm 27:1-3, 11-14
Matthew 27:24
Spirit Study
March 18, 2015
Mark 15:1-15
Lenten book study:
Chapter 4. “Jesus, Barabbas, and Pilate”
24 Hours That Changed the World
by Reverend Adam Hamilton
Spirit study led by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
&
Spirit Study
March 10, 2015
Mark 14:53, 55, 61-68, 70-72
Mark 14:53-72
Lenten book study:
Chapter 3. “Condemned by the Righteous”
24 Hours That Changed the World
by Reverend Adam Hamilton
Spirit study led by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
&
Spirit Study
March 10, 2015
Spirit Study
March 3, 2015
Mark 14:26, 32-42
Mark 14:32a
Lenten book study:
Chapter 2. “Garden of Gethsemane”
by Reverend Adam Hamilton
Spirit study led by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
&
Matthew 26:28
Exodus 24:8
Jeremiah 31:31-34
John 15:15
John 13:3-5
Mark 14:12, 22-25
Lenten book study:
Chapter 1. “The Last Supper”
24 Hours That Changed the World
by Reverend Adam Hamilton
Spirit study led by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
&
earlier books by Rev. Hamilton studied in Spirit Study groups -
The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus
&            
“Final Words from the Cross”
&
24 Hours That Changed the World
&
December 14, 2012
We have lost Christmas
Spirit Study,
around session 2,
“Giving Up on Perfect”
of video series:
“A Different Kind of Christmas: Living and Giving Like Jesus”
by Reverend Mike Slaughter
and companion book,
“Christmas Is Not Your Birthday: Experience the Joy of Living and Giving like Jesus”,
also by Reverend Mike Slaughter,
led by Pastor Ruth Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
December 9, 2012
Second Sunday of Advent
&
Worship Theme: “I Believe in the Love/ Peace”
Luke 3:1-6 (English Standard Version Bible)
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
Malachi 3:1-4 (Common English Bible)
Philippians 1:3-11 (Contemporary English Version Bible)
and sermon – “True Love”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
December 9, 2012
Second Sunday of Advent
&
November 28, 2010
Turn to Bethlehem
Romans 13:11-14
Isaiah 2:1-5
Worship Theme: “Hope”
and sermon, “The Reason for the Season”
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
November 28, 2010
First Sunday of Advent
&
March 26, 2015
The one willing to fight
John 19:13
John 19:1-16
Psalm 27:1-3, 11-14
Matthew 27:24
Spirit Study
March 18, 2015
Mark 15:1-15
Lenten book study:
Chapter 4. “Jesus, Barabbas, and Pilate”
24 Hours That Changed the World
by Reverend Adam Hamilton
Spirit study led by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
&
Spirit Study
March 10, 2015
Mark 14:53, 55, 61-68, 70-72
Mark 14:53-72
Lenten book study:
Chapter 3. “Condemned by the Righteous”
24 Hours That Changed the World
by Reverend Adam Hamilton
Spirit study led by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
&
Spirit Study
March 10, 2015
Spirit Study
March 3, 2015
Mark 14:26, 32-42
Mark 14:32a
Lenten book study:
Chapter 2. “Garden of Gethsemane”
by Reverend Adam Hamilton
Spirit study led by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
&
Matthew 26:28
Exodus 24:8
Jeremiah 31:31-34
John 15:15
John 13:3-5
Mark 14:12, 22-25
Lenten book study:
Chapter 1. “The Last Supper”
24 Hours That Changed the World
by Reverend Adam Hamilton
Spirit study led by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 36,750+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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