Stunted Growth

 According to Wikipedia stunted growth refers to a reduced growth rate in human development presenting as a manifestation of malnutrition and repeated infections such as diarrhea and parasitic worms. The world is filled with people who suffer with stunted growth - for the most part - most fare pretty well - with shorter height being one of their least concerns in life.  Short people are all around us - not all necessarily victims of stunted growth.  Height is not only a nutrition issue - genetics - ancestral history - playing a large role in growth patterns and height of individuals.  In reality the height of a person is nothing compared  to what resides inside - in the mind - the heart.

Jesus- Himself - not a giant of a man - somewhat short by today's standards - in physical 
characteristics - a giant - spiritually - ethically - morally. Through Him - God showed the true merit lies inside the person - how they think - what they think - how they act - what they say - do - believe.  God asks all of us to  put aside pre-conceived ideas about the value of others - to look with His eyes - to hear with His ears - to love with His heart.  Do this and your Lenten journey - will bear much fruit.

Deacon Dale

Full Coverage

 Full coverage - as in home owner's insurance - everything is covered by insurance - the house - the contents - the out buildings - the swimming pool - in clothing - not revealing - much more than minimal - complete - entire.  We love full coverage - knowing that all has been included - appropriate - done to completion. Full coverage - ensures - peace of mind - comfort.

Jesus not only offers us a full life with Him - also - His Father - His Holy Spirit - nothing left out - nothing additional to add.  When you allow God to enter your life - completely - without reservation - you receive all that He has to offer - His love - healing - forgiveness - acceptance - assurance - everything.  Like an insurance policy - you are covered completely - no premium to pay - Jesus has paid the price - the cost - His life - on the Cross - for you.  As we continue through Lent - remember Jesus is waiting - offering full coverage - for you.

Deacon Dale 

Money In The Bank

Money In The Bank is an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the WWE.  In 2014 the main event was a Ladder match for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship won by John Cena.  Money in the bank - also -  according to the Urban Dictionary - is a phrase used to express generally positive feelings - used to praise - commend - compliment.  Adding an awesome player to the team - Money in the Bank.

When God sent His Son - Jesus - to mankind - He sent - Money in the Bank - His guarantee - to each of us - acceptance - forgiveness - assurance - His commitment - for all ages.  His promise - 2000 years old - as good today - as first spoken.  Jesus is a treasure - a gift from God - available to all - available now.  To take your share - no withdrawal slip need - only your word - your promise - like His - to follow Him - to serve your brothers and sisters.  Jesus waits - for your word - your acceptance - with interest.

Deacon Dale 

Where's the Beef

 Many years ago one popular fast food chain ran a very successful ad focused on the tag line - where's the beef.  Its ad - challenged competitors - size of the beef patty - small - compared to their own. Their claim to fame - we have the beef - lots of it!  That commercial ran for a long time - increased that chain's sales some thirty percent. Customers loved that ad - in your face challenge - put up - shut up.  From that ad grew others - not related to food products - evolved to mean - give us some real substance - give the people something they can literally - figuratively - sink their teeth into. Even one politician challenged his rival - where's the beef?

When seeking a relationship with Jesus - what you see is what you get. You get all of Him - not just one bit or piece. Nothing remains hidden - His life an open book - easy to digest - easy to assume into your own life. With Him - you receive the greatest - biggest - best available. For modern disciples - we should offer as much - our complete selves - our complete focus - on serving Him - His Father - to the best of our ability - serving Him - His people with one-hundred percent of our energy. Would that  all of us could make that claim - not half hearted - but with complete devotion.  Jesus calls each of us - to a renewed conversion - mind - heart - soul. We pray that He says - well done good and faithful servant - not - "where's the beef?"

Deacon Dale 

Time Change

Many parts of  the world just recently went through a time change - moving the hands of the clock forward - one hour - offering one additional hour to work - play - enjoy - more sunlight. Not every country participates - not every US state - participates. The usefulness often questioned. The origin - thought to benefit farmers - incorrect - originally proposed by a New Zealand entomologist in 1895 - later by by an English builder - who disliked ending his golf game early - due to dusk - in 1905 - first implemented by Germany in April 1916 - as a means to reduce use of coal during World War I.  For some areas - Arizona - daylight saving time - a detriment - increasing use of air-conditioning - increasing use of electricity. 

God sent Jesus to mankind when - time change - seriously needed.  People were going astray - not observing God's plan - doing their own thing - not living the lives He had in mind.  Jesus asked - told - begged - people to listen - open their ears - eyes -- to the wonders of God - life available - as a disciple. His message the same today - preached from every pulpit in the world - time for change - time for accountability - time for love - time for being better.  He stands - watch in hand - waiting - watching the time - looking for a change - in you.

Deacon Dale 

Oculi Sunday

The Third Sunday of Lent - also known as Oculi Sunday -  my eyes are ever toward the Lord - is also historically referred to as the first Scrutiny Sunday in the Catholic Church - focusing on the examination of candidates preparing to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil.  Today and for the next two Sundays are held a set of three scrutinies.  In those three Sundays the candidates for reception into the Church are questioned to help prepare them for the Vigil.  The parishioners are asked to help the candidates - to pray for them to be worthy of acceptance.  Some might say they are under the microspcope being closley observed to benefit them - not to exclude them - to include them in the parish community.

Jesus came that each one of us has a life filled with all that God intends for us.  Most live a life acceoting those blessing - a few do not.  Believe it or not God did not create us only to turn away and focus on other things.  He has had His eyes on us the moment we were conceived in our mother's womb.  Just as God watches over us - we in turn are asked to watch over all those around us - to help - encourage - forgive - love. 

Deacon Dale 

Safety Net

 Typically when thinking about a safety net - one will think of high wire acts - tightrope walkers - aerial performers. Anyone working in any capacity at great heights - danger of falling - would be advised to use some type of safety net - protection from serious injury - death. Construction workers - roofers - telecommunication crews - all put themselves in danger - working at extreme heights. Safety vests - netting - rope systems - webbing apparatus - all provide a level of security - safety from injury - death.

In life there are very few safety nets - when really needed - unable to know for sure when    danger will occur. Our spiritual life - as unsure as any other part of life - no guarantees - nothing we can do to ensure - heaven - salvation. For Christians - Jesus - our safety net - no ropes -       no life vests - only His promise - His guarantee - life eternal - if we believe in Him - hold tightly    to our faith - trust in Him - not ourselves. As we ponder - wander though life - Jesus stands waiting - safety net in hand - offering safety - salvation - for you.

Deacon Dale 

Acid Wash

 The final step in the construction phase of building a swimming pool is the acid wash. After everything else has been completed - the excavation - plumbing - rebar - electrical - shotcrete - sculpting - curing - decking - acrylic layer - interior finish - is the acid wash. The step through which the interior is scrubbed clean - prepared for the initial filling with water - start up with chemicals - turning on the pumps and filters. This last step assures that all has been done well - met multiple inspections by the city - guaranteeing safety - meeting all requirements.

When God calls you - beckons you to come to him - He accepts you - as you are - where you are. There is no requirement for you to clean yourself - no bath necessary - no acid wash - to purify yourself. The only thing He asks of you is an open mind - a willing heart - to draw yourself into His presence - to commit yourself to Him - to become a disciple. As you make this commitment - on your own - you will rid your life of anything that is wrong - impure - unhealthy - for a proper relationship with Jesus - with God. All you have to do is to say YES - Jesus stands - arms open wide - waiting - for you.

Deacon Dale 

Justification

It seems as if everyone is constantly having to justify - their actions - decisions - thoughts - actions. We live at a time when almost everyone is guilty of judging others - being judged themselves - explaining their actions. We have become a country where the operating code is - political correctness. Nobody is allowed to make a statement about anything without another calling them to task for what they said - how they said it - why they spoke in the first place. If the spoken word fails to meet every one's expectations - not justified - not correct - declared wrong - insensitive - thoughtless - out of place. As a nation - we walk on eggs - overly careful - to not misspeak - state the obvious - fear repercussions - for thoughts - serious - silly - moments of speaking without thinking. 

God speaks to humankind in various and interesting ways - not always accepted - often at the wrong time - inconvenient - not fitting into our idea of proper timing. In the Temple - Jesus did not ask to speak to the person in charge - instead - overthrowing the money changers' tables - driving people out of the Temple with a whip of cords - not politically correct - insensitive - what was He thinking - what drove Him to action.  God calls each of us to accountability - to Him - to ourselves - to our community. We are bound by His commands - to act - to do - His bidding.    The money changers still exist - the wrong people crowd the Temple steps - we stand idly by - watching - fearful - to act. Jesus calls us - as His modern day disciples - to walk boldly - to    speak the truth - to live with conviction - to be examples to the lost - the uninformed. It is we -    you and I - called to share His Divine love with others - wherever we go - at work - school - shopping - on vacation - wherever.  Jesus speaks - He watches - observing how we live our    call - watching - waiting - for you.

Deacon Dale 

Anger

Anger - defined by Wikipedia is an emotional response - related to one's psychosociological interpretation of having been threatened. There are many - various - forms of threat - physical - psychological - real - imagined. As a person interprets input from various sources - people - animals - weather - controllable - out of control - they have the ability to select a proper response. When threatened - the decision to act - react - up to the individual. An active response to defend - a passive response to ignore - within the control of the individual. When a person states - you made me angry - they are wrong - they should state - instead - I chose to become angry - in response to your - words - actions. Although admirable - anger is not the easiest thing to control - driven by emotions - sometimes low level - others highly driven. Call me stupid - easy to ignore - easy to avoid anger - insult my spouse - my child - my God - not as easy.

Jesus was the gentle prophet - walking through deserts - strange villages - through harsh terrain - to share God's story of love - acceptance. A simple message - delivered in love - with concern for others - to benefit others - not Himself. His message of living a good - moral life - angered many. They chose to react - not in love - with hate. He - attempting to spread peace - faced - unrest - scrutiny - fear. Even today He attempts to reach the lost - people on the fringe - the outcasts - meeting with anger - often. People fearing to allow Christ into their life - fearing conversion - angered that they are asked to change their life - for the benefit of themselves. Anger does not come from God - anger comes from fear - with Jesus - nothing to fear - with God - nothing to be afraid - except of your self. Giving up anger - the decision to be unhappy - yours. Waiting to help you cast your anger aside - to give you the inner peace you seek - Jesus - waiting - for you.

Deacon Dale