Hope is not about magical or wishful thinking. Hope is grounded in our trust of God and of God's goodness. Hope should help drive us to make a difference in the world and to be the hands and feet of God. Hope should be about getting to the places we have not yet gotten.
#Lamentations3 #Romans8 #Hebrews11

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Mr. Rogers Neighborhood premiered nationally in February 1968. The land of make believe was in turmoil as was the real world. For 30 years Fred Rogers helped children make sense of the world around them and he taught them ways to cope with changes. Being a neighbor was about caring for your community.

In this day and age we need to remember how to be neighbors. Luke 10 brings the parable of the Good Samaritan and the question who is my neighbor? Dr. Amy Jill Levine reminds readers in her book "Short Stories of Jesus" that this would have been a shocking story for those who were gathered. Perhaps we need a jolt once again as well.

Neighbors are those who are in need of mercy and compassion. Neighbors are those who see the humanity in others and reach out to care for people no matter who they are. Let us work to be good neighbors.

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With all the storms that have torn through our country, with all the election cycle angst, with all the pressure of the everyday world, we need some unbridled joy.
We keep a friend's dog from time to time. Piper is a year old miniature golden doodle. She is a ball of energy and a source of unbridled joy. She quite literally hops like a baby goat because she gets so excited. She is always up for repeated games of fetch, belly rubs, and snuggles. Piper is just excited to be with her people. We need some of that. In Proverbs we read "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed Spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22). Paul routinely writes to churches about joy. So how about we find ways to seek joy this week, we all could use it!

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