Betrayal

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By Jean Boonstra

For some reason parents just don't want to name their children after the man who betrayed Jesus.

Judas was a common name back in Jesus’ day. It is the Greek form of Judah and the literal meaning is “Praise Yahweh.” The New Testament names seven different Judas’. Once a good name to give a son, the events leading up to the crucifixion changed the name forever.

Love Your Enemies

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By Alex Rodriguez

Well did they know Jeremiah’s predictions that God would one day hand them over to the Babylonians. King Josiah was likely fresh on their minds. Though he cleaned up Jerusalem’s act for a time, God had only agreed to spare Jerusalem during Josiah’s lifetime. Their thoughts must have also stretched back to King Hezekiah. Instead of giving God glory for extending his life 15 years, he showed the Chaldeans all the temporal treasures of his kingdom. As a result, Isaiah delivered God’s sobering message that the Chaldeans would come and take all–including his children.

The Right to be Offended

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By Shawn Boonstra

Not everybody answers to that description, but enough of our fellow citizens are behaving so poorly that we should probably take inventory and assess our changing culture.  

What poor behavior, you ask? The persistent attempt to silence those with whom we disagree. We’ve gone from safe spaces on college campuses, replete with fuzzy blankets and puppy videos, to incessant trigger warnings . . . and now coercive attempts to deny people the right to speak or associate with whomever they please. 

Snowy Almost Spring

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By Jean Boonstra

We woke up to a frosty blanket of snow. My first thoughts were not of Spring tulips, but a blanket, a warm cup of tea and a good book. A quiet day of reading in a blanket cocoon and homemade soup for supper feels just about right. Unfortunately, if I want homemade soup for dinner, I'll have to unspin the cocoon to make it, so I've decided on a recipe that will make the effort worth the break in hibernation.

Ephphatha

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By Alex Rodriguez

Take Mark 7:5 for example. The Pharisees and the Scribes questioned Jesus as to why his disciples did not follow the custom of washing before eating bread. In response, Jesus referred to them as “hypocrites,” quoting Isaiah’s statement that they honor the Lord with their lips but their hearts are far from Him. In another instance recorded in Mark 8, Jesus rebuked Peter. "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." These don’t quite fit in the more gentle side of God paradigm, and yet, if we think about it, they are full of love.

A Return to the Stars

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By Shawn Boonstra

Since the 1970s, the US Navy has become more and more reliant on cutting-edge technology to guide its ships.  Satellites and GPS have made navigation incredibly easy; today, finding your place on the ocean is not much more complicated than using the Garmin in your car.  But high technology has an inherent flaw: it can go down for any number of reasons, not the least of which is sabotage by the enemy.  Satellites can be destroyed, signals can be jammed, and electronics can be compromised. 

No Shortcuts

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By Jean Boonstra

One January morning, soon after we had relocated to Bonita, California, I took my usual morning walk. Walking that morning was exhilarating—the air was cool and gently breezy, and the sun bright and warm. I crested the hill in our neighborhood and in the ambitiousness that can come with the downward side of a hill, I spontaneously crossed the street instead of turning left towards home.

Sweet as Honey–Bees and the Church

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By Alex Rodriguez

During the class, a question was asked about the frequency of bee stings. The instructor said that if we listen to our bees we shouldn’t get stung. Phew! But then she said, “I usually get stung about 5 times per year.” What! Getting stung once in a lifetime is more than enough for me, lol.

All kidding aside, I did learn some fascinating stuff today. I learned that bees have a very intentional and efficient way of life. I also realized there is much Christians can learn from bees. Here are a few lessons: