Macklemore
Abe Lincoln?
Ringo Starr?
Rapper Macklemore wears a “disguise” at a recent concert in Seattle. After being called out for appearing in an anti-semitic caricature, he had this to say,
“Some people there thought I looked like Ringo, some Abe Lincoln…I wasn’t attempting to mimic any culture, nor resemble one,” Macklemore wrote. “A ‘Jewish stereotype’ never crossed my mind.”
Well, that explains it…At least he didn’t tell his girlfriend not to bring Jewish people to his concerts…
N.T.Wright talks about Jesus living out the Sermon on the Mount on Good Friday. Let’s take a look…
He shined for all to see…
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine…
And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things…
He took the sting of shame…
But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also…
Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him…
He gave the shirt off his back…
And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well…
And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots…
He went the extra mile…
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles…
So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull…
He loved His enemies until the end…
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do…”
Wow, poor guy.
Dear Kaylee,
Well, you finally got to meet you mommy’s Grandpa, your Grandpa G. He came visiting with Nana G. and you had a lot of fun smiling at him and sitting with him. He likes that you are such a joy-filled baby and how you are crawling and climbing and trying to walk around tables and just going everywhere.
My favorite new thing is you are experimenting with many different solid foods now. Tiny chunks of chicken, sweet potato, carrots, and such. What makes this so hilarious is you have turned into a chipmunk.
You keep the food piling up in your cheeks and it takes a long time to swallow. We have to watch you so you don’t swallow too much a once. It’s no problem for me though, because your Uncle Greg used to do the same thing. Well, who would have though we would have another chipmunk in our house?
Love,
Grandpa
Hurricanes, earthquakes, tragic accidents- What is God up to in all of this?
Dear Kaylee,
How exciting to have your mommy’s grandma out to visit! Since your mommy’s mommy is “Nana,” your great grandma is “Nana G.” Just like a rapper…
It is so much fun watching you interact with all these special women in your life. Your joy and their joy grows and this is so important for you, your family and, actually, for the world.
You see, Kaylee, you get to take on the same key role your mommy, Nana, and Nana G. have in their lives. “Joyful daughters.” I am reading a book (Joy Starts Here) about how joy is wired into our brains and how being a “joy starter” is what we do when we follow Jesus together. Jesus said his teaching on earth was so we could be filled with his joy and spread joy (John 15:11). Here is where you come in, Kaylee. I am quoting from the book:
“Joyful group identity grows where there is regard for the weak. One of the best tests for a joyful group identity is a high concentration of hopeful daughters. More gentle protector skills pass from one generation to the next through daughters than any other way. Joyful little girls who love the way that babies, women, mothers and wives are treated by both men and women in their culture will look forward to starting joyful families of their own. Hopeful daughters will grow a joyful generation and joyful group identity…Hopeful girls will raise hopeful families (p. 79).”
Well, Kaylee, Grandpa’s little joy starter, you sure are off and running!
Love,
Grandpa
Dear Kaylee,
Come on now. Grandpa goes out of town for one day and you go ahead and start crawling. What’s with that?
Nana gets to see you crawl and I get a picture and a video. O, well. You are really moving now. In my head, I was hearing the song, “Going Mobile,” by The Who, as you are moving about, but boy, that really dates me.
Then I just saw you on Facetime and you were crawling backward. Instead of the “Moonwalk,” you were doing the “Mooncrawl.” I would start humming “Bille Jean,” but that would date me again, so I will just say it is hilarious watching you and keep working on that core strength!
Love,
Grandpa
What would the world’s reaction be like if we had “John 3:16-17,” as our good news?
No condemnation…
Recent controversies about “race” are getting a lot of attention in the NFL. What is this all about?
If I told you there are 5 key areas of life in the world that are getting phenomenally better, would you believe me? Listen to this and make up your own mind…
