In his book on the parables, Re-Imagine the World, author Bernard Brandon Scott says that the parables of Jesus give us a way to see the world. The parables invite us to live in a new reality – the world as God intends it to be.

In planning their weddings, couples frequently ask me to read at their weddings the "love passage" from I Corinthians 13. For good reasons, it is the most commonly read scripture in services of Christian marriage.

Tired of the stress? Stop for a moment and ask yourself what you do to recharge your batteries, renew your spirit, regain your focus, rediscover your joy and restore your energy. Of course, we know that a healthy diet and regular exercise are essential to good physical and mental health.

When I was a child, I used to spend countless hours with my grandparents. They lived a short eleven-block bicycle ride away from home. I puttered around the rose garden with my grandfather and played countless games of Chinese checkers with him; I watched my grandmother sculpt, while I molded the bits of clay she gave me.

As Christians we are called to be witnesses to our faith in Jesus Christ. We witness to our faith as we seek to love God with our heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves. The arrest last month of nine members of a violent, radical group that styled themselves as "Christian warriors" tells us just how far afield and self-deluded some folks can get in witnessing to their faith. In giving us the great commandment, Jesus was reminding us to stick to the basics!

Something happened. Early on that first Easter morning, God startled the world with the news that Jesus had risen from the dead! The stone was rolled back and the tomb was empty. From that moment on, everything changed.

The devastating earthquake in Haiti has aroused all over the world a tremendous spirit of compassion. The feeling of compassion is a part of what makes us human; compassion is certainly one of the most important Christian virtues. Compassion is the capacity to identify with the suffering of others combined with the desire to relieve that suffering. The scriptures speak of God’s compassion; we see that same compassion embodied in the life and ministry of Jesus. Jesus had compassion on the people who were lost, hungry, afraid and sick. In Greek, the expression for compassion actually means to feel something deeply within the bowels. It is where we get the slang expression to have "a gut feeling." The suffering and the needs of the people touched the very core of the being of Jesus. As we hear in Colossians, we are to have within ourselves the same compassion that is in Jesus Christ.

I suspect that each one of us has a particular passage, story or book of Scripture that holds special meaning for us. Over the years, I have found myself drawn time and again to the Gospel of Mark. It may have something to do with its brevity, rough hewn character or the breakneck speed with which Mark tells the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Mark’s favorite word seems to be immediately, a word he uses 42 times in his short book. Mark can barely get one story out before he rushes headlong into another story of Jesus.

Have you ever stopped to think about how important small groups are in our lives? A small circle of family or friends helps us keep our balance, enables us to live a productive life, guides us when we are in need, lifts our spirits when we are discouraged, leads us back to the right path when we are wrong and loves us even when we are most unlovable. I have heard friends in business say how much having a trusted peer group means when they are dealing with difficult issues and decisions. Throughout my ministry, being a part of a clergy group has helped me in countless ways when I have needed guidance, wisdom, a listening ear, prayer and encouragement.

When our children were little, I remember the anticipation they felt when they knew their grandparents were coming to visit. Each day passed with greater excitement. Is this the day? Will they come tomorrow? To our children it felt as if they were moving toward their grandparents’ visit. From the grandparents’ point of view, they were moving with equal, if not greater, anticipation toward their beloved grandchildren.

When the Bible speaks of the body of Christ, it is not speaking of a collection of disconnected individuals like some civic or professional organization composed of many members. The body of Christ is one. We are a part of one another; we share each other’s joys and sorrows; we help one another fulfill our hopes and dreams; we care for one another; and we worship, learn and serve together. We are joined together by the Spirit of God. As a part of the whole, each one of us has a role to play and a way to use our unique gifts. Our stewardship theme for 2010, Weaving a Web of Care, invites us to think about the body of Christ as a beautiful tapestry designed by God and to consider the many strands of our lives that make up the whole.

What do you say to a hungry world? We have many opportunities through the ministries of Second Church to demonstrate compassion and to seek justice for the hungry. During the month of October we will focus on some of the ways in which we may respond to our hungry neighbors here and around the world.

In August I participated in the installation service of the new pastor of the Korean Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. The church is located on 101st Street, fewer than three miles from our congregation. What a joy it was to be a part of Presbytery’s installation commission and to give the charge to the Rev. Hyung Joo Howard Kim as he assumed his call to this growing congregation. The sanctuary was packed with worshippers as we experienced a joyful bilingual service. At the dinner following the service, I had the pleasure of sitting with some of Second’s members and friends who have many ties to the Korean congregation.

Congregational worship is the center of our life at Second Church. We are blessed with a number of opportunities to gather for worship in our chapel and sanctuary with scripture, prayers, hymns, sermons, moments for discipleship and sacred music. Yet, from the very beginning of the church, Christians have also gathered in small groups for worship, prayer, study, service, fellowship and mutual support. In closing his letter to the Romans, Paul sends greetings to Prisca and Aquila and the church that meets in their home. There are some things that I believe we experience best in small, intimate groups that meet in an atmosphere of openness and trust. Many of you, who are members of Bible studies, Sunday School classes and groups that gather to support fellowship, special interests or mission concerns, have found this to be true.

I was delighted to hear recently that two new members of the church have chosen to give their time to serve as mentors on Tuesday afternoons with the elementary aged children at Westminster Neighborhood Ministries. This longstanding program is making a profound difference in the lives of young children. Some of these children do not have many other positive role models in their lives. I pray that others will join them so that we will have a mentor for each of the approximately forty children who participate in the program.

Sometimes we don’t realize how important something is until we find ourselves in a situation we can’t handle. It is easy to become overwhelmed by health concerns, the search for a job, economic problems, struggles in our relationships, difficulties at school or the needs of our children. Recently, I asked a friend what she did when she felt like the stress in her life was more than she could bear. She said, "I go to worship! In worship, I can let go of the things that are crushing me."

There is a rhythm and pattern to the creation story in Genesis. As the creation unfolds, God declares that each new aspect of creation is good. The word occurs like a refrain throughout the story. On the sixth day, God declares everything that is made very good.

Many of you know that I had the privilege of traveling to Israel for 12 days during the month of January. I went with a small group of Indianapolis folks from diverse professions. The trip was sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council and Mickey and Janie Maurer.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church meets every other year in the summer to review and establish national and global mission programs, to lead interfaith and ecumenical dialogue, to promote spiritual renewal and evangelism, to work for peace and justice, to reflect on social issues such as hunger, mental illness, immigration, to support the work of our seminaries, church-related colleges, Presbyterian Women and other special groups and to lead the church in providing disaster relief. These are only a few of the ministries carried out through the work of the General Assembly.

“So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and members of the household of God… (Ephesians 2:19).”

“Zechariah said, “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78, 79)

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm, therefore and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

“I was hungry and you fed me” Matthew 25:35

The Lord said to Abram, “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great so that you will be a blessing…and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Gen 12:2, 3)

“Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” I Cor. 4:1

“Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” I Cor. 4:1

“O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good. God’s steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1

“O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good. God’s steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1

“The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, greet you warmly in the Lord.” I Corinthians 16:19

“O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good. God’s steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

“Lord, teach us to pray…” Luke 11:1