Luke 3:1-6

Thoughts:            In addition to being a physician, Luke must have been a student of history.  Carefully he dates the time of his writing by naming the current Roman emperor, the governor of Judea, the tetrarch of Galilee, the tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, the tetrarch of Abilene, and the high priests serving in Jerusalem.  
 
Do you begin your letters establishing the current President of the United States, the governor of Michigan, the executive of Oakland Country, the superintendent of the Renaissance District?
 
Luke’s precise political and religious framework marks the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry.  John quotes the prophet Isaiah.
 
     “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough places plain ….”  (Isaiah 40:3-4)
 
When a Roman ruler toured the countryside, roads were literally made straight.  Hills were leveled.  Valleys were filled in.  Rough places were made smooth.  Then the dignitary could travel with the greatest possible comfort.
 
John wants people’s hearts made ready for the Son of God.
 
Discussion:          What example would you use to convince your audience to smooth rough places?

 
Activity:               Smooth an uneasy relationship with kind words.

Remember in prayer this week Joan Coval, Connie Gill, Vivian Hansard, Betty Leach, and the family of Kaj Ostergaard on the death of his mother this past week.
 
Sunday is the Children’s Pageant and new members are joining.  
 
Don’t forget to shop for your Angel Tree and Baldwin store gifts and don’t forget to start baking your cookies for the Cookie Walk.
 
REACH Drama is presenting “The Odyssey of Pandora’s  Box,” an original play written by students and parents of REACH Homeschool Group.  This is directed by our own Nora-Lee Luttrell.  Performances are Thursday at 7:00pm,
Friday at 1:00pm and 7:00pm and Saturday at 1:00pm.  Tickets are $4.00 each; costuming is unbelievable.  Come and see the CLC transformed into a theatre in the round.  You won’t be sorry.