Matthew 5:21-26

​Thoughts:            (suppertime with Zebulon and Zillah and their children Zephania, 5; Zerah, 3; twins Zacharias and Zephyr, 8 months)
 
Zebulon:              I tell you, Zillah, it was a powerful sermon.  I wish you could have heard it.
Zillah (helping Zerah drink from her cup):  How very kind of you, Zebulon.
Zebulon:              You would have liked Jesus’ point about being angry without cause.
Zillah (cutting Zephaniah’s meat):  I’m sure I would have – if I knew what it was.
Zebulon:              Jesus said you’re not supposed to leave a gift at the altar if you know your brother has anything against you.
Zillah (spooning bites alternately into each twin’s mouth):  As far as I know, my brother is very happy with me.
Zebulon:              But if you knew he wasn’t, you should make things right with him first and then present your gift to the altar.
Zillah (spreading butter on Zerah’s bread):  So, Zebulon, before you leave any gifts at the altar, you should make peace with your brother  Abinadab over that field your father left him.
Zebulon (rising angrily):  What!  You mean that invaluable big piece of pasture land by the river?  That was completely unfair, Zillah!  I’ll never forget it!  How could my father do that to me?  And why couldn’t Abinadab offer to share that pasture with me?  Oh, no!  His cattle grow sleek and fat, while my cattle are thin and _______.
 
Discussion:          Why does what we perceive as injustice continue to rankle?
 
Activity:               How can we learn to make peace with the hurt?
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Remember in prayer this week Francis Corera in RO Beaumont, Betty Dietz, Bob Grusnick at Heartland, Vivian Hansard and Eunice and Bill Kraase.
 
From Sunday, February 5:
Concerns:
 
Leverenz Family - Prayers for Judy Thompson and her family as her parents are both battling stage 4 lung cancer. 
 
Cathy Miller - Prayers for my father's healing.
 
Debbie and Rob Hagelstein - Prayers for family and friends of good friend, Danny Friedman, who passed away this week.
 
Larry & Jo Hornbeck and Sharon Aho - Prayers for dear friends Lee Ann and Justin Sokos for a safe and healthy delivery from complications.  Prayers for family friend Lonnie Bradley who is in the hospital from pneumonia and is on ventilator. 
 
Joys:
 
Holly Goudie - The Noisy offering collected last week was $137.57.  The next collection will be in April.
 
John Northey - Thank you for supports and prayer in sad times of loss.  This room was filled with love for Sandy.  God bless.
 
Marie Leverenz - Praying for peace in the Leverenz house this week as a team which includes 3 church members: Jeff Stover, Mike Rumel and Mike Leverenz take on the reigning champs, Elise Leverenz's team in the Charity volleyball tournament on Wednesday at 6:30 at Athens High  School.  Come out and support the teams and the "Believe in Miracles Foundation."
 
This Sunday is Blanket Sunday. $5 buys a blanket for people all around the world.