Thoughts for the Day:
Today's passage is one of the most difficult ones to understand in the Gospel of Luke.
The Sadducees did not believe in life after death...which is why they were "sad, you see"? (Dohp!) They come up with a very detailed and very bizarre scenario about the resurrection of the body in an attempt to stump Jesus.
Jesus' answer gives us a tiny glimpse of the kingdom of heaven. We don't know much, but we're led to believe that life with God will be an all-consuming joy. There will be no more death...and we will all be God's children.
Jesus concludes by giving us a warning about people who abuse religous authority for show. In some sense, a friend of yours might see YOU as a person of religious authority if they know you are a Christian. What an awesome and terrifying responsibility! Ask God to give you a spirit of humility as you grow in your own faith and as you set an example for others...
Fasting Update:
Several of you have mentioned that you felt the way you chose to fast was too easy. Like maybe you didn't do enough this year. Or maybe you felt that any sacrifice you made pailed in comparison with what Christ went through.
But I would say, anything you do, no matter how small, if done out of a spirit of true worship, is pleasing to God. Brother Lawrence was a simple cook in a monastary back in the late 1600's. He concluded that all of life should become a prayer...even the little, mundane things that we have to do each day. In Practicing the Presence of God, he declared, "I flip my little omelette in the pan for the love of God."
Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!
Only five more days!
- Kelly

Flashback Picture for the Day