Acts 10:1-23

We have come to a major turning point in the book of Acts. It is at this point that the Gospel really starts to spread not just to the Jews, but to the Gentiles, and like any change it is not an easy one for the church to endure.

We are introduced to Cornelius, and centurian who is a God fearing man and liked by all the Jews. He has a vision from God to go and find Simon Peter. He is told nothing about Peter but that he is to send for him and because of his faith he does.

Meanwhile Peter is having a vision of his own of a sheet of all sorts of creatures descending from Heaven with the message kill and eat. The thought of this is horrifying to Peter, he holds fast to his beliefs and practices as a devout Jew, but the message keeps coming--"What I have makde clean, you must not call profane." This message points far beyond Peter's eating habits to what his reaction will be to the gentile Cornelius's arrival. The issue of including the gentiles in the church was a complicated one and most of the disciples still felt that the message of salavation was meant for the house of Israel. How quick they were to forget the people that Jesus associated himself with.

The church is faced with the issue of expanding its borders. The call of God is to embrace all people and to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This is a tough message for many of us because we have notions of where we think the Gospel needs to go and the people that we want to welcome in to the church. Quite often we don't even realize that we are doing it, but when we look at our lives we begin to realize that we have set up groups of who is in and who is out. Perhaps each of us need to revisit Peter's vision and think about the experience he had. If God were to lower a sheet in front of youwhat would be in it and what do you need to do to free yourself from only seeing those who look and act like you do.

What are the contents of your sheet?

Acts 8:26-40

This week's reading is about Philip and an Ethiopian eunich he meets on a deserted road. Philip is one of those guys who is up for just about anything. When an angel of the Lord told him to go down a deserted road at noon Philip didn't argue that this was not the best idea, he just went. While he was traveling down the road an Ethiopian eunich came toward him in a chariot. This man was an important official in the Queen's court and was traveling home from Jerusalem where he had gone to worship.

God used Philip to go evangelize this man. Philip went without hesitation and jumped at the opportunity to share his faith. There were so many reasons he could have come up with to shy away, but he was bold and listened to where God led him and as a result he helped God to change a life.

So often we are quick to jump to the reasons why we can't do something for God--why we can't spread the message of hope and renewal that is offered to us in Jesus. But it is our mission to spread the Gospel and to bring folks to Jesus. God is waiting for us to say yes! He is waiting for us to slow down, and quiet down the voices and noise in our heads so that we can hear his voice.

Each of us needs to find a way to quiet our own inner noise, otherwise we will never really be able to hear God. We get so clogged up that sometimes we just freeze, like when our computers just stop working. We all need a little phyiscal and mental silence in our lives so that we can reset ourselves and start again. Lent is a great time for this silence and recreation. Quiet the noise, listen for God, and then wait to see what deserted road he leads you down.