Dying and diving in God's new world order

Yep. That's what I said: God' new world order. Culturally and politically, a lot of would be leaders have tried to warn us that there is some new world order being put out there to replace the traditional world order that we have all come to revere and love and accept as normal. A lot of other people have called these mere conspiracy theories meant to scare us into giving power to demagogues.

But what if there really is a new world order and it isn't the brainchild of any human being but actually the desire of God? Would you believe it? What if it called for violent overthrow of accepted social systems? What if it promised to set family members against family members? What if it went against our accepted norms? Well buckle up because that is exactly what Jesus promises in this week's reading from Matthew. It's also what Paul talks about in his letter to the Roman congregation. Even poor Hagar, the servant of Sarah and Abraham, mother of Abraham's first child, poor Hagar and her son Ishmael experience a catastrophic reversal of which God seems to approve.

Man oh man. Just when we thought it was safe to get into the water, we find there are sharks swimming in it. Come to worship on Sunday and let's consider God's new world order revealed through Jesus, Paul, and the young Ishmael.

There is a Session meeting this Thursday at 6p.m. and a prayer breakfast this Saturday at 8 a.m. God bless!

Amen

Allen