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The Coming Eclipse

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As you probably know a total eclipse of the sun is coming to North America next week (April 8, 2024).  For some parts of Mexico and the United States, the sun will be completely blocked by the moon entering into its path. In other regions the sun will be partially blocked. Here in NJ, we will experience an 80-90% blockage of the sun’s light.  It’s an awesome event that is extremely rare (the next one to cross through mainland US will be in 2045). That’s what makes it so special. After all, if an eclipse took place every year, it would be no big deal. But because it happens so infrequently it draws our attention.  We might also say that, an eclipse like this is not what we would consider to be “natural” or “normal.” Yes, it is nature doing its thing, but in our general experience, it’s not what we expect from the sun and moon. After all, we expect that during the day the sun will shine (and the moon will stay out of its way) and at night the moon will shine—at least according to its pha
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The Easter Greeting!

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I love the way Christians all over the world from so many different church traditions greet each other on Easter Sunday. Rather than saying a simple, “Happy Easter,” one will say to another, “Christ is risen!” The other will then respond, “He’s risen indeed!” It’s a greeting that gets to the heart of what this holiday (holy day) is really all about. In a very natural way, it takes the emphasis off the flowers, warming weather, bunnies, and chocolate (all of which I love!). By greeting one another with, “Christ is risen!” the focus is put on what this day is really all about.  I do believe Easter Sunday is the most important day in the Christian calendar. After all, Jesus’ birth, his life and teachings, and his death on the cross all ultimately find their meaning in the resurrection. For, if Jesus had been born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, taught with the authority he did, died on a cross, was buried in a tomb, but did not rise from the dead, all of it would have been for naught.
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The Pain of Separation

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As I mentioned in this blog a few weeks ago, I’ve recently been doing a bit of family research and putting together a book of our family history. Well, this week I came across a couple of postcard pictures that were sent to my Greek grandmother, Aspacia, from relatives who had not come to the States. The first was from her mother and sister who remained in Greece. The second was from a brother whom I didn’t know existed. Apparently, he had gone to France, at least for a time (that was where the picture was taken and the postmark was from).  On the back of each of them was a greeting and a short self-written poem (rhyming in the original Greek). The one from her sister said: “Even though far from you I am; even though far from you I live; always I remember you; And always I long for you.” The one from her brother said, “Beloved sister, receive this photo of me, and wherever you go and wherever you stand, may you not forget your brother”  As I looked at the photos and read their little p
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What's Your Favorite Food?

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We all have our favorite foods and favorite meals. Mine are mostly Greek and Middle Eastern. I do really like as well pasta and seafood. I’ve got my favorite pizza place and bagel shop. And, every so often I have a craving for certain Korean or Indian dishes. I guess you could say I’m a bit eclectic when it comes to food.   I know some people like to eat basically the same thing day after day. That’s definitely not me. Even my favorite foods I don’t want to eat every day. I just can’t imagine eating souvlaki or pasta or pizza or even strawberry-rhubarb pie on a daily basis. I like a bit of variety in my diet.  Thus, when Kim and I do go out for dinner (which is not that often these days), we like to mix it up a bit, eating at a variety of restaurants. So, in thinking about it, I’m not quite sure I have a favorite food or meal.  Jesus, however, did seem to have a favorite meal. But it wasn’t food that one can eat. It was a far different kind of meal. In John 4, Jesus has been ministerin
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Really Good Bread!

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Growing up in the NYC metro area, and with a dad who was Greek, we knew what it was like to have really good bread in our home. In fact, bread was the centerpiece of just about every family meal. And not just any old bread.  For dinner it would be a loaf of Italian bread of some sort that was crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and filled with flavor. Or it might have been a hearty hearth-baked bread. Sometimes we might even have had a good Challah bread from the Jewish bakery. And for sandwiches, it was never “Wonder Bread” or some sort of soft mushy white bread. Rather, most often it was a really good Kaiser roll, challah roll, or whole grain bread. In fact, rather than just pick up bread in the supermarket, my dad would often go out of his way to a deli or bakery to make sure we had the right bread. I’m kind of the same way. If I’m going to eat bread, I want it to be really good bread.   So, when I read Jesus’ words in John 6, “I am the bread of life.”  (vs. 35), I have a cert
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Thankful for the LIght!

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Aren’t you thankful for light? I know I am. Especially this time of year as here in the U.S. Northeast the mornings are getting brighter and the days longer. It’s easier to get out of bed in the morning. More pleasant to walk the dog. And it’s so much better at the end of the day, giving opportunity to do more outdoor activities or at least not feel like it’s time to go bed right after dinner.  I can’t imagine living in one of those places where they have up to 24 hours of darkness during their winter months. (Nor would I enjoy the 24 hours of daylight they receive during their summers!). I can’t even think about not seeing the sun rise. I can’t imagine having the sun go up and down in the horizon so quickly that the middle of the day is like the middle of the night. After all, light energizes us. Light gives life. Without light there can be no life.  Today the church I pastor, Shrewsbury First Assembly, begins a Bible reading plan through the Gospel of John that will take us into East
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Shining Like Stars!

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I have an app on my phone that, when pointed at the sky can give to me the names and locations of the stars, planets, and constellations. Of course, during the day I can’t see any of them. For example, it shows me that this morning Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Venus are all together just above the eastern horizon. And, it shows the stars that are currently in the sky above me. However, because it is daytime none of them are visible to my eye. On the other hand, at nightfall the stars and planets are able to shine in such a way that they become visible to the eye.  You know how it is, assuming a clear sky, the darker the sky the brighter the stars shine—and in greater abundance. Living in suburbia close to a major city as I do just naturally limits the number of stars I can see at night. But when I go to the mountains as my family does each summer, the sky becomes star-filled to an extent I just can’t imagine back home. Even the Milky Way becomes visible. And the abundance of shooting st
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