Sunday, March 6 - The Fourth Sunday in Lent

These days, many of us get so involved with the conversations we have with our family and friends, that we eagerly assume that we can finish each other’s phrases or sentences. Truly LISTENING does not happen.

Putting a positive spin on this unthinking practice, here are some unique examples of filling in the blanks using as a basis, just the first lines from songs in the Hymnal:

All glory, laud and                    honor
All things bright and                 beautiful
Away in the manger                 no crib for his bed 
Come thou font of every           blessing 
Come thou long expected         Jesus 
Eternal Father                          strong to save
Faith of our Fathers                  living still
How lovely is thy                      dwelling place
We gather together to ask         the Lord's Blessing 
I know that my redeemer          liveth

Using only “the expected words” on the right, we might come up with the following:

JESUS, strong to save
JESUS, dwelling place
JESUS, living still
JESUS, no crib for His bed 
JESUS, the Lord’s Blessing 
JESUS, blessing, honor, beautiful 
JESUS, liveth

Of course there are seven lines and of course the common thread was, is now and always will be JESUS.

Joe Beckett