The world that we live in is full of mysterious things that are beyond our comprehension or acceptance. 

The word "shepherd" doesn't conjure up too many images for most of us because shepherds are not a part of what we experience in our day-to-day life.

  God never seems to do things in quite the same way that we would--or at least not in the same way that I would. 

As irritated as I get over people and businesses shortchanging the twelve days of Christmas, it strikes me as being even worse at Eastertime.  After all, the Easter season is fifty days long--"a week of weeks"--but for the majority of people it's only one spring day.

As far as sin is concerned we all too often see ourselves not as the offender but as the victim.

 There is a certain tension of themes for this Sunday before Easter.

The scene before us tonight is a touching one--one that you can easily relate to if you've ever had to make funeral arrangements for a loved one.