Religion

Readings:

 Zephania  3, 14-18,  Shout for Joy, O Daughter Zion.

Isaiah 12,    The Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with joy.

Philipians 4, 4-7, Rejoice in the Lord always.

Luke,  3,  10-18,  I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.

 

  Says Harper, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome in out of the rain."

 

Zephaniah: date, author, subject, & our selection

    Date: two possibilities–ca. 650 BCE, before Babylon & contemporary with Jeremiah.  Or ca. 200 BCE.  Or both, like Baruch last week.

    Author: probably not Zephaniah himself, but someone recording what he said.  He is one of the 12 minor prophets, simply because his work is small, only 3 chapters.

    Subject: like all prophets, Zephaniah predicts doom and destruction to Jerusalem because the people are not good.  His purpose: alter behavior, especially the religious behavior, of his fellow citizens of Jerusalem.  A rather jealous and punishing god is presented.

 

   And Zoe, too, says, "Hi, Folks, only 12 days until Christmas."

 

    Our selection: last lines of the last chapter, a song of joy and rejoicing.  This is the only positive note in the 3 chapters.  Consequently, scholars think it may have been added to the original work.  This is the only time in the 3 year cycle that we have a reading from Zephaniah.  Take a good look.

   A reminder: this reading, like others this Advent is addressed to a people in slavery.  In this reading the prophet is telling them a day of freedom is coming.  This is the historical milieu.  These guys knew nothing about Christ & had no concept of needing redemption, except from their slave masters.  Only after the Christ event did people, his followers, go back to the slavery time and use it as a metaphor for redemption of humankind from captivity or darkness.

Sources:  Good News Bible, The New Interpreter's Study Bible

 

                                                                                                                                                                                    

Cole the Candle Lighter at work.
 

                                                                                                                                       

Open Wide

 

Hi, I am Brady and I am a drug addict.  Because of Soul’s Harbor, I have been sober for 2 years – and I am getting my life back together.

My story starts in Dallas, Texas.  I was born and raised here.  I went to Roosevelt High School in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas.  I graduated and headed to college where I earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science at Prairie View A&M.  I then headed off to Meharry Medical College in Nashville to receive a Doctorate in Dental Surgery. 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

 Brady sharing the story of his journey.

 

I was a Dentist in Dallas and started making really good money.  My drinking and smoking marijuana escalated because now I had disposable income.  This was a gateway into my “drug of choice” which is crack cocaine.  Crack took over my life.  As Brent said – Alcoholism and Drug Addiction is “The Great Eraser”.

It erased my dental profession, my materials things, family relationships and finally hope.  I found myself homeless and bumping from shelter to shelter.  I even had a short stint at Soul’s Harbor in 2008 – before Brent came.  At that time, there was no recovery program at Soul’s Harbor.

 

 Mike introducing and explaining our Advent Reconciliation Event for today's Mass.         

 

Then in the fall of 2013, I saw a full page advertisement in the Dallas Morning News where the caterer Eddie Deen was touting Soul’s Harbor.  I thought to myself that this must be a different Soul’s Harbor then I experienced in 2008. 

I called several times and was finally admitted.  I came into Soul’s Harbor with no clothes and little hope.  I felt right away that I belonged.  I felt safe and after a few weeks became the Thrift Store Manager in Ennis.  I graduated the 6 month program and went to Truck Driving school and got my Commercial Driver License. 

 

 

 At the Love for Kids Picnic they let any body help, like Sir  Charlie.

 

While I was driving the 18 wheeler, I got a call from a college that I interviewed with.  I applied at a job to be a testing assistant in a local college.  I landed that job and quit my truck driving job. 

I owe everything to Soul’s Harbor – from helping me get my driver license and then my CDL, getting my warrants removed, helping me purchase my vehicle and furnishing my apartment.  Recently, I was promoted to District Testing Coordinator at my job. 

 

 And leading the kids around on the ponies, Fred, Patricia and Georgie.  2500 kids were bused in.

 

The true blessing is getting reconnected with my family – especially my son who I have not seen in 13 years.  He came from California to spend the weekend with me at the Texas State Fair.  I owe it all to Soul’s Harbor for my new life.  Thank you Brent and Reggie.  I now have a lot of hope and my future plan is to return to Dentistry.

 

 And preparing food, more of our community.  Over 30 community members volunteered.  Thanks, Bill Hammond, for your coordination.