Hi everyone,

So… our plumbing woes at the house never seem to end…

It’s like this unending cycle of issues, malfunctions, and repairs. We had a new system installed over the summer, and all was well for the 3 or 4 days that we got to enjoy it before we left on our trip. And when we got back… woo boy that’s when everything just broke loose (figuratively, not literally… not quite at least).

First the heat didn’t work. We got it fixed. Then it still didn’t work throughout except for one area. We got it fixed. Now? It turns out the rest of the house works fine but that one area that previously was fine is no longer fine… How hair-pullingly frustrating.

To be honest, I try to save as much as I can and learn how to fix these things on my own. But it’s gotten to the point that I don’t want to anymore. I can’t. I just want to give up.

But once it works… it really works. Whoever built our house knew what they were doing. It’s just too bad it doesn’t last forever.

Here are the readings for next week:
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:7-15
Philippians 3:4b-14
Matthew 21:33-46
and a video of them being read:

This parable is kind of hard to read. I mean, it’s way worse than house plumbing going bad… we’re talking about abuse, torture, and even murder. This level of violence will only beget violence, as we see in the response from Jesus’ listeners.

But the parable doesn’t really confirm or deny their suspicions of how it’s supposed to end, mostly because it doesn’t actually end. But Jesus does give them hope in reminding them that the rejected stone will be the cornerstone.

In that, in pain there is healing. In brokenness there can be found wholeness. In suffering, we will be brought to peace.

Now, I get that this doesn’t exactly relate to pipes around the house, but I do think that we can have hope in all things, whenever life gets difficult or almost impossible. It doesn’t make it easy, we might not feel better right away, it might not even solve whatever it is we’re up against. But I think holding onto hope gives us strength and resolve to get through it. Cherishing the hope allows us to see from different perspectives. Believing that there is hope reminds us that we are God’s people, fallen but forgiven, hurting but healed, sinners but saved.

Thanks be to God! Have a great week, everyone!