“Direct or Indirect?”

Caught in the Middle

Which door would you use?

Luke 7:36-50 says Simon the Pharisee was appalled when a sinful woman crashed his party. She dared to anoint Jesus’ feet with her tears and caress his feet with ointment.

While Jesus and the others dined, he was sandwiched with the need for truth.

At his head, veins pulsed in Simon’s crimson neck.

At his feet, tears rained from a woman with a midnight past.

His host and his follower each needed the truth. But, Jesus couldn’t use the same approach for both. He needed two doors.

“The Fire Chief and the Angry Resident”

Where Are You in This Story?

The fire chief was the only paid employee of the Anytown Fire Department. All the other fire fighters were well-trained and committed volunteers.

One evening a resident built a fire in his backyard pit. He overestimated the wood needed. As flames devoured his tower of logs, the heat called to mind the fiery furnace in Daniel chapter 3 (#Shadrach#Meshach#Abednego).

Sweat dripped off his nose. The resident feared flames from the roaring pit would escape. What if they ignited his parched brush pile nearby—or his roof? He didn’t have a garden hose, and it would take too long to go inside and hunt for a bucket.

He thought, “My taxes pay the fire chief. I’ll call downtown, then wait to be served.”