Hi all,

This Sunday we will be meeting with Salt and Light and Mosaic again in Epworth 218 at 9:30 to continue with Dr. Thomas' series on the Seven Deadly Sins. Any of you who want to meet with me beforehand at our room in Epworth 219, I'll be over there before class breaking down our classroom setup and setting up for the class that uses 219 after us. And filling out the paperwork on how many of us are over at 218 as part of attending Single Parents.

Dr. Thomas has been leading a very good discussion on the Seven Deadly Sins, and providing some very useful insights. This week's topic is GREED.

The following quote I borrowed from Salt and Light's web page points out a connection I would never have made to the Temple establishment who believed in Jesus, but would not confess him because they loved the approval of men more than the approval of God:

"We are tempted to commit sins of greed on the mountain of success in our state in life, in the glory that comes from our successes. Note that greed is not restricted to money, but also includes a desire for honors and places of distinction. The more a greedy person possesses, the more does he strive to ascend. And so it happens that when a greedy, ambitious person falls, his fall is disastrous." -- Anthony of Padua

So greed may certainly be a desire for more material wealth, but also includes a desire for greater status and recognition. Before this series, I would not have thought it difficult to draw the line between greed and the sloth we discussed last week. They sounded almost like opposites. But one angle on sloth we discussed was the common habit of working very energetically at the easier job of visible material success and status among our society, while avoiding the harder work of loving those who are hard, or perhaps inconvenient, to love. What we do in secret, trusting God for our daily bread . . . What do we want more of? What do we want so much that we spend most of our waking hours thinking about it, working for more of it? Do we hear the Word, and then go do something else with our time and effort? What does the bible say about those who are hearers of the word only, and not doers?

What do the Seven Deadly Sins all have in common? Perhaps the sinfulness in all of these Seven Deadly Sins comes in a lack of faith and in putting other things before our relationship to God, and before our commitment to be a conduit of His love. What do YOU think the Seven Deadly Sins all have in common?

For those of you who have not already been coming to Dr. Thomas' series, please come and add your opinions. The more perspectives, the richer our understanding. And if you get actively engaged in the group's analysis, you'll most likely take away with you worthwhile insights that will clarify and facilitate the decisions you have to make in your everyday lives.

So drop by and see me at the Single Parents room, Epworth 219, and then join us in Epworth 218 for a lively discussion.

Ed Rice