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CAPA Corner: Words of Encouragement from the Central Area Pastor’s Association
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Once again we are blessed to see a New Year dawn. Superstitions aside, I believe that this is going to be a great year. As Christians we do not believe that numbers or colors or any other object assigned superstitious “powers” by the imaginations of people have the ability to shape or control our lives. Jeremiah the prophet (Ch.29:11) reminds us that God has planned our destiny.
So what is the fear of the 13th all about? Some attach the fear of the 13th to the fact that there were 13 people gathered at the Last Supper. Although the number of people present at the Last Supper had nothing to do with the fact that Jesus would later be crucified and ultimately resurrect. That was totally God’s redemptive plan in action.
Similarly, the ancient Turks and Vikings believed that it was unlucky for thirteen people to be gathered in one room. In Norse lore, a banquet of twelve deities was interrupted by the evil god Loki, making thirteen the number of gods present when the high-immortal god Balder was killed by an arrow made from mistletoe (his only weakness). His death marked the beginning of Ragnarok, the end of everything. (Wiki. answers) Evidently the Myan calendar was unavailable to the Vikings or they would have been privy to the fact that the world would last at least until 2o12. In any event, so much attention has been paid to the fear of the anything connected to the number 13 that it is even assigned a name; triskaidekaphobia.
This is the year of our Lord 2013. Let’s make it a year to remember by putting the Kingdom first in our priorities and plans. Let’s work to right the wrongs that injure and defame the innocent and let’s work to allow peace to come to our community. Let’s work to meet the needs of those who are in need and let’s work to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in all the world. Then when the year ends we can say that we did all that we knew to do and we will be able to say 2013 was a great year!
Blessing to you,
Pastor Bill
Central Worship Center
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