This is not an advertisement for this mobile phone app game.  I’d recommend people to stay away.  But for the past few weeks I have been playing this game and do very much enjoy it.  It kind of reminds me of the real world.  After all it is a game built upon real people coming together forming alliances, helping each other out, and attacking other rival alliances. 
​
This game is kind of like the real world.  Plenty of nice people, but also plenty of troublemakers, plenty of honorable folks, and many bullies.  There is a community, there are alliances, and sometimes we have good relationships with some alliances and others not so much.  There is a justice system in place in the case that a player is upsetting someone.

Just like the real world, to find any kind of success, we need to work together, focus on our tasks, and achieve victory together.  We all must have good communication and work together.  In this game, you cannot find success alone. 

When people do not get along, because of alliance power, or alliance affiliation or the breaking of agreed amount rules, chaos can erupt.  So… sort of like our world, right?

So, this game certainly reminded me of how vital working together is to the success of a better world.  Also, communication and understanding.  But working together and good communication takes time and sometimes convincing of others.  It is about putting in work to find a common goal. 

And that is the key… good communication and working together needs a reason a common goal so that all people can jump on board.  What is our common goal?

Well in Christianity the common goal for all Christians is to uphold the value and standard that was set by Jesus Christ.  After all we owe it to Him, He is the one that died for us, sacrificing Himself for the sins on the world.  But we owe it to Christ, not because He demands it, but because by following Christ and understanding what he did on earth is important to created peace and gentleness. 

Christ demands nothing from us because there is nothing that Christ really needs from us.  The demand is on each other and that is what Christ revealed to us.  We need each other.  That is why it was very intentional that Christ gathered all His disciples together for the Last Supper.  Calling each disciple to come together… even Judas.  It doesn’t mean we will all behave well.  We will make mistakes, we will falter and stumble, and even at times turn our backs on the world and on Jesus, just as Judas did.  But we are the world, and we must come together.  We must work towards that common goal.  That goal that Christ sets and realizing that helping one another, sacrificing your time, resources, and behavior for one another is necessary to live in a world that can be harmonious, peaceful, and mindful. 

As Christians our common goal is coming together so we can find in each other, grace, forgiveness, love, compassion, and hope.  That is our common goal.  Simply because we all can use a little more grace, compassion, love, and forgiveness.  SO may our actions reflect the attitude of Christ.  

Well, I thought I told my kids that Lent was about trying to give up something for God.  But apparently, for them it isn’t giving up candy and sweets.  But then again, it is Valentine’s Day.

 So, the question is…

So how did we celebrate Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day?  Well today we begin the celebration of Lent, and what better way to celebrate Lent by celebrating Valetine’s Day right?  Lent is a day in which most people give up something to improve their life.  But Valentine’s Day is a day that we receive more things. 

So maybe it isn’t a coincidence that the start of Lent and Valentine’s Day happen to be the same day.  Maybe it is time we rethink how we think about Lent.  Maybe, it should not be a day of giving up anything, but a day that we add something more to our life.  That something is what will benefit our life for the better. 

So, let’s not make Lent something that we feel we must give up.  It just doesn’t feel fun and exciting.  Afterall the preparation of lent is our anticipation for Easter.  And Easter is a time of celebration.  Let’s look at Lent to be a time in which we prepare for a party… that party being Easter. 

So let us think about something to do, something more.  Do something that is not just beneficial to ourselves, but also to others.  Again, think about preparing for a party and when you prepare for a party, we think about the people coming to the party and that we are to make all the preparations and arrangements for all people to enjoy. 

So Lent is like Valentine’s Day.  It’s like a party for giving and sharing and just having a good time.  Promise yourself during Lent, you will find something you can enjoy with others.  

This picture is of a pie.  A pie which I never had before in my life.  I never even heard of the name of the pie ever in my life.  I bought this pie at Martin’s grocery store.  This is a Wet Bottom Shoefly Pie.  To me… odd name of a pie… and not even sure if the name of the pie actually describes what kind of pie you are eating. 
​
This pie… this Wet Bottom Shoefly Pie is not wet; it does not have a “wet” bottom.  In fact, I would even assume that it is closer to feeling dry, than wet.  So, not too sure why they call it a “Wet Bottom.”  I even wonder if there is a “Dry Bottom” Shoefly Pie.  Oh, and just so you all know, I have not done any research for this pie whatsoever.  I am literally writing about this pie, without any knowledge about this pie... only using the powers of my observation of this pie. 

So… not wet at all.  Also, there seems to be no shoe or fly involved.  And I have no idea what a shoefly is.  Is it a type of fly?  Or maybe Shoefly is the name of a city or town?  Or maybe it is some kind of idiom/slang that I am not familiar with.  I just know, I have never heard the term “Shoefly” in my life.  My Korean parents never spoken to me about a “Shoefly.”

So, the only thing about this Wet Bottom Shoefly Pie I can understand is that it is certainly a pie.  But it’s not wet, and it does have shoes or included flies, or whatever.  I know it’s a pie because it is in the shape of a pie. 

This is so interesting to me because with most pies, you know what you are getting by the name of the pie.  For example, apple pie… no surprise, there are apples in it.  Peach pie, you can imagine what ingredient is in a peach pie.  Pumpkin pie. Yup... you guessed it, pumpkin!  Now… Wet Bottom Shoefly Pie.  I only have questions, and zero answers to what this thing is. 

What is wild to me is that I ate it.  As a matter of fact, I just finished the whole pie, the picture you see was the very last slice.  I ate it all… all 8 slices of the pie.  And I still have questions about this pie.  That is what is in a Wet Bottom Shoefly Pie.  I assumed that if I kept eating more, I’d nail down what kind of pie it is.  But the last slice, down the gullet, and now I am writing this blog… and I have no idea what I just ate.  I ate 8 slices, the whole pie on my own… today… from 9:00am till 2:05pm.  I have never eaten this much pie in my life. 

I have no idea what I ate, I do not even know what it tastes like.  Maybe figs?  I don’t know.  Now what is strange, is that you think, since I ate the entire pie, I must have enjoyed the pie.  To be honest, I don’t know if I like it or not.  It’s not bad, nor does it get the top prize of best pie.  It is a pie, I ate it, all of it, and no idea how I feel about this pie. 

Again, I have no idea what I ate, I do not understand the name of the pie, and I have no idea if I like it or not.  It is like a Trinity of questions concerning this pie. 

Which is probably perfect as we move in Transfiguration Sunday this weekend.  The narrative in which Jesus transfigures into Three entities… kind of like the Triune God.  One person in three persons.  Confusing right?  I know.  It’s confusing like this Wet Bottom Shoefly Pie.  Trinitarian God, 1 God, 3 persons, many questions… or maybe traditionally… three questions… like this Wet Bottom Shoefly Pie.  Even this pie has three words… WET BOTTOM SHOEFLY.  Three words, three questions, and no answers!   Yep, definitely sounds like how God operates. 

Oh, and if you are wondering whether I read the label of the pie… I did…many times… and yet questions still exist.  The label about a Wet Bottom Shoefly Pie… just lists all cooking ingredients… but there’s no main product about the pie.  It’s like flour, butter, sugar, wheat flour, molasses, canola oil and a bunch of other stuff that sounds scientific.  I do not understand. 

Maybe the closest thing in understanding our loving Trinitarian God is all found in the Wet Bottom Shoefly pie.  So, this pie is the closest thing to heaven we are ever going to get.  God bless you all.

You heard to straight form the groundhog’s mouth!  Well… sort of… I mean… it was some dude holding a groundhog telling us a really fun poem that announced that Phil did not see his shadow therefore Spring is coming soon! 
​
Groundhog Day is officially my favorite holiday.  So if Spring is coming early… let’s get my bass fishing gear ready!  Time to start catching big largemouth bass!  I am ready!  Wait… hold on… what?

Wait... are you telling me that whatever they predict on Groundhog Day may not actually be a true prophecy?  Are you telling me that Punxsutawney Phil is not a real predicter of weather or seasons?

Well according to the naysayers…. You know… the weather reporters… Phil might not necessarily be correct.  That is that winter could be longer than we expect it.  Man… I just got all my gear out because of Phil’s prediction!

I don’t know… Since Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early Spiring…. The weather in the past 36 hours has been looking like Spring is creeping in!  This has been the most sunlight I have seen since November!  It’s sunny…I saw the sun rise at 7:00am… I can’t remember ever seeing that in this winter season in central PA.  I feel like every day since December has been so cloudy in the morning.  Right now… it’s February… and it looks nice outside.  It’s unusually warm and sunny.  It’s… quite eerie how well Phil knew what was going on!

But wait… now I am confused…. So, the legend says that if Phil sees his shadow and he gets scared, then it is a longer winter.  But if he doesn’t see his shadow, then hello spring.  That doesn’t make sense… not the legend, but the reasoning of interpreting Phil’s action.  Don’t you think it would be the opposite?  You know. Phil sees his shadow because it must be sunny… and nice… hence the signs of Spring’s arrival.  Who cares if he gets scared and goes hiding?  I’m I right about this?  I think we had it all backwards. 

Anyways… Phil is right!  Spring is coming soon.  The evidence is clear.  It is sunny, surprisingly warmer than usual… the bass fishing gear is going to stay out! 

All jokes aside, nobody knows when Spring is really going to come to arrival.  Nobody, not even the weather reporters, can truly predict when Spring weather will start its arrival.  Weather patterns can change, and it’s impossible to see what the weather will be like at the end of February or the beginning of March or April!  It is just too early to know anything!  But I sure like preparing for spring!  It will arrive sometime… hopefully earlier rather than later. 

So, that is it… your theological answer for today.  I know… you didn’t have or ask a question… but your answer to whatever is about God and His plan in your life is all about our patience and hopefulness.  I know we wish that whatever we need in our life right now, would just happen now, just as if Phil said it’s going to be Spring, and poof next 24 hours is like the magical groundhog was right... sunny and warm.  But Phil just gives us a bit of hope of what will come… sometime.  And God, and how God operates in our life and how God answers our prayers, wants, and needs, is all about us being patient, waiting on His clear answer.  But since we don’t know when God will show us the answers to our needs, al we can do is prepare and get ready.  Never know when God answers our needs, but we might as well be ready for it when it happens.  And at the same time, be prepared to wait for a while.

So, in the meantime… Phil… we love you and I believe you!  The bass fishing gear is going to stay out but at the same time I will stay close to the snowblower.  Never know what tomorrow is going to bring.