Happy Mother's Day!

I will start off this blog by wishing ALL of the mothers out there a very happy Mother's Day. I hope and pray that today brings you much happiness and joy.

Work lately has been extraordinarily crazy. Two weeks ago my boss was on vacation and in the middle of the week, the part-time manager that was on our night shift got upset and quit. I was the only other one who knew the whole evening shift process so I had to fill in. It wouldn't have been so bad had my boss not been on vacation because we could have split the duties. Nate (the other manager who I work with a lot) and I ended up putting in some seventeen and eighteen hour days before it was all said and done. This coming week will be busy because (a) we haven't hired a replacement on nights, and (b) Nate is on vacation. So it's all up to me and my boss to do the responsibility of four managers. We'll manage just fine. My boss is the one catching the brunt of it actually because when he got back he decided to work nights until the replacement is hired so that he has the process down pat to train someone. Then you throw in the fact that next week, I will be going to Phoenix, Arizona for some training and again, that is going to leave only two managers. I tell ya, life at FedEx is FUN :-)

In church, we have been doing an extensive study of the book of Luke. Today in class we were discussing Jesus' Sermon on the Plain. The question naturally arose as to whether or not it is actually the same sermon as Matthew's account of the Sermon on the Mount. In reading both of these accounts, I am prone to believe that they are indeed one in the same. Yes, there are some subtle differences in each account, but the basic message is the same. I believe that Matthew and Luke were each writing to a certain segment of the population. Matthew's use of "blessed" would naturally appeal to the whole "glass is half full" personalities while Luke's "woe is he.." approach would 'appeal' to the glass half empty crowd. We all know people who are always looking on the bright side of things, just as we all know those who are more pessimistic about life and it's occurances.

When you compare the two lessons, the message is basically the same, just worded differently. You have to take into account that the Gospels were written by men. Yes, it is the inspired word of God written through these men, but they are still men. They each had their own personalities and probably interpreted Christ's sermon the way they did for good reason.

The teacher in class brought up the fact that one says "mount" and then Luke's account says that Christ came to an level plain. Mountains have level areas, and who is to say that Christ didn't come down the mountain, find the multitude at a level spot and deliver his sermon there? Technically on a plain yet still on the mountain. Who knows? It's really not all that important. What is important is that we get the message that is intended. Both are great writings and can lead to a lot of pondering the message and its application.

There's really not a lot going on. I hope to have some summer vacation plans ironed out within the next month. My dad and I still want to go to Colorado this summer. I am almost certain that we'll be able to manage it in June or July.

I hope that you are all doing well and I welcome feedback from you on this, or any other post.

~God Bless~