By Judith Hugg

"Selections from Our Daily Muffin"

Wednesday, September 5
"At one time you were darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." Ephesians 5:9

I walked through the garden alone, while the dew was still on the roses. Well, who cares? Wake up and smell the latte. People are suffering and dying at a prodigious rate while you choose what color nail polish to have the delicate, coughing Vietnamese woman paint on your fake fingernails. Could you give up one manicure, one Saturday at the movies, one surf & turf and put that money where that gold, diamond-encrusted cross is, somewhere near where your heart should be? Church membership is a farce if your head's in the sand with Paris Hilton. Go give someone a break, for Christ's Sake.

Thursday, September 6
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:17

We're all going to die. Get over it. Since you churchies keep yammering to everyone about what grand Christians you are, how about when you die? Can you be doing that to the glory of God, in Jesus' name, in His service? Are you going to live His life in that flesh of yours faithfully, in gratitude to the Father because of His grace that's keeping you going? Or are you going to hell in a church picnic basket? If we're walking the talk, we will be thankful in death. If we're walking like fanatic, self-righteous jerks, others will be thankful for our deaths. Take your pick.

Friday, September 7
"'Did our hearts not burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?'" Luke 24:32

Burning hearts or heartburn-where are we at here? When you hear the words of Scripture, do you contemplate the deep meanings of God's creation as it pertains to the needy world, or do you keep staring at that honey in the sixth pew to the left who can light your candle any time? Are you so unspeakably dense as to think that because you read the Bible-in-a-Year when you were in confirmation class that you really know all about it and nothing is cool enough to move you any more? Admit it: you never actually made it all the way through Leviticus. When Christ talks, you may as well be asleep in the cry room. Start listening, bonehead.

Saturday, September 8
"I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." Psalm 32:8

I walked out the back door into the snow with the dog, and there in the melty bits where the flagstone showed through was a perfect map of Africa. I thought, "Is this a sign from the heavens? Perhaps I am meant to be a missionary to somewhere in Africa!" Then the dog wee-weed and the map became more like a Pennsylvania-shape, and I contemplated the deeper meanings of God's direction and care. And then I thought: "I forgot to take my medications today."
And then I was at peace.