Are You On The Lord's Side?  Good Morning Friends,  With all the recent devotionals on parables I probably should have used more illustrations. So here is one from our Civil War. "We trust the Lord is on our side, Mr. Lincoln," said the speaker of a delegation of Christian people to that good man, during … Continue reading Are You On The Lord’s Side? →

Are You A Catalyst For The Revelation Of The Kingdom Of God?  Good Morning Friends,  Today we have the story of how big things come in small packages…we explore the way of kingdom growth and the wonder of how things that are not normally seen can change the world. However perhaps you have seen God … Continue reading Are You A Catalyst For The Revelation Of The Kingdom Of God? →

With All The Distractions And Addictions Of Life, What If Less Actually Gave Us More? Good Morning Friends, Today's lectionary text is about choosing a place at the table and an approach to how we interface in the world. It is about being freed from the slavery of thoughts and things. And this brings us … Continue reading With All The Distractions And Addictions Of Life, What If Less Actually Gave Us More? →

Do You Understand The Law Of Sowing And Reaping Love?  Good Morning Friends,  Today we look at the relationship of the Ten Commandments and the Parables of Jesus and the first thing that comes to my mind is that they are the words of the God who has redeemed us. We tend to overlook the … Continue reading Do You Understand The Law Of Sowing And Reaping Love? →

How Is The Word To Be Heard and Shared and Acted Upon?  Good Morning Friends,  Well I am back from vacation and it was wonderful being with family enjoying a Wisconsin Lake House and camping and hiking on the serene coast of Maine near the halfway point between the Equator and the North Pole. The … Continue reading How Is The Word To Be Heard and Shared and Acted Upon? →

What Kind Of Reward Are You Seeking?  Good Morning Friends,  The ability to calm the soul and wait for God is one of the most difficult things in a Christian life. It seems that it is so much easier to worry than it is to worship, to be restless and even reckless than to rest in … Continue reading What Kind Of Reward Are You Seeking? →

When Is A Good Time Not To Fast?  Good Morning Friends,  Today's scripture is about changing traditions. We see it in the story of Jacob claiming Esau's blessing and birthright and in Jesus and the disciples not keeping traditional fasts while others felt so obliged. There is a fairness issue the arises out of both … Continue reading When Is A Good Time Not To Fast? →

Are You Willing To Follow In Love With A Relationship Of Promise?  Good Morning Friends,  The setting for the passage from Matthew is the call of Matthew and a dinner with sinners. The passage from Genesis today has the passing of one generation to another as the setting but it is really about the story … Continue reading Are You Willing To Follow In Love With A Relationship Of Promise? →

So, Is This Why We Ask For Less Than God Is Willing To Provide?  Good Morning Friends,  Today we continue to look at lectionary scripture from Matthew and frankly I am amazed at the close textual connection between this Gospel and the book of Genesis which we have also been reading. There is an order in the history and the … Continue reading So, Is This Why We Ask For Less Than God Is Willing To Provide? →

Who Wants to be Free?  Good Morning Friends,  This morning in the text from Genesis we have the story of the expulsion of Hagar, the Egyptian slave woman who had given birth to Abraham's first son Ishmael. The story has drama because Sarah became pregnant and she gave birth to a son, and Abraham named … Continue reading Who Wants to be Free? →