Good Morning Friends,  Today we consider that Hurricane Idalia has formed and is headed to the West Florida coast becoming what is projected to be a major storm. But we also immerse ourselves in scripture as we continue to read about the woes of the places and people of worship and the need for them … Continue reading What Could Happen Next If We Less Fearfully Tried To Please God By Worshipping In Obedience? →

    Good Morning Friends,     In today's lectionary passage from Matthew Jesus rips into religious hypocrites that had created their own brand of legalism to perpetuate their own power. The Pharisees were not demonic, evil people but had fallen into a way of worship that was self-serving. They had fallen prey to pride in a … Continue reading Are We So Busy Trying To Look Good That We Forget To Be Good? →

    Good Morning Friends,     In one of today's Gospel readings Jesus asks the disciples who they think He is, so that He can instruct them and us on who we really are to become. The question is raised in Caesarea Philippi. It is here where Herod the Great built a pagan temple. Perhaps Jesus gestured to … Continue reading Are We Observing The Key Divine Attributes of Jesus Transforming Others And Ourselves? →

      Good Morning Friends,      Ralph Waldo Emerson observed that the entire world loves a lover and maybe he was right for the Bible is the best-selling book of all time. And it is filled with great love stories that instruct us. These stories are culturally relevant, memorable, provocative, applicable, beneficial, and hopeful for … Continue reading Do We Have The Welcoming Countenance Of A Love That Lasts? →

   Good Morning Friends,      Today's lectionary scripture from John reminds me of Jacob's ladder and the passage from Revelation of a clock face and the history of all time connected to the future of Jerusalem. Perhaps you share some of the same thoughts. They are not necessary to be a Christian. Of course, some … Continue reading Are We Skeptical Of Seeing The Beauty Of Heaven In The Places We Live And Work? →

    Good Morning Friends,     Today's lectionary selection includes two parables that give us a little insight into the Kingdom of God compared to the kingdoms of people. I have added the first verse of Psalm 23 to complement the readings. We begin with one of the first parables in the Bible, the story of … Continue reading Who Will Feed The Sheep And Will They Ever Be Satisfied? →

   Good Morning Friends,     There was a time in Israel's history when there was no king and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. People felt forsaken because the miracles that had been part of their father's history were not happening for the next generation. They were wondering why bad things were … Continue reading Are We Discouraged When We Should Be Thankful? →

   Good Morning Friends,  Maybe our stubborn nature is getting in the way of our making good choices. Maybe we are falling into doing things a certain way just because that is the way we have always done it or because we see others doing something that looks appealing. Both can be problems, especially if … Continue reading Are We Seeking The Perfection Of Sinlessness? →

   Good Morning Friends,    We really need to come up with some new language to describe the world in which we live. Social justice and civil rights and human rights and political verbiage just does not seem to solicit the right internal and external responses. Someone on the alt-left and another on the alt-right … Continue reading How Wide Can We Set The Table Of Grace? →

   Good Morning Friends,  Today's lectionary selections are daily resolutions of sorts but also the expectation of a long-term commitment. You see, the daily choices and promises we make in life are more important than we realize. So too are God's promises reflected in them. We learn from our personal history and that of our … Continue reading Will You Choose To Love Through Service To The Lord Today? →