A Giving Heart Good Morning Friends, One of the youth associated with the State Farm Youth Advisory Board shared with us a fundraising strategy he developed for support of the purchase of medications for those in financial need. It was a simple request. Once you have finished with a prescription pill bottle, remove the personal … Continue reading A Giving Heart →

What Christ Offers Good Morning Friends, What I am experiencing now is a God that provides hope for those hurting and facing death. It is not my own death so much, for we all must eventually come to grips with this reality, but of my mother's which seems more emanate each day even as new … Continue reading What Christ Offers →

From the Garden to the City Good Morning Friends, Well we are back from Korea even as Pope Francis prepares to leave for this very interesting place. And after a long plane flight this is the first morning we have had internet service so I am back to writing. Thank you for your encouraging prayers … Continue reading From the Garden to the City →

Living the Question Good Morning Friends, The Jewish Rabbis of Jesus' day created a culture that produced a lot of debates, some shared insights, often bitter comments and sometimes a harsh correction. It starts with a question related either to theology and God talk or philosophy and a deep love of wisdom. Often they do … Continue reading Living the Question →

Sound Familiar Good Morning Friends, Just what is it that you wish for, wonder about and worry about? Interestingly enough, most fairytales deal with these issues and they often have a weak person achieving success against great odds and great evil. Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Beanstalk come to mind. They are coming of … Continue reading Sound Familiar →

Giving, Fasting and Praying Prompting a Rhythm of Grace. Good Morning Friends, Pope Francis was visibly moved when he met on Thursday with Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese woman who refused to recant her Christian faith even as a death sentence loomed over her head. Ibrahim was sentenced to death for apostasy in May because she married … Continue reading Giving, Fasting and Praying Prompting a Rhythm of Grace. →

The Joy of Jazz and Jesus Good Morning Friends, Last week our music minister of 32 years announced his retirement. It got me to thinking that we still have Shaker music even when there are no Shakers left. The retirement was not a complete surprise...still it was a surprise. He has been a traditional class … Continue reading The Joy of Jazz and Jesus →

All Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. Good Morning Friends, The matter to be worked out today in this devotional is about our own salvation but also the work needed for the salvation of others so that our Lord's boundaries of the Master's Kingdom might grow. Now in one sense we are saved without … Continue reading All Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. →

The Light of Love Good Morning Friends, One of the great truths of the Bible is that God is our hope in times of trouble...in times of discouragement and great sadness and distress. Friends, during these times God is not angry with us but does require our patience. Sometimes it takes a long time to … Continue reading The Light of Love →

A Promise and a Prayer Initiated by God Good Morning Friends, Walking with God in faith is like embracing a wonderful dream. It begins with a first step. The goal is a vision of a possibility and sometimes we are encouraged by A Promise and a Prayer Initiated by God. Scripture: We love because he … Continue reading A Promise and a Prayer Initiated by God →