Good Morning Friends,    Sometimes we sense the presence of God and sometimes we do not. Today we explore the possibility that we would sense God more if we risked more in seeking a just mercy. So, inspired by today's scripture we ask, Do We Play It Safe?    Scripture: When all the land of Egypt … Continue reading Do We Play It Safe? →

 Good Morning Friends,    A farm can only go on so long without a harvest. There is a law of sowing and reaping, and a time for both if you are serious about growing things. There is joy in the harvesting and a purpose in the feasting that misses many places of worship and lifestyles. … Continue reading Are We Wrestling With The Sowing and the Reaping God Desires Us To Do? →

 Good Morning Friends,  Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling fresco portrays God reaching to touch Adam with his finger as an act of creation itself and indeed the giving of life. Then there is the image of Thomas touching Jesus's wounds in the painting, The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, by Caravaggio. Countless modern paintings depict angels touching people. The … Continue reading How Would The Opening Up of Heaven Touch You? →

 Good Morning Friends,  Paul gives three reasons for boasting only in the cross of Jesus Christ. He claims the cross has the power to free believers from the world's bondage. It has the power to do what the flesh cannot do. And it has the power to bring salvation from the evil of the world. … Continue reading Why Should We Boast About This Instrument Of Torture Used To Kill Jesus? →

Are You Willing To Love A Sinner Into 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 … Continue reading Are You Willing To Love A Sinner Into A Relationship of Promise? →

   Good Morning Friends,  Well I am back from a road trip… car camping vacation to help family up north and to hike the gorges east of the Mississippi and the battle fields of the Revolutionary War. And here it is the 4th of July Independence Day Holiday and I am writing a devotional based … Continue reading Why Do We Ask For Less Than God Is Willing To Provide? →

Are You Boasting About Your Possessions And Being Possessed By False Treasure?    Good Morning Friends,    In today's Gospel reading Jesus is directing us to stop treasuring our earthly treasures that do not last. But continue to treasure our treasures in heaven. If we are not going to be controlled by our chattels, we … Continue reading Are You Boasting About Your Possessions And Being Possessed By False Treasure? →

 Good Morning Friends,    Today's lectionary has the Lord's prayer and a passage that is from 2 Corinthians about the seduction of the church akin to the seduction of Eve. It flirts with the reality of selfish and possessive love in leaders that can lead to strife and a devouring passion that destroys happiness and … Continue reading How Authentic Is Our Love and Leadership in Prayer? →

Do You Know How Being Generous Makes Us Happy?    Good Morning Friends,    Parting with money can be a very troubling experience for those addicted to it. But in the end, you cannot take it with you and neither can I. Getting joy out of making money and even saving it is more readily … Continue reading Do You Know How Being Generous Makes Us Happy? →

How Do We Become Generous To Even Our Enemies?    Good Morning Friends,    Life is frequently unfair. Bad things happen to good people. Brutality and injustice are all around us. And we wonder why. Initially we submit to the reality that God's purpose is beyond us and God's ways are above our ways. But … Continue reading How Do We Become Generous To Even Our Enemies? →