Good Morning Friends, I have served as an elder and a deacon in the Presbyterian church in a bicameral system of government much like the one our nation uses. And tradition has it that the power rests with the elders, like the Senate, but the growth of the church is based on the deacons. … Continue reading How Can We Best Be A Witness To The Work Of God In Us?
What Are The Essential Characteristics Of The Church God Will Use In Our Lives To Help Us Finish Well?
Good Morning Friends, The last several Sundays we have been exploring the components of the Apostles Creed in a series our pastor has entitled, "Keeping The Faith." Today in advance of hearing the sermon, I offer my take on the bit of Jesus sitting on the right hand of God the Father to judge the quick and the … Continue reading What Are The Essential Characteristics Of The Church God Will Use In Our Lives To Help Us Finish Well?
Are You Following Jesus For The Best Of Reasons?
Good Morning Friends, Gamaliel was a giant in the group of lawyers with whom he associated. He was talented and cultured and more highly educated than Peter. And yes, he taught Paul, but his part in the storyline in today’s text from Acts is that of a minor character. In retrospect he was a dying … Continue reading Are You Following Jesus For The Best Of Reasons?
Are We Willing To Put The Attention On Jesus?
Good Morning Friends, I guess persecution has its place, but in most situations, we do want to be recognized for the positive not the negative things, even to the point of competing for attention. And something about this misses the point of keeping the focus on Jesus. We can be our own worst enemy sometimes. We … Continue reading Are We Willing To Put The Attention On Jesus?
Will You Be Moved By The Spirit To Pass The Test Of Love?
Good Morning Friends, Close your eyes and think of a person you love and the things that you love about them the most. Now think about a person you dislike and the things that prompt you to dislike that person. Now remember that God’s love is so profound that He gave His Only Son so … Continue reading Will You Be Moved By The Spirit To Pass The Test Of Love?
Have You Been Born From Above In Unity With God’s Generous Spirit, The Word Made Flesh?
Good Morning Friends, In past devotionals I have included today’s passage from Acts with the story of the loaves and fishes and explored the problem of thinking we do not have enough. But I suppose I could have linked it to the passage about the rich young ruler and the possibility that Barnabas, in today’s … Continue reading Have You Been Born From Above In Unity With God’s Generous Spirit, The Word Made Flesh?
What Does Being Born Again Have To Do With Prayer And Pentecost And God’s Politics?
Good Morning Friends, Today on the journey from Easter to Pentecost we look at scripture that describes an event that happened before the crucifixion with a man named Nicodemus, a religious leader, and an event with the disciples that happened after the Holy Spirit event of Pentecost. Hopefully, they open our eyes to the greater … Continue reading What Does Being Born Again Have To Do With Prayer And Pentecost And God’s Politics?
What Can We Learn From The Connection Of Creeds, The Ascension And Hymns?
Good Morning Friends, If you look in a church calendar you might see a notation that Thursday May 20, 2025 is “Ascension Day”, but then it might not be there at all because “Ascension Day” is one of the neglected events of the Christian church year in part because it does not fall on a … Continue reading What Can We Learn From The Connection Of Creeds, The Ascension And Hymns?
Are You Ready To Catch The Spirit?
Good Morning Friends, This morning, we see that restoration can produce amazing results. We see Jesus make success out of failures. Today we see how Jesus guides the disciples to haul in a great net of fish and learn a lesson about the gift of the Advocate to come. Are You Ready To Catch The … Continue reading Are You Ready To Catch The Spirit?
Jesus Appears With Love To His Disciples, Has He Appeared To You?
Good Morning Friends, Discouragement and frustration can cause us to walk away from fellowship. But love qualifies us to be restored. Despair can happen after the judgment is carried out…when, in humiliation, we recognize our frail grasp on life. Sometimes we seek to see Jesus and he does not always seem to be around. It can … Continue reading Jesus Appears With Love To His Disciples, Has He Appeared To You?
Daily Devotionals 