Good Morning Friends, Today we continue to read about the woes of the places and people of worship and the need for them to be cleaned from the inside and the thing is that it is not just in scripture, but in the world in which we live. It would seem the Holy Spirit is … Continue reading What Could Happen Next?
In Our Effort To Look Good Do We Forget What A Model Church Looks Like?
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. And it is easy for us to do the same … Continue reading In Our Effort To Look Good Do We Forget What A Model Church Looks Like?
Is Your Language And Behavior Outfitted For Success In The Spirit Of Christ When You Pray?
Good Morning Friends, One of the songs we have stopped singing in Church is Onward Christian Soldier. It is no longer politically correct. And yet today as we look at two related images of how Christians are to behave both on and off the battlefield against sin, it seems rather appropriate. For here we discover that … Continue reading Is Your Language And Behavior Outfitted For Success In The Spirit Of Christ When You Pray?
Will Our Dry Bones Come Alive In The Pews And Pulpits And Polity Of The World?
Good Morning Friends, People of faith want to hear about the real issues from their minister. To the eyes of many, Christians believe in fairytales, and the sermons they listen to on Sunday sometimes play the part. Of course, we know it is no fantasy, whether or not the ministers challenge people in the pews … Continue reading Will Our Dry Bones Come Alive In The Pews And Pulpits And Polity Of The World?
What Can We Say To Those Who Challenge Christ If We Do Not Follow The True Spirit Of God?
Good Morning Friends, Today we have the parable of the wedding and its implied vows and the promise of a new heart that God will give to those he has chosen. The stories are not easy reads. In fact, they should trouble us and therein is the lesson. Both stories are full of people whose … Continue reading What Can We Say To Those Who Challenge Christ If We Do Not Follow The True Spirit Of God?
Are We Really Peacemakers?
Good Morning Friends, Well, we just got back yesterday from our vacation in Japan a little later than expected and it had some surprises. The centerpiece of the trip was performing in a concert with 707 other handbell ringers from 16 different countries around the world at the 21st International Handbell Symposium in Hamamatsu, Japan … Continue reading Are We Really Peacemakers?
Have You Experienced Spiritual Joy?
Good Morning Friends, About eight years ago the area where I live was designated the happiest place to live in the United States. Now I do not know exactly how people came up with this ranking, however it may raise our expectations in the wrong way, and I am not sure the designation would hold … Continue reading Have You Experienced Spiritual Joy?
What Is The Point Of Believing In Angels If We Do Not Experience A Resurrected Jesus Rebirthing Us?
Good Morning Friends, Well, my posts will be more sporadic over the next month as a small group of us practice in preparation to participate in an International Handbell Symposium in Hamamatsu, Japan. And while traveling I will not be posting at all. But honestly, the joy of a vacation is typically more in the … Continue reading What Is The Point Of Believing In Angels If We Do Not Experience A Resurrected Jesus Rebirthing Us?
Are We Peacemakers?
Good Morning Friends, Some people and certainly the devil is a killjoy and despises us when we experience true freedom…true peace. God can be our peace in the middle of disaster, flood, loss of loved ones and even in our everyday challenges when malice wells up inside us. The amazing thing is that we can … Continue reading Are We Peacemakers?
Will We Pray That Mercy Has Already Triumphed Over Judgement For Our Salvation?
Good Morning Friends, The Gospel reading today relates to Pharisee’s challenge of Jesus infringing on their control about the details of the Sabbath laws. It is about the problem of following laws that are no longer helpful because they have been expanded beyond the original intent. The controversy arose from the actions of Jesus’ disciples … Continue reading Will We Pray That Mercy Has Already Triumphed Over Judgement For Our Salvation?
