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- 31 Days to Calvary - Easter? Are We There Yet? Yes, and no. The days of Lent have just begun. We have traveled with Jesus, soaking up His ministry, reveling in the mighty works we have witnessed and, yet, we are not sure who He is, this Carpenter we have known and followed for two years. Some marker events are behind us. We heard about that turning water into wine, was it true? That was before we met him. We were amazed when he healed lepers, and what a performance on the hillside there near Bethesda. I can still taste the fish and the bread. What have we learned in these travels? I wonder about that. I’m not sure we fully understand where were going and what Jesus is going to accomplish. Most of us are convinced that Jesus is going to overthrow the domination of Rome and free us. I don’t know how that’s going to happen. So, we walk on. 39 Days to Jerusalem. Continue reading
- Determined Faith - Determined Faith: When we read Hebrews chapter 11 we find ourselves in a history lesson, but more than that. As we read through the chapter we encounter nearly 20 references to “It was by faith…”, and we understand that faith in God, trust in God, is key to understanding God’s lesson. Question: Do you trust God with your tomorrow? Question: Does our belief or faith inform our understanding of the truth? Or, does our understanding of the truth, inform our belief or faith? Question: Does Satan talk to you? Do you even believe in the existence of a devil? God, give me grace. Continue reading
- 38 Days to Calvary - The Least of These: Yesterday, I received a flag in the mail, just a little 3x5 piece of cloth, blue and yellow, the flag of Ukraine. A ‘thank you’ gift for a small gesture. I didn’t need a thank you gift, but there it is, now in my window. Perhaps it was a little reminder of something important? Yes! A nudge from the Lord, saying ‘Keep remembering My lessons’.(Which one, Lord? “All of them!”) You do something for someone, maybe out of the urging of the Holy Spirit within, or out of your kindness or generosity, whatever you want to call it, and you hear: “You didn’t need to do that.” Need? No, not at all. Caring, love, compassion, friendship, etc., pick one. I love random, anonymous acts of kindness, and I have seen it work wonders. The least of these? Don’t you recognize them? Each one is Jesus, you know, the one you say you love. Continue reading
- Ash Wednesday - Lectio Divina: Lectio Divina? What is that? First of all, the phrase is Latin. You can probably figure this out. Divina would be divine or Holy. Lectio looks like the word lectionary, or reading of the Word. So, Lectio Divina means “divine reading”, or Holy Reading in Latin. It is actually more than a simple reading, it’s a meditative way of reading the Bible in which we let go of our own agendas and open ourselves to what God is trying to say to us. We often get down on ourselves, don’t we? Maybe even wondering if God can love us. Haunted by moments in the past that weren’t exactly times to be proud of. I love the movie, Sound of Music. There is a song, “Something Good”, in the sound track. He sees the “something good” we have done along the roads of our lives. Those “not very goods” will not be held against us. I may be reaching to get my point across, but the truth is that God love us, His Son died for us to cleanse us. Our gratitude for this amazing gift should repeatedly lead us back to His Word. Continue reading
- By Our Love - By Our Love: Years ago, when I was living in Cincinnati, I had a friend and colleague who told me, much to my surprise, that she wasn’t a believer in Christ. She actually said, “I think I’m an atheist.” There was doubt in her voice, but that is what she thought. I found that hard to believe, knowing what I knew about her and her work in the community and in the city. People who live their lives acting out love for others, looking for all the world like Christians, and yet disavow that label, Christians, what are they? What did Christ say? "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me". So, I ask you, is my friend a Christian, even though she denies that label? Continue reading
- Making Love - Making Love: Maybe I’m old-fashioned or perhaps I’m stuck in a time warp, but I associate the phrase “making love” with freshening the quality of a relationship between two people. Think of it this way, if you have an iPhone do you ever plug it in? Of course, you do, probably every day. You have to recharge the battery in order to refresh the purpose of the phone. I view “making love” with your special person precisely this way. We refresh the purpose and dedication of our relationship. Sometimes lyrics of a song tell a story better. In 1954 Kitty Callan wrote and recorded a song entitled Little Things Mean a Lot. These lyrics tell a beautiful and practical story of how love is made and refreshed in every day little things we do Continue reading
- Compassion - Compassion: As a psychologist, I know there are different meanings to terms like pity, sympathy, mercy, and empathy, these are all part and parcel of compassion. We seek to find compassion and love in our daily lives, in much of what we do. Sometimes we are disappointed. I suppose we can look upon pity and sympathy as common everyday words that express how we feel when we observe another person’s pain in body, mind or heart. When the person suffering pain, is a close friend or loved one, we call it empathy. As a psychologist, I know there are different meanings to terms like pity, sympathy, mercy, and empathy, these are all part and parcel of compassion. We seek to find compassion and love in our daily lives, in much of what we do. Sometimes we are disappointed. When the person suffering pain, is a close friend or loved one, we call it empathy. When we respond to another, for whatever reason: Happy events, sad events, loss, promotions, tragedy, etc., we are actively loving that person. We are truly following the commandment that Jesus gave us to love others as he has loved us, as personified by Christ on the Cross of Calvary. Amen. Continue reading
- God, Where are You? - God, Where are You? Ever wonder why God doesn’t seem to act on your behalf when you pray? Is it possible we have been misled into thinking that, through prayer, God can smooth our paths when adversity sours our lives? I think we have all had those times when we wonder where God is in our darkness. Do think it’s easy for us to think that problems should go away just because we are Christians and just because we pray to God? Is that our mindset? Now that I’m a Christian, my faith will solve every problem, relieve every doubt. I sincerely doubt that is your mindset, besides, that thinking can only lead to more doubt. Continue reading
- Reality of the Miraculous - Reality of the Miraculous: Imagine that you’re a time traveler and while you have all the modern-day knowledge and you are well-versed in Biblical scripture, you find yourself in a crowd on a hillside north of Bethesda in Galilee listening to a teacher/preacher. You had just settled yourself on to the grassy hill when you realized who that the man down there speaking was. Jesus the Christ, Emmanuel, God Almighty. What would we do in the face of a miracle, unfolding before us? How would we react? Continue reading
- Yesterday’s History, Tomorrow’s a Mystery - Today's a Gift: God has gifted us with memory to keep His Joy fresh within us, but not for us to dwell in the past. He reminds us that He is doing a new thing. My dear friend remarked, “So many of my friends and loved one are experiencing illness and loss. It is so sad.” I wasn’t much help, I said something like, “At our age and stage in life, that is going to happen. Sarah Young, Jesus calling for Christmas, tells us - “Do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! As you begin the fresh year, rejoice that I am continually working newness into your life. Don’t let recent disappointments and sadness define you or dampen your expectations. This is the time to make a fresh start! Continue reading
- The Distance… - The Distance...: I stood at the pulpit and looked out over the sanctuary at the twenty souls gathered for worship and my mind skipped back many years when we had two services to accommodate all. In my prayers I asked, Lord, what do you have in mind for us? We precious few are yours. The pandemic has wrecked havoc on our church attendance, but, you could argue, it was drifting down anyway, which is true. However, the pandemic has put the imperative to the need for streaming services of our churches, and the call of the comfort couch, pajamas and a cup of coffee is strong. So we drifted. I firmly believe that we need to rest on spiritual/practical facts that our Lord has given us: His time is not our time, have patience. Continue to live justly, and to love others has He loves us. Be merciful. And in all things, walk humbly with God Continue reading
- Work to Be Done! - Work to Be Done! I have been reading in a book by author Charles Martin, entitled “What If It’s True?: A Storyteller’s Journey with Jesus”. I say ‘I have been reading in the book’ because I have read and re-read many sections in several chapters, passages which opened my understanding of what the Holy Spirit is saying. Throughout this book, Martin has taken scripture and cast it into expanded story-form without changing the reverent-nature of God’s Word. At one place, he speaks of “having a tough day writing”, was tempted to quit the project. Then he came face to face with Jesus, and the realization that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. We cannot save ourselves by works, by words on a page, or by following a devotional routine. However, each one opens our hearts and makes us sensitive to the opportunities for good works every day of our lives. Continue reading
- Power of the Cross - Power of the Cross: We have just welcomed the baby Jesus, the child in the manger, into the world, into our lives. The music of the season all acclaim Him, as do worship services and the traditions that we all entertain in our homes, especially when children are present. We are hardly aware of the Cross that hangs over the manger. We know about the cross, we wear a very nice one around her necks and, sometimes, we even displayed to others. We sometimes hold that cross early in the morning as we read God’s word. But the reality of the Cross is too awful for us to even consider. Continue reading
- Wisdom for the New Year - Beginning the new year, here are bits of wisdom to get your new year off to a good start: "You’ll never get bored when you try something new. There’s really no limit to what you can do." -- Dr. Seuss. "The best is yet to come." -- Frank Sinatra. ... Continue reading
- Simeon - Simeon: At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. A month later, the parents returned to Jerusalem to dedicate Jesus. While in the temple they met Simeon the Elder, who told the parents, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. Maybe there is behavior that you are not proud of and your desire is to set it aside, to remove it from your life. The Lord provides for that, he opens his arms for us to believe and to repent. Continue reading
- Imago Dei? - Imago Dei?: Imago Dei? Image of God. What does that mean? You and I, this is what God looks like? Be serious! Well, the New Life Version of the Bible puts it this way, And God made man in His own likeness. In the likeness of God He made him. He made both male and female. How are we to take that? Some understand image of God to mean those qualities that make us human. You know, like free-will, ability to think and reason, having a soul. So many favorite Scripture passages are found in the Book of John, specially the opening verses that are filled with poetry and truth. And there is Jesus! Right at the beginning, taking part in the joy of our creation. Continue reading
- Changes Coming to Watchwords - Starting in January 2023, I will be sending out a regular weekly Watchword on Wednesdays, which I hope will distill a full week's worth of inspiration. Occasionally I will send additional ones on some other days. Continue reading
- Geography Lesson - Geography Lesson: There will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles will be filled with glory. How? Why? When? The life and times of Jesus our Lord and Savior, God Incarnate! Our reading of Scripture, or listening to the lessons being read during worship services, doesn't give us a sense of where Jesus’ ministry was happening, or what we might call His base of operations. Specific events in His life might carry a name, such is Cana or Bethsaida, but we’re still left with trying to figure out where was that place. Continue reading
- Christmas Is Over! - Christmas Is Over! Christmas day has come and gone. Wait! That’s not right! Let me start over -- Christmas day has come, thank God. Christ is with us now and forever, as he has always been. We are so privileged, and I’m afraid, too often, we are careless with the blessings we have been given. The greatest present we could ever receive is the Presence of our Lord. Think on this: The Creator of everything, the heavens and the earth, the stars that shine, the beauty around us, the snow that falls, the animals large and small, your loved ones, on and on and on. All gifts to You and to me, free and clear, batteries included. Complete. The only thing remaining is our acceptance of these gifts. Continue reading
- My Best Christmas - [As my gift to you, I share this wonderful true story written by Matthew Miles around 1900.] My Best Christmas: Pa never had much compassion for the lazy, or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving. It was Christmas Eve - 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas... Continue reading
