Be the Church

I trust that springtime has found you all well.  We enjoyed another great Sunday School lesson this past weekend and discussed the community project that is occurring this coming Sunday. Whether you missed last week, or did not participate in the “Knock on Nine” event, and even if you haven’t attended Sunday School in a [...]

Consarnit

I’ve added a link under the “Prayerlist” in the left hand column – “Consarnit“.  It’s Andy Nelson’s blog about dealing with this father’s fight with cancer.  Andy and his brothers, Bud and Tom, have been friends of mine for years, and I ask for your thoughts and prayers as they and their father (and their [...]

Rallying Support

Good class discussion today.  Just when you wonder how the Old Testament is relevant today, we’re reminded that just as Nehemiah’s purpose was to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem, so it is our mission to build God’s Kingdom – the New Jerusalem: 5 Then I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, [...]

The Example Christ Left

“Let love be genuine.” It’s not just about servant-hood, but about the spirit in which we practice community: 1 We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. 3 For [...]

Tough Times for Siblings in Faith

Article by N. T. “Tom” Wright, Bishop of Durham, on the emerging schism in the Episcopal Church in the United States.  Every Christian has to feel empathy for our fellow believers during a time of fundamental disagreement and its resulting turmoil.  We should not only pray for our friends, but for our selves and our [...]

Christ, Our Paschal Lamb

Nostalgia.  You may think of it as a simple yearning for the “good old days”.  But the term was coined to denote a disease.  We can cling to this life – to memories of this life – to such a degree that we fail to move forward to a closer relationship with God – something [...]

Preparing for the Passover

Jesus faithfully remembers the passover with his disciples.  It is no mistake that this time was chosen for the ultimate emptying of Christ.  The feast of the unleavened bread (celebrating deliverance from Eygpt) and the passover (celebrating the “passing over” of the angel of death) were combined feasts that spoke of and recalled redemption.  An [...]

Magnolias and Western Heresy . . .

    The crisis of this moment has several parts, and like Episcopalians, particularly the ones in Mississippi, they’re all related . . .           — Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori              Opening Address at General Convention 2009 I really need to let some one with better wit and means of expressing it (Danny Mac [...]

Led to Freedom by God

Today’s lesson scripture focuses on the leadership of God.  Pondering the words as I bush-hogged two of the horse paddocks after work, I was struck by three main themes – more about those below.  Let’s take a look at today’s scripture first: 17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way [...]

Continue to be Good, Generous and Caring

I gave some thought to what could be shared in this blog format we have to keep it ongoing. I have had the following statement pinned next to my desk at work for a long time and thought I would share it.  Maybe you have some favorite statements, poems, etc. that you may want to [...]