July 24, 2012 Caught in a Trap Esther 6 - 10
Scripture. So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? Esther 6:6
Observations. So it goes for those who seek to aggrandize themselves. They get caught in the traps they would set for others and burn in jealousy when another is elevated.
Application. Ve Humble. Seek the lowest place at the table. Do good work not for worldly reward.
Prayer. God, you know me and my weakness for wanting to appear successful at all times. Be my peace, Jesus. Amen.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
an emerging, vital mainline approach
"As a result, a sort of neo-liberal Christianity has quietly taken root across the old Protestant denominations--a form of faith that cares for one's neighbor, the common good, and fosters equality, but is, at the same time, a transformative personal faith that is warm, experiential, generous, and thoughtful. This new expression of Christianity maintains the historic liberal passion for serving others but embraces Jesus' injunction that a vibrant love for God is the basis for a meaningful life. These Christians link spirituality with social justice as a path of peace and biblical faith."
Diana Butler Bass challenges the 20th century idea that conservative churches are growing and liberal churches are dying. Now that conservative churches (and the RC) are losing members in droves, too, she asks what mainline (or liberal) churches have learned with a few more decade of decline. One observation is that contrary to expectation based on the dominant narrative, liberal churches have a higher degree of "spiritual vitality" on surveys. If I could pull the loaded word out of Bass's observation, I believe she describes a faith experience that sounds like something many young people could embrace.
"a form of faith that cares for one's neighbor, the common good, and fosters equality, but is, at the same time, a transformative personal faith that is warm, experiential, generous, and thoughtful. That... maintains the ... passion for serving others but embraces Jesus' injunction that a vibrant love for God is the basis for a meaningful life. (That) link(s) spirituality with social justice as a path of peace and biblical faith."
Can Christianity Be Saved? A Response to Ross Douthat
Posted: 07/15/2012
Diana Butler Bass challenges the 20th century idea that conservative churches are growing and liberal churches are dying. Now that conservative churches (and the RC) are losing members in droves, too, she asks what mainline (or liberal) churches have learned with a few more decade of decline. One observation is that contrary to expectation based on the dominant narrative, liberal churches have a higher degree of "spiritual vitality" on surveys. If I could pull the loaded word out of Bass's observation, I believe she describes a faith experience that sounds like something many young people could embrace.
"a form of faith that cares for one's neighbor, the common good, and fosters equality, but is, at the same time, a transformative personal faith that is warm, experiential, generous, and thoughtful. That... maintains the ... passion for serving others but embraces Jesus' injunction that a vibrant love for God is the basis for a meaningful life. (That) link(s) spirituality with social justice as a path of peace and biblical faith."
Can Christianity Be Saved? A Response to Ross Douthat
Posted: 07/15/2012
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
his yoke is easy
Jesus said, My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
There are moments, aren't there, when a burden is just lifted. The weight of it just goes away as we are swept up in something else.
Spiritually, this happens sometimes.
It happens when we praise God sometimes.
Moving has been stressful for my family (of course. Moving is supposed to be one of the most stressful experiences in life.) Saturday evening I left Leah alone with the praise band while I did some work in the office, and when I came back about 45 minutes later, it was obvious that the weight of moving had lifted off her shoulders. It happens sometimes when we are praising God - singing a doxology, praying a psalm, reflecting on the attributes of God.
Omni present, omnipotent...all knowing, all powerful. It's what David was doing..."The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want."
It's what Walter Chalmers Smith was doing in his meditation on I Timothy 1:11
Immortal, Invisible, God only wise. In light inaccesible, hid from our eyes.
Most blessed most glorious, the ancient of days. Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise. http://www.worshipmap.com/lyrics/immortal.html
God wants to know about all our sorrows, but sometimes we need to do what the old preacher said and "stop telling God how big our problems are and start telling our problems how big our God is!"
Sometimes the weight of our burdens just lifts for a time, but most of the time, in my experience, we only find the peace of getting rid of the yoke the world puts on our shoulders by putting the yoke of Christ there. We do that over time by doing the things that help us know where Jesus wants us to walk and walking that way. Things like daily Bible reading and prayer, regular worship and serving those less fortunate, sharing in the sacraments and meeting regularly with other christians in Sunday school or Bible study. Christ has a yoke that will fit you perfectly. It's been designed for just you, and Jesus himself is on the other side of the yoke prepared to pull with you, if you will walk in his way.
There are moments, aren't there, when a burden is just lifted. The weight of it just goes away as we are swept up in something else.
Spiritually, this happens sometimes.
It happens when we praise God sometimes.
Moving has been stressful for my family (of course. Moving is supposed to be one of the most stressful experiences in life.) Saturday evening I left Leah alone with the praise band while I did some work in the office, and when I came back about 45 minutes later, it was obvious that the weight of moving had lifted off her shoulders. It happens sometimes when we are praising God - singing a doxology, praying a psalm, reflecting on the attributes of God.
Omni present, omnipotent...all knowing, all powerful. It's what David was doing..."The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want."
It's what Walter Chalmers Smith was doing in his meditation on I Timothy 1:11
Immortal, Invisible, God only wise. In light inaccesible, hid from our eyes.
Most blessed most glorious, the ancient of days. Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise. http://www.worshipmap.com/lyrics/immortal.html
God wants to know about all our sorrows, but sometimes we need to do what the old preacher said and "stop telling God how big our problems are and start telling our problems how big our God is!"
Sometimes the weight of our burdens just lifts for a time, but most of the time, in my experience, we only find the peace of getting rid of the yoke the world puts on our shoulders by putting the yoke of Christ there. We do that over time by doing the things that help us know where Jesus wants us to walk and walking that way. Things like daily Bible reading and prayer, regular worship and serving those less fortunate, sharing in the sacraments and meeting regularly with other christians in Sunday school or Bible study. Christ has a yoke that will fit you perfectly. It's been designed for just you, and Jesus himself is on the other side of the yoke prepared to pull with you, if you will walk in his way.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Kneel before the Lord
6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
7 for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.
Worship is what people offer their God. Whether that is an idol or a substitute like money or an addiction.
We must worship our God, or we will find ourselves worshiping other Gods.
god I pray that you will e,power me this day to prepare for tomorrow's program. Amen
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
7 for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.
Worship is what people offer their God. Whether that is an idol or a substitute like money or an addiction.
We must worship our God, or we will find ourselves worshiping other Gods.
god I pray that you will e,power me this day to prepare for tomorrow's program. Amen
Monday, May 16, 2011
Supervisors
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
For me, this includes superintendents, bishops, and pprc members.
I will thank si's for their ministry today, and acknowledge Jan and Anthony for their contributions.
dear God. Thank you for this day. Help me to be attentive and curious. Amen
For me, this includes superintendents, bishops, and pprc members.
I will thank si's for their ministry today, and acknowledge Jan and Anthony for their contributions.
dear God. Thank you for this day. Help me to be attentive and curious. Amen
Thursday, May 12, 2011
A reflection of God
iI Samuel 22
26"(G)With the kind You show Yourself kind,
With the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
27(H)With the pure You show Yourself pure,
(I)And with the perverted You show Yourself astute.
Is it that God reveals Godself differently to different people, or more likely, that much is revealed about us and our relationship with God by the way We experience God. We do begin to have synchrony with those we spend time with. as to the perverted, God and any Godly person will seem astute. The kind blameless and pure have revealed these positive aspects of character when reflected by God, the perverted have revealed this aspect of character when they see their lives against the reflection of God. and a desire to change.
Message. God will return to us the positive characteristics we extend to the world and reveal the negative if we spend time with God and God's people.
Application. Journal tomorrow.
Work on journal program today to help reinforce the value of this for me.
Prayer. god lead me back into the discipline of daily Journalling to know your guidance.
26"(G)With the kind You show Yourself kind,
With the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
27(H)With the pure You show Yourself pure,
(I)And with the perverted You show Yourself astute.
Is it that God reveals Godself differently to different people, or more likely, that much is revealed about us and our relationship with God by the way We experience God. We do begin to have synchrony with those we spend time with. as to the perverted, God and any Godly person will seem astute. The kind blameless and pure have revealed these positive aspects of character when reflected by God, the perverted have revealed this aspect of character when they see their lives against the reflection of God. and a desire to change.
Message. God will return to us the positive characteristics we extend to the world and reveal the negative if we spend time with God and God's people.
Application. Journal tomorrow.
Work on journal program today to help reinforce the value of this for me.
Prayer. god lead me back into the discipline of daily Journalling to know your guidance.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Save completely
Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews7:25
Notes
Completely. I am saved completely, not just in part, because he is able to do that. He is able to do what I am not able to do for myself. O happy day. O happy day! he is able to savemefrommyself...from that part of me that wants to do everything for myself (including salvation)...from that part of me that part of me that always says "yes, but"...from that part of me. Trained to believe a new _______ will make everything better.
mission, stop looking to consumerism or good works to save me or fix my problems or make me feel better.
Application. go a day without looking for a different car. That won't fix anything. Attend to some things needed by those in relationship with me
Prayer. Save me completely, God. Help me turn to you and not look to consumerism to save myself or to other means to save myself. O happy day. Amen.
Notes
Completely. I am saved completely, not just in part, because he is able to do that. He is able to do what I am not able to do for myself. O happy day. O happy day! he is able to savemefrommyself...from that part of me that wants to do everything for myself (including salvation)...from that part of me that part of me that always says "yes, but"...from that part of me. Trained to believe a new _______ will make everything better.
mission, stop looking to consumerism or good works to save me or fix my problems or make me feel better.
Application. go a day without looking for a different car. That won't fix anything. Attend to some things needed by those in relationship with me
Prayer. Save me completely, God. Help me turn to you and not look to consumerism to save myself or to other means to save myself. O happy day. Amen.
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