Pettiness, Powers and Pentecost

I have two things burning in my heart tonight. The two things are unity, and Pentecost. Our world is in turmoil because of the global Covid-19 pandemic. People around the world are concerned about how they will survive the disease, and about how they will survive financially. For some health…

How I Feel

You really are not alone. We really are in this together. If you are hurting or afraid, reach out. It may be by phone, or message, or social media, but reach out. This Coronavirus thing is giving us some common ground. We are all being affected by it and by…

Work and Rest

Is this time of staying at home because of a global pandemic a time to rest? Is it a Sabbath? No more than any other time. Most of us haven’t really traded a time of activity for inactivity. We’ve traded it for different activities. Some are able to work from…

Applying the Lord’s Prayer

Religious activities, like giving to the poor (Mt 6:2-4), prayer (vv. 5-8), and fasting (vv. 16-18), are not for public spectacle. That’s how they become “religious.” They are meant to be spiritual activities, between you and God. They are meant to honor and show love for the heavenly Father. “Our…

A Clay House for God

You are the dwelling place of Christ – the One who is Himself the radiance, the out-shining, of God’s glory, the exact representation of His nature. That’s pretty amazing. It’s rather impressive! Yet, in perspective, you are an earthen vessel. So, all that amazing awesomeness is from God, not from…

Religion or relationship?

According to the dictionary, the word “religion” comes from religare (Latin) to restrain, hold back, tie up. Where we get the word relegate. It has to do with devotion, in the sense of commitment, fervency, adherence. In that sense, some of the most religious people I have ever met are atheists….

Need to know love?

I was praying  this morning, and it turned into praying for someone to  know more of God’s love. Paul prayed a prayer in Ephesians 3, and it became the core of my prayer this morning. I’m putting a blank, instead of a specific pronoun, so that it can be an…

A Jewel from My Journal

Back in ancient times, when personal computers were little more than a gleam in the eyes of men like Steve Jobs & Bill Gates, people didn’t blog. There was no web to log your thoughts on. You actually had to use paper and pen. I know! Right? I can almost…