A Lenten Prayer of a Busy Christian “Transcribed” by Pastor Gary A. Chorpenning What do you want me to do, Lord? Isn’t that what I’m supposed to ask you in this season of Lent? I don’t mean to be rude to you, God, but I have to confess that my life is already really busy. … Continue reading Prayer Note #53 — A Lenten Prayer
Prayer Note #52 — To the God of Light
Lord, you are all glorious, and the light of your presence pierces the deepest darkness of sin, sorrow, evil, despair. There is no darkness so thick, so impenetrable, so oily that the Light, Life, Love of your Being cannot invade and evaporate it. That is the truth of who you are. And so I ask … Continue reading Prayer Note #52 — To the God of Light
Pastor Note #61 — Music, Worship, and Pleasing God
Worship music – the music we use in Christian worship – has become a source of sometimes significant conflict in American churches. It is probably inexcusably foolhardy of me to do it, but I propose to wade into the rapids of this dangerous subject in the hope that we can come to a richer, … Continue reading Pastor Note #61 — Music, Worship, and Pleasing God
Prayer Note #51 — A Prayer of Longing for a Spiritual Springtime
Lord of Life, you are turning the ground green around me. The warming sun and the nourishing rain are renewing the life of the soil. The birds of the warm months are all returning -- the alien starlings in their noisy multitudes, the fierce-eyed, raucous grackles, too. Even the nighthawks, the dark-sky hunters are in … Continue reading Prayer Note #51 — A Prayer of Longing for a Spiritual Springtime
Prayer Note #50 — Wandering
O my Lord and Father, I long for you. Year after year I have wandered after other food for my soul. But it was no food. It was poison. I could see that very clearly. I could see how it always diminished me. I withered. Yet, I persisted. But so did you. You persisted with … Continue reading Prayer Note #50 — Wandering
Pastor Note #60 — One Church, One Pastor, and a Festival of Evangelism
I had lunch with Franklin Graham a few weeks ago. . . . All right, there were about 500 other people at the lunch. . . . Okay, yes, Franklin was sitting at a table on the other side of the room from me. . . .No, it’s true I couldn’t actually see him, so … Continue reading Pastor Note #60 — One Church, One Pastor, and a Festival of Evangelism
Pastor Note #59–Honestly, It’s Really Kind of Scary!
As some of your know by now, I will be traveling to the city of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in May. I’ll be going as part of a team sent out by Presbyterian Reformed Ministries International to conduct a week-long training event for pastors and church leaders there. I’m excited … Continue reading Pastor Note #59–Honestly, It’s Really Kind of Scary!
Pastor Note #58 — One Pastor’s Annual Report to his Congregation in Pursuit of God’s Presence
WHO ARE WE? As I mentioned in a recent sermon, I have been listening to a recording of a series of lectures given by one of my former seminary professors, Dr. Gordon Fee, who has written a great number of wonderfully helpful and insightful books and articles, especially on the New Testament. In one of … Continue reading Pastor Note #58 — One Pastor’s Annual Report to his Congregation in Pursuit of God’s Presence
Prayer Note #49 — A Prayer for Those Who Know Their Sins Well
Without your mercy, I will die. Apart from your forgiveness, you will consume me in the fires of your holy judgment. How can I live apart from you? I would be lost entirely! Yet, how can I live in your presence? I should be devoured by your holy wrath! I will hide in Jesus. In … Continue reading Prayer Note #49 — A Prayer for Those Who Know Their Sins Well
Pastor Note #57 — Worship: A Surprising Conversation with God?
We script them out carefully, planning each part of the service diligently and in detail, so that we know who will do each part of the service, when they will do it, what they will say while they are doing it, and how long it will take them to do it. Then, we commit the … Continue reading Pastor Note #57 — Worship: A Surprising Conversation with God?
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 