"Loving humility is marvelously strong, the strongest of all things, and there is nothing else like it."
Quote of Note #198: Lying to Ourselves & Resentfulness
The man who lies to himself can be more easily offended than anyone. You know it is sometimes very pleasant to take offense, isn't it?
Quote of Note #197: The Church and the State
"The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state and never the tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority."
Quote of Note #196: Influencing Culture or Being Influenced by It
As a result, we are angrier and more divided within both our nation and our church than we have been in a very long time.
Bible Note #61: Zacchaeus #5–Why Would Such a Man Want to See Jesus?
Zacchaeus acts like someone who was desperate to see Jesus. Why? Why would a hardnosed, money-grubbing guy like Zacchaeus be the least bit interested in someone like Jesus?
Quote of Note #195: God’s Grace to Me, My Grace to Others
"God gives us real treasures; we are rich people, but only if we put this capital into use. Forgive your brother; then you will also get peace for yourself. Otherwise you are a dead spiritual capitalist."
Quote of Note #194/Prayer Note #67: A Christmas Prayer
"O Lord, our God, when we are afraid do not let us despair. When we are disappointed do not let us become bitter. When we fall do not let us remain prostrate. When we are at the end of our understanding and our powers, do not let us then parish. No, let us feel then … Continue reading Quote of Note #194/Prayer Note #67: A Christmas Prayer
Bible Note #60: Zacchaeus #4–Getting into the Story–Jesus Make a Lot of People Mad
So, I’ve now provided some background material (see links to previous "Zacchaeus" posts at the end of this post ) for understanding this powerful encounter between Jesus and the chief tax collector in Jericho—maybe more background information than you really wanted (judging from the amount of traffic those earlier posts have generated). Let’s now dive … Continue reading Bible Note #60: Zacchaeus #4–Getting into the Story–Jesus Make a Lot of People Mad
Bible Note #59: Zacchaeus #3–Tax Collecting in Roman Palestine
Right up front, Luke tells us two key pieces of information about Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. These two facts were not unrelated. Zacchaeus was rich because he was the chief tax collector of the region. Let’s review some of what it meant for Zacchaeus to be a tax … Continue reading Bible Note #59: Zacchaeus #3–Tax Collecting in Roman Palestine
Quote of Note #193: The True Defense against Communism
"We must not engage in negative anti-Communism but rather in a positive thrust for democracy, realizing that our greatest defense against Communism is to take offensive action in behalf of justice and righteousness. After our condemnation of the philosophy of Communism has been eloquently expressed, we must with positive action seek to remove those conditions … Continue reading Quote of Note #193: The True Defense against Communism
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 