Prayer Note #70: Love instead of Anger, Fear, Violence, & Cruelty

“Lord, I live in a world of anger, fear, violence, and cruelty.  It is hard for me not to be swept away and molded by these ugly passions that swirl around me. . . ."

Quote of Note #204: Motive, Means, & Politics

"As sinners we need a spiritual strategy for dealing with our own sinful tendency to put the best possible interpretation on our own motives while putting the worst possible interpretation on those of our opponents."

Quote of Note #188: Rejecting Bitterness and Resentment

"Before we determine how to live in a world where our highest hopes are not satisfied, we must ask, What does one do under such circumstances? One possible reaction is to distill our frustrations into a core of bitterness and resentment. The person who pursues this path is likely to develop a callous attitude, a … Continue reading Quote of Note #188: Rejecting Bitterness and Resentment

Pastor Note #136: Cable News Networks Are Evil

What follows will read like a rant.  I’m sorry about that.  Try not to traffic in rants.  So, let me ask that you take it as a plea—a plea from the heart of a pastor who is concerned for your spiritual well-being. If you watch more than an hour or so of some 24-hour cable … Continue reading Pastor Note #136: Cable News Networks Are Evil

Prayer Note #64: Anger and the Fruit of God’s Spirit

God, my Father, as I look around me,as I see the newsand read my social media feed,anger wells up in me.I am offended by what I see.This world is not as it should be.In my anger, I want to lash out.In my offense, I want to call downfire from heaven.Then, I find in your wordthat … Continue reading Prayer Note #64: Anger and the Fruit of God’s Spirit

Pastor Note #132: Anger and Following Jesus

In my youth, which took place in those dark days before the existence of computers and apps on mobile devices, it was very difficult to say definitively how often, if at all, a given phrase appears in the Bible.  These days, of course, it is a matter of a few moments of thumb typing, and … Continue reading Pastor Note #132: Anger and Following Jesus

Quote of Note #103: Pride and Sinning with Words

"The mother of all sin is pride.  Those who are being harsh and critical think they are right.  In fact, they are certain they are right.  Fools are filled with pride.  'I don't really care about you and what you think,' the fool tells himself.  'It's my view or no view!'  As Proverbs 18:2 puts … Continue reading Quote of Note #103: Pride and Sinning with Words

Pastor Note #78: Christian Witness in an Age of Offense

In the 1960s it was the Age of Aquarius.  (If you’re much younger than I am, you probably don’t understand that reference.)  We are now in the Age of Offense.  Everybody is offended these days.  Everybody has become touchy.  We all tend to take everything personally.  We have begun to use the things that offend … Continue reading Pastor Note #78: Christian Witness in an Age of Offense