Oh, Lord, how I long to be intimately familiar with your voice. Your voice is full of power -- whether you speak with rock-breaking loudness or whether you whisper quietly in my ear. Your voice is full of soul-transforming power. Let that powerful voice pierce to the center of my mind, to the core of my … Continue reading Prayer Note #38 — The Voice
Tag: Christ
Pastor Note #41–From the Earliest Days
From my earliest days, I have been part of a Presbyterian church. Much of my extended family was actively involved in the life and ministry of that church. Although the congregation of my youth was biblically grounded, it was not especially remarkable compared to other churches in the community. About the time … Continue reading Pastor Note #41–From the Earliest Days
Pastor Note #39: A Statement of Faith
God is not an idea or a concept but is rather a Personal Being of infinite power, beauty, and goodness. He is a Being who desires to be known and reveals himself to us. He makes himself known to us through the works of his creation and through direct experience of his Holy Spirit. … Continue reading Pastor Note #39: A Statement of Faith
Bible Note #13 — 1 Peter 1:23-25
"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, 'All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.' (Isaiah 40:6-8)" 1 … Continue reading Bible Note #13 — 1 Peter 1:23-25
Prayer Note #33 — A Pastor’s Sunday Morning Prayer
Lord, nothing important will happen here this morning unless you are present . Holy Spirit, we cannot worship unless you make us able to worship. Our attempts at worship will be counterfeit unless you inhabit our worship in purposefulness and power. I ask, on behalf of my people for your directing, empowering presence. Grant that … Continue reading Prayer Note #33 — A Pastor’s Sunday Morning Prayer
Prayer Note #31 — For the Day’s Living and Working
My Lord, I want to devote everything I do today to your service to the advance of your kingdom. I don't want merely to go through the motions, to get to the end of the day having checked off everything on my "to do" list but having done it in my sleep with no thought … Continue reading Prayer Note #31 — For the Day’s Living and Working
Bible Note #10 — 1 John 1:5-10 — Light & Darkness, Truth & Deception
1 John 1:5-10 "Light" and "darkness" are paralleled by "truth" and "lying or deception" in this passage. The truth as a concept here is multi-layered It is in some places the truth about God. In other places it is truth about ourselves. Ironically, we ourselves are often both the deceived and the deceiver at the … Continue reading Bible Note #10 — 1 John 1:5-10 — Light & Darkness, Truth & Deception
Sermon #2 — Exodus 16:1-35
This is now the second sermon in a series on the manna and quail of the wilderness journey. In this sermon, I explore how the values and priorities of ancient paganism aren't all that far away from the modern, westerner's wrestling with faith. Here's a link to the text of Exodus 16:1-35. Here's the link … Continue reading Sermon #2 — Exodus 16:1-35
Pastor Note #26 — After His Dad Died
{The following post is the text of a letter I wrote to a man in his early fifties shortly after his father died.} Dear F., There is an ache and strangeness that comes when our parents die. I don't think it really matters a lot how old we or they are when that happens. I … Continue reading Pastor Note #26 — After His Dad Died
Pastor Note #23 — Marking Time
Seasons come and go, cycling from one to the next. Our calendars turn from one year to the next. Time passes along, steadily, inescapably, unavoidably, relentlessly. Recently, I was sitting in the dental chair waiting for my dentist to finish with another patient across the room. The dentist was saying something to that patient about … Continue reading Pastor Note #23 — Marking Time
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 