"We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it." Madeleine L'Engle, Waltking on Water: Reflections on … Continue reading Quote of Note #176: Drawing People to Christ
Tag: Christianity
Quote of Note #174: Christlike Cultural Engagement
"Among the most countercultural things Jesus ever said, no matter the culture, were his commands in the Sermon on the Mount: 'But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also,' and 'You have heard that it was said, "Love … Continue reading Quote of Note #174: Christlike Cultural Engagement
Pastor Note #134/Bible Note #55: Love of Jesus, Love of Neighbor
“Almighty God, you have taught us through your Son that love is the fulfilling of the law. Grant that we may love you with our whole heart and our neighbor as ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[1] Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he … Continue reading Pastor Note #134/Bible Note #55: Love of Jesus, Love of Neighbor
Quote of Note #172: The American Dream
"Throughout scripture, we are told that there is no lasting joy in the things of this earth--that they decay, grow boring, and bring ultimate destruction as consumers of our rapt attention. We are reminded that we come into this world with nothing and go out the same way. Yet, we in America have given divine … Continue reading Quote of Note #172: The American Dream
Pastor Note #133: To Post the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes?
Lately, I’ve been pondering a question about something that seems to be in the news a good bit. A number of states have passed or are considering passing laws that would require the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, courthouses, and other public buildings. I’ve written elsewhere [Pastor Note #130: The Government … Continue reading Pastor Note #133: To Post the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes?
Quote of Note #170: Repentance
"To believe in repentance is to believe there will be repentant murderers who will meet their victims in paradise, to believe there will be repentant slanderers who will meet those they slandered in heaven, to believe there will be repentant thieves who will meet those they've plundered in heaven." Leonard Sweet, Rings of Fire: Walking … Continue reading Quote of Note #170: Repentance
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
Quote of Note #169: Forgiveness and Freedom
"To forgive is divine. It makes us look like our heavenly Father. And we accomplish forgiveness through His Spirit living within us. There is no other way. But it is a choice we must make individually to yield our right to strike back or to get even and to instead offer forgiveness. To pardon our … Continue reading Quote of Note #169: Forgiveness and Freedom
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 #168: Holiness, Grace, and Following Jesus
"What then is the way to holiness? It is a narrow way and leads through a strait gate, but we cannot with justice complain that it is difficult either to trace or to follow. Many other and harder ways have been tried. On the banks of the Ganges or on the pilgrim route to Mecca … Continue reading Quote of Note #168: Holiness, Grace, and Following Jesus
