“Believing and Belonging – Belonging and Believing” Those terms are often used to name two elements – the two elements? – that are involved when a person becomes part of the community of God’s people. What we might mean by “believing” is probably pretty simple and straightforward. But maybe not quite so simple and straightforward … Continue reading Pastor#14
Tag: Christianity
Prayer Notes #6–Choosing to Hear
My Lord, how you work in faithful purposefulness! You give me a heart that is able to listen. You intentionally choose to place me where I can be of use. Though, all too often I fail to pay attention. The failure is in my attentiveness, my alertness, not in the clarity of your voice. You … Continue reading Prayer Notes #6–Choosing to Hear
Prayer Notes #5
A PRAYER Lord God, your goodness and patience are a constant presence in my life. I confess that I do not recognize or acknowledge that presence sometimes . . . often. That, I suppose, is why I experience you so often as Patience, though I neglect to attend to you, to your wisdom, to your … Continue reading Prayer Notes #5
Pastor Notes #12 — The Ministry of Meaning
One of the most important things pastors can do is to help people understand the meaning of their actions and the circumstances of their lives. Many philosophers and theologians have asserted that the ability to find meaning in the events of their lives and in the things that they do is one of the essential … Continue reading Pastor Notes #12 — The Ministry of Meaning
Prayer Notes #4
A Prayer Good morning, Lord. Thanks you for another lovely start to a new day. I find such pleasure in being near you. Why do I so often wander away from you and for such long periods? Why do I find it so hard to return once I've wandered off? I do feel so much … Continue reading Prayer Notes #4
Pastor Notes #11: A Desperate Act by One of the Least of These
[From my journal while pastoring a church in downtown Columbus:] It was a sad and difficult situation. We have a locked wooden box bolted to the back wall of the church. It has a slot in the top for receiving gifts that visitors (and members) might drop into it for the maintenance of our old … Continue reading Pastor Notes #11: A Desperate Act by One of the Least of These
Prayer Notes #3–Reflecting on Acts 2:38
A Prayer Reflecting on Acts 2:38 I confess, Lord, that I'm not sure that I'm willing to repent. Well, but I don't want not to repent. The price of that is far too great. But the complete change of life, of direction, of behavior seems so hard; and I love my ease and comfort and … Continue reading Prayer Notes #3–Reflecting on Acts 2:38
Pastor Notes #10
Our Sacramental Bible The Bible is a very obliging book in at least one particular respect, and that is that the Bible explains in fairly straightforward terms what it is. That fact hasn’t caused scholars and others to refrain from arguing about the matter. That argument has been going on for centuries, off and on. … Continue reading Pastor Notes #10
Pastor Notes #9
[The following is a letter I wrote to a forty-something parishioner who had been raised in a nominal Roman Catholic home and had given her life to Christ while she was in college. This letter was written on the occasion of her nominally Catholic mother's death. As you will also see, the circumstances of my … Continue reading Pastor Notes #9
Prayer Notes #1
A Prayer about Prayer Lord, I struggle so much to force myself to be still and to concentrate on anything, but especially on prayer. I really do hate this about myself. Do I have to be this way? Please, Lord, if I could simply be still and concentrate better mentally, I believe I would be … Continue reading Prayer Notes #1
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 