Tag: faith

Quote of Note #183: Giving Myself Away for Christ

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"But the truth is that there is enough time and enough wealth to go around. The people in the churches every Sunday outnumber the people who are on the streets and the number of people who are on welfare. If the church took up the responsibility of caring for the poor, of living internationally, of … Continue reading Quote of Note #183: Giving Myself Away for Christ

Pastor Note #137: Other People’s Sins & Reading the Bible

~ gachorpenning ~ 1 Comment

When reading the Bible, do you ever find yourself convicted about some sin in your life?  Do you find that the Bible sometimes points out something about the way you’re living that just isn’t right with God?  That’s uncomfortable, isn’t it?  Let me suggest a surefire way to keep that from happening.  Try to always … Continue reading Pastor Note #137: Other People’s Sins & Reading the Bible

Pastor Note #136: Cable News Networks Are Evil

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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

Pastor Note #134/Bible Note #55: Love of Jesus, Love of Neighbor

~ gachorpenning ~ 12 Comments

“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

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"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

Quote of Note #168: Holiness, Grace, and Following Jesus

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"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

Pastor Note #131: A Pastoral Response to Someone Struggling in these Divisive Times

~ gachorpenning ~ 4 Comments

Feeling connected and part of a community of believers has become increasingly hard for me, too, over the last several years.  So, I can understand how you feel.  There is a kind of spiritual homelessness that has set in for many of us.  We can feel such a desire to isolate and retreat from community … Continue reading Pastor Note #131: A Pastoral Response to Someone Struggling in these Divisive Times

Pastor Note #109: Living as Hopeful People in Fearful Times

~ gachorpenning ~ Leave a comment

Are these hopeful times or are they fearful times?  I write these words on a warm day, after a hard winter of snow and ice.  The daffodils are poking up through the leaf litter in my flowerbeds.  The crocuses have already begun to bloom.  In fact, there are several dandelions in their yellow perkiness smiling … Continue reading Pastor Note #109: Living as Hopeful People in Fearful Times