"Help us to display the humility and compassion of the heart of Jesus, which is far more powerful than anything the “great ones” of the earth put on display. Lift our small vision above our own small borders, so that we might catch a vision of your all-encompassing, world-transforming goodness. Amen."
Tag: gentleness
Pastor Note #146: “One of ours; All of yours”
“One of ours; All of yours” is the very essence of the spirit of Lamech. It is not the path to greatness. It is the path to degenerateness and degradation. “One of ours; All of yours” is the very antithesis of Jesus. And so, it is no surprise that the MAGA love of the Lamech spirit would make that movement pretty much allergic to Jesus." (For the full post, click the link below.)
Quote of Note #238: Rejecting Heartlessness & Lack of Compassion
"We deny the power of godliness when we are passionate about politics or justice but heartless and unjust to those who don't see things the way we do." J. Dodson (for complete quote, click link below)
Bible Note #64: Zechariah 7:9-10–A Rightly Ordered Society in God’s Eyes
"One of the primary tasks God gave to the prophets in ancient Israel was to instruct the people of Israel on how to order their society so that it reflected God’s heart and mind. These verses from the prophet Zechariah are a prime example of that." (For the full post, click the link below.)
Pastor Note #145: What Makes for the Blessed Life?
"Blessed are those who force their way to the front of the line; they will get to run things their own way." (For full post, click link below.)
Pastor Note #144: Jesus vs. Brutality & Inhumanity
"To truly follow Jesus is to follow the lamb who was slain (Rev. 5:6), not the roaring lion “seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8)."
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 #226: Bearing Witness with Graciousness & Faithfulness
“As was in many of the most religious people of Jesus' day, it is possible to become fully versed in a theological tradition or excel in theological education and still have a hardened heart that never truly surrendered to the Word of God.” Costanzo, et al (for full quote, click link below)
Quote of Note #221: Faith as Opposed to Virtue
"How many men and women we have encountered, of great personal virtue and moral rectitude, convinced of their own righteousness, who have also been totally insensitive to the needs of others, and sometimes downright cruel." M L'Engle (for full quote click link below)
Quote of Note #209: Gracious Persuasion vs. Hostile Conquest
"This change should always be the desired outcome, rather than the pride of having won a battle and leaving an opponent flattened and humiliated in the dust." J. Crotts
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 