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
Tag: God’s presence
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
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
Pastor Notes #8 (9/11/2001) — Presence as Ministry
[The following is from several entries into my journal about the events of the evening of September 11, 2001. I was at that time the pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in the heart of downtown Columbus, Ohio. There are several large, high-end hotels in the immediate vicinity of the church.] Tuesday, September 11, 2001 7:30 … Continue reading Pastor Notes #8 (9/11/2001) — Presence as Ministry
Pastor Notes #7
[From a pastor's notebook; the names and places have been changed to protect identities.] He is in the ICU at the local hospital. His heart is failing. He has a pacemaker, but it is not much help since the muscles of his heart are very weak. Why? I don't know. Before I went up to … Continue reading Pastor Notes #7
Pastor Notes 3
Sometimes when we come away from a worship service feeling unmoved, feeling as if the service was confusing, boring, or poorly led, the problem is not actually with the worship service itself or with the people leading it, but instead is a problem within us and our lack of real preparation. And sometimes when the worship service has indeed been poorly planned and led, we can meet God powerfully in it anyway simply because we have prepared ourselves well.
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 