"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.)
Tag: reconciliation
Quote of Note #234: True Biblical Justice
"I've come to understand that justice is an act of reconciliation that restores any part of God's creation to its original intent, purpose, or image." J. Perkins
Quote of Note #190: Racism and Division in the Church
"The Church must speak out with one voice against bigotry and racism. We have been too quiet. The time is now. A platform has been placed in front of us and we must speak with clarity and truth. We've made a mess of things, but there is a way forward. It will require us to … Continue reading Quote of Note #190: Racism and Division in the Church
Pastor Note #126: A Good Friday Devotional
Introduction:At the very core of his being, our God is a relational God. Every fiber of God’s nature is biased toward relationship. We see that in the mystery of the Trinity—one God in three Persons, woven in a profound interrelationship of love, one with the other. We also see this relational nature of our God … Continue reading Pastor Note #126: A Good Friday Devotional
Pastor Note #124: Forgiving–Why Should I?
Let’s start with this key truth about forgiveness, one that runs counter to much of what we tend to think and what we hear from our culture. Forgiveness does not start out as a feeling. It starts out as a decision. We almost always decide to forgive someone who has hurt us before, often long … Continue reading Pastor Note #124: Forgiving–Why Should I?
Pastor Note #123: The Gospel Art of Apologizing
The art of apologizing is something that has to be learned. We tend to assume that apologizing is an act that everyone just naturally knows how to do. And I suppose in every day, little mishaps, the simple but sincere “I’m sorry” is sufficient to cover matters. But in most matters bigger than minor, … Continue reading Pastor Note #123: The Gospel Art of Apologizing
Quote of Note #143: The Nature of “Race”
photo by GAC "From our earliest days as a country, we adopted the practice of slavery and demonized the slave as inferior, subhuman, and deserving of exploitation. For this wicked system of slavery to survive, there had to be distinctions made between normal folks and this new breed of people that would be treated like … Continue reading Quote of Note #143: The Nature of “Race”
Quote of Note #141: The Power of Love
Western Pennsylvania Woodland Scene; photo by GAC "[L]ove is the only force that can transform an enemy into a friend. We never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy by getting rid of enmity. By its very nature, hate destroys and tears down; by its very … Continue reading Quote of Note #141: The Power of Love
Bible Note #33: The Hairy Arms of Esau and the Embrace of God’s Grace — Genesis 33
This event – the reconciliation of Esau and Jacob – has long captured my imagination. The rupturing of their relationship was overflowing with emotion. So, it should be no surprise that the reconciliation here is also full of emotion. There is also a large measure of raw, burly physicality in the reconciliation of these two … Continue reading Bible Note #33: The Hairy Arms of Esau and the Embrace of God’s Grace — Genesis 33
Bible Notes #2 — Ecclesiates 7:21-22
"Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servants cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself cursed other." Ecclesiates 7:21-22 [ESV] Have a thick skin! Don't take personally everything people say. Don't be quick to take offense. If we are slow to take offense, … Continue reading Bible Notes #2 — Ecclesiates 7:21-22
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 