Lord, I know less than usual what to expect during worship today. Help me to trust you more than usual. Pour your Spirit out in fullness on our worship. Quiet the fears the people may have at your Spirit's coming upon us, and instead open us to receive him in all power, grace, … Continue reading Prayer Note #16 — A Pastor’s Sunday Morning Prayer
Tag: redemption
Pastor Note #22 –Life, Death, Meaning, and Love
I’m sitting in Wegman’s café drinking a cup of their dark roast coffee. It's a little to much for me, actually. I am a consumer of very large quantities of coffee. But I have to admit that that strong, dark roast coffee is sometimes just a little too much for my mouth. I want very … Continue reading Pastor Note #22 –Life, Death, Meaning, and Love
Prayer Notes #13 — Casting Burdens
Dear Jesus, I am awake now more than an hour before I need to be. My fears woke me up. Or did you wake me up in order to deal with me about my fears? I feel as if I am living very randomly, driven by my impulses and whims. And these impulses and whims, … Continue reading Prayer Notes #13 — Casting Burdens
Bible Notes #4 — Leviticus 21 & 22
Leviticus 21 & 22 In these two chapters, the strict holiness regulations are set down for the priests. I am struck especially by the regulations in chapter 22 concerning touching people who are unclean and thus being rendered unclean oneself. I immediately thought of Jesus and the numerous times we hear of his touching people … Continue reading Bible Notes #4 — Leviticus 21 & 22
Prayer Note #11
A Prayer from the Winter There is a beautiful, pristine, white layer of snow covering the ground, trees, roofs, every surface. You've sent us a lovely winter gift, though I know that it can be hardship for some. Still, it is beautiful to look at -- a sort of purity, an unsoiled and unspoiled scene. … Continue reading Prayer Note #11
Pastor Note #16 — “Sex With a Purpose”
What is sex? And what is it for? And is your answer any of my business anyway? For all our modern western society’s fixation on sexuality, I don’t see any evidence that we are any less confused about it than our great grandparents. So many books are being published on how to deal with … Continue reading Pastor Note #16 — “Sex With a Purpose”
Pastor Notes #15 — A Theology of Sex
A Theology of Sex Rev. Gary A. Chorpenning We live in an age of sexual confusion. I suspect it might be possible to make the argument that human beings have lived in sexual confusion ever since the Fall in to sin described in Genesis 3. Forty-one years ago the Presbyterian church produced “The Confession of … Continue reading Pastor Notes #15 — A Theology of Sex
Prayer Notes #8
The following is an excerpt from much longer piece that I edited and updated from a classic manual of piety from early seventeenth century England. Feel free to make use of this in any way that will be helpful to the body of Christ. Two requests: mention where your got it and don't make money … Continue reading Prayer Notes #8
Prayer Notes #7
A Reflection on Matthew 27:24-31 What kind of king are you, Lord Jesus? Just when I think I’m beginning to understand your kingship, some new facet shifts into my view, and I am again swept up into wonder and amazement, confusion and mystification. You are the Creator of all things, all majestic vistas that we … Continue reading Prayer Notes #7
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 