We were discussing scripture and the rules as she perceives them. Her comment to me was: “If going to church and doing good deeds does not insure a place in heaven, then why do it”? Is the ultimate goal heaven? Or is the ultimate goal to love Jesus with all of your life? Are you…
Over many years I have relished… taken solace, in the words that Jesus spoke from the cross. His final words, during such suffering, bare our deep consideration as to their meaning. When Jesus announced from the cross “Father forgive them, they know not what they are doing” He was forgiving EVERYONE! He didn’t look out…
Church? Almost daily I hear the question. What church do you go to? As if our identity is tied to a certain church. Our identity should always be only in Christ. I am struggling with church and its character. I do go from time to time, but I sit and listen to a sermon and…
People are so hungry for leadership that they will crawl thru the desert toward a mirage… and when they discover its not water they will drink the sand. True leadership does not exist outside of God. If the leaders of any organization do not follow the heart of Jesus, than it is false leadership. We…
Each morning, as I lie in bed, before I put my feet on the ground I start my prayer with the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer. “Our Father who art in heaven hollowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” As Jesus prayed that prayer,…
For as long as I can remember churches and the ones I have attended were focused mostly on how many can we baptize. How many can we convince to buy “fire insurance”. When you shrink the gospel of Jesus down to just about getting into heaven… it becomes joyless. The Gospel of Jesus is about…
He must have been short and his appearance was that of a little man. When I think of Zacchaeus, I picture someone like Danny Devito. Small but with moxie. Zacchaeus was the lowest of the low in society. Someone who cheated, and abused people in the name of making a dollar. He had heard of…
When she asked me about Happy Jesus Day tears filled my eyes, and a lump formed in my throat. As she hugged me she said “I didn’t mean to upset you”. I explained the burden that weighs on me. The burden that comes with this mission. A mission that others have felt, which weighed heavy…
I woke early this morning, after Christmas, to look back! The presents are gone. The stockings are on the floor. Just like that, the day we look forward to all year long, is gone. Soon lights will come down and the songs, well they have already disappeared. As I sit and ponder this time of…
As I sit in this large restaurant, there are so many people. Waiters and waitresses. Buss boys and cooks. Everyone rushing around. People are busy eating and visiting. It gives me pause. I think on the hustle and bustle, of Bethlehem this week. The streets were crowded. The taverns where filled to overflowing. The hotels…