Scripture: Luke 8:4-9 When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture.
Scripture: 2nd Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. Thought for the Day: While at Minister’s Week at Brite Divinity School last week, I heard a lecture in which the speaker talked about the language of renewal, reenergizing, restoring and revitalization. All these words assume a return to something that
Scripture: 1st Corinthians 1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Thought for the Day: If you really think about it, Paul is absolutely correct. I’m surprised anyone joined the Christian movement as Paul preached from one town to another. The cross is a pathetic marketing tool, as it
Scripture: Psalm 28:9 O save your people, and bless your heritage; be their shepherd, and carry them forever. Thought for the Day: The 18th century French writer, Stendhal, penned these words, The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same. In the well known 23rd Psalm, the shepherd moves the sheep to green pastures and still waters. This sounds very
Scripture: John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. Thought for the Day: Marcus Borg has always intrigued me, challenged my preconceived notions, and on a occasion, caused me to squirm out of my skin. What I appreciate so much about Borg is his love and
Scripture: Romans 13:9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Thought for the Day: I have mentioned Thomas Merton a couple of times recently, and originally I planned to use the following quote in yesterday’s sermon. In the end, it was
Scripture: Acts 24:16 Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people. Thought for the Day: Guilt is a strange thing. There are times when you’d think that someone should feel a little guilt because of what s/he has done, yet the person appears unfazed by what has occurred. There are others who made an honest mistake and sought forgiveness, yet they remain
Scripture: 1st John 3:11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Thought for the Day: On this Valentine’s Day, I am reminded of Thomas Merton who wrote: Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another. Merton was a Trappist Monk, and so this quote
Scripture: Colossians 4:6 (the Message) Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out. Thought for the Day: The writer and philosopher, Elbert Hubbard, offered some helpful insight on friendship when he wrote, “A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.” I think most of us
Scripture: John 7:24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” Thought for the Day: The other night, I pulled from the refrigerator the last of our grapefruits. It had been in there for a while, so I was concerned that it would not be good. I cut it in half, putting one half back in the refrigerator for Donna, and the other half in a