Scripture: James 1:2-4 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. Thought for the Day: If I see another commercial that claims you can have the perfect body without actually doing anything,
Scripture: 1st Corinthians 8:1-3 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him. Thought for the Day: Shane Claiborne is a well known author and Christian activist, and yesterday (March 13, 2014) in the
Scripture: Ben sira 18:30-31 Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites. If you allow your soul to take pleasure in base desire, it will make you the laughingstock of your enemies. Thought for the Day: I don’t use apocryphal books very often, but I made an exception for today. The book called Ben Sira (or called: The Book of All-Virtuous Wisdom of Joshua ben Sira
Scripture: Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Thought for the Day: I’ve always appreciated the writings of Reinhold Niebuhr. At every moment when my sense of self-worth expanded beyond the capacity of my britches, Niebuhr’s words put me back in my place. The human being is capable of marvelous things, but Niebuhr also recognized the human capacity to cause suffering. He
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:7b …a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Thought for the Day: In the movie Gravity, Astronaut Matt Kowalsky (played by George Clooney) asks Dr. Ryan Stone (played by Sandra Bullock) what she likes about space. She says, “The silence. I could get used to it.” One of the unnamed characters in the movie is the silence that is both peaceful and terrifying.
Scripture: Psalm 83:1 O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! Thought for the Day: Yesterday in worship, we spoke about being still; finding a quiet place; making silence a priority. There are numerous Psalms that invite us to do just that (Psalm 37:7 & 46:10 to name a few) so that we can perceive and acknowledge God who is
Scripture: Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Thought for the Day: If a person is meek, s/he is often thought of as submissive and humble. According to Jesus, these are the people who shall inherit the earth. When I’ve heard the word meek, I have often thought of those with a quiet spirit, a confidently restful sense of self. In Isaiah 11,
Scripture: Psalm 27:3-5 (the Message) When besieged, I’m calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I’m collected and cool. I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet. That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of
Continuing our study of 1st Thessalonians… Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 5:23-28 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. Beloved, pray for us. Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.
Continuing our study of 1st Thessalonians… Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 5:12-22 But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient