Scripture: Proverbs 1:21-23 At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.” Thought for the Day: More than
Scripture: Mark 16:15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” Thought for the Day: There are times I need to reread this passage, along with the great commission in Matthew’s Gospel, and Paul’s commitment to proclaim the good news to those who would otherwise not hear it. There are days when, as a minister, I can
Scripture: Psalm 119:107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word. Thought for the Day: Five times in Psalm 119, we read the words: Give me life. It is clearly the longing of the human soul, especially amidst struggle and affliction. The word describes not simply the beating of the heart, but restoration and the fullness of human existence. Such a life knows
Scripture: Exodus 22:22-23 You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry; Thought for the Day: Yesterday I watched a TV special describing the horrors of the Priests’ Sexual Abuse Scandal. It was one of those shows you don’t really wish to watch, yet there was something important about watching it. The
Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 1:8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. Thought for the Day: Don’t be surprised when you run into your faith coming full circle. We don’t set out to see what we get back,
Scripture: Psalm 119:58 I implore your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. Thought for the Day: On this day in 1969, Apollo 12 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center. This would be the second space flight that would bring human beings to the moon. Though I am too young to remember this moment, one of the things I remember from
Scripture: Titus 3:15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you. Thought for the Day: “You can be rude to those who do not love us in the faith.” That is a rough paraphrase of a preacher who was attempting to give credence to his rather hateful and exclusive theology. He pointed to
Scripture: Titus 3:4-7 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might
Scripture: Titus 2:15 Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you. Thought for the Day: How can you make sure that no one is looking down on you when your faith asks you to humble yourself? Wouldn’t everyone be looking down on you? I guess it’s the difference between humility and humiliation. I may choose to humble myself for the
Scripture: Titus 2:2 Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, prudent, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. Thought for the Day: Though this passage begins what I would describe as a fairly sexist section of scripture that is a reflection of the time and not of Jesus, I would also point out that there is still good advice to be found. Instead of selectively