Scripture: Luke 7:48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Thought for the Day: I’ve been having an interesting internal discussion since reading the words of Laurence Sterne (18th century Anglican Priest) on forgiveness. He wrote, “Only the brave know how to forgive. … A coward never forgave; it is not in his nature.” Sterne’s observation is correct in many situations, for there are folks who
Scripture: Luke 6:1-5 One Sabbath while Jesus was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and took
Scripture: Ephesians 4:30-32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Thought for the Day: The respected spiritual voice
Scripture: Luke 5:33-39 Then they said to Jesus, “John’s disciples, like the disciples of the Pharisees, frequently fast and pray, but your disciples eat and drink.” Jesus said to them, “You cannot make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” He also told
Scripture: Proverbs 13:13 Those who despise the word bring destruction on themselves, but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded. Thought for the Day: As I work on my study that begins this Wednesday evening (How To Read The Bible), I am reminded of Mark Twain who said, “Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.” Twain had a marvelous way of making
Scripture: Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Thought for the Day: So many of Dr. King’s words are relevant far beyond their context within the Civil Rights
Scripture: Ezekiel 40:2 He brought me, in visions of God, to the land of Israel, and set me down upon a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south. Thought for the Day: How I wish I would be taken to the mountain top where I would see through the divine eyes. Instead, I feel like my perspective is more like a
Scripture: Luke 4:42 At daybreak Jesus departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. Thought for the Day: I want my own private Jesus who I control and have at my disposal. Not really, but there are people who seek a savior who is under their influence and direction.
Scripture: Luke 9:2 …and Jesus sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. Thought for the Day: I must confess that I have been pretty bummed about the Lance Armstrong thing, and it is clear how devastating it has been to many people. With that said, maybe this will allow us to get some perspective on perspective. We just had 26 people killed at
Scripture: Luke 4:38-39 After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them. Thought for the Day: I find it interesting that Simon’s mother-in-law did not feel the need to discuss what had