“Worship does not satisfy our hunger for God–it whets our appetite,” wrote the late American author and theologian, Eugene Peterson.
Think about that a bit as you go to worship services today.
We speak of “going to church.” Or “attending worship.” How about going to worship and praise God? Of coming into His presence in a unique way? Continue reading
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The church is full of hypocrites.
White people are racists.
Black people hate white people.
Men are all afraid of commitment.
Poor people are lazy.
Rich people are greedy. Continue reading
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The final hymn at the Kalispell church, where I preached yesterday, was a new one to me– “Instruments Of Your Peace” written by Nashville artists Kirk and Deby Dearman.
It opens and closes with this refrain
Lord make us instruments of Your peace
Where there is hatred let Your love increase
Lord make us instruments of Your peace
Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease Continue reading
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Wednesday night we visited the church in Kalispell, Montana, for a thought-provoking devotional study on the spiritual battle we are currently fighting.
The teacher, Bill Moore, spoke of the current unrest we are experiencing in our country and how the Devil stirs the emotions of people to further foment strife, division, controversy, and confusion.
Think of the negative emotions so many are feeling right now in our country. Continue reading
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Thomas Donelan, a Florida minister, offered this description of tolerance.
To tolerate means I can disagree with you while still respecting you.
One person is a Republican, another Democrat. We put aside our differences and get along.
One person is a (Florida) Gator, another a (FSU) Seminole. We put aside our differences and get along.
Some of us are NY Yankee fans, the rest of you hate baseball. I love you anyway, and we get along. Continue reading
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“It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary,” once wrote Paulo Coelho de Souza, the Brazilian lyricist and novelist.
For the past three days we’ve been enjoying our grand kids, Miles and Katherine, and showing them and their parents around the Smoky Mountains. It has been a pure delight to witness their excitement.
The evening they arrived it was raining, but Miles wanted to go down to the creek he saw at the bottom of the mountain. We explained it was too late. It was raining. Plus the creek ran through the golf course and they probably didn’t want us on it. Continue reading
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Do you know what today is?
With everyone “sheltering in place” it’s easy to lose track of both the days and the date.
Today, May 1st, might be remembered as the day for many when the “sheltering in place” restrictions expired in their state. However, if you access the National Calendar Day you will find some unusual and interesting celebrations in addition to our normal holidays.
Today is National Chocolate Parfait Day. National Mother Goose Day. National Loyalty Day. And National Principal’s Day. You can look them up to see what they mean. Continue reading
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“Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not,” once wrote the 19th century Scottish minister George MacDonald.
This practice can be summed up in one word. Hypocrisy. It’s wearing a mask. Pretending. Acting instead of being. In a twisted way, “Hypocrisy is an homage that vice pays to virtue,” suggested the French writer La Rochefoucauld. Continue reading
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Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
There’s something about that name
Master savior Jesus
It’s like the fragrance after rain
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
Let Heaven and Earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away
There is something about that name Continue reading
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By now we’ve all received the message loud and clear from our President, Vice-President as well as Dr. Fauci and Dr. Brix to practice “social distancing.” Stay home. And if you do go out for a walk, to the grocery, or to a carry out restaurant, stay 6 feet apart from others.
These mitigation efforts have forced almost all churches to temporarily suspend public assemblies. No Sunday morning or Wednesday Bible classes. No Sunday worship. No ladies classes. No gospel meetings. No potlucks. All of this social distancing can leave us feeling disconnected, detached and even disjointed spiritually. Continue reading
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ThePreachersWord 