tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63400562011-10-06T13:46:57.347-05:00A weblog ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Bridgeport, TexasDuanenoreply@blogger.comBlogger1091100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-13131260132360357162011-02-23T00:52:00.000-06:002011-02-23T00:55:11.329-06:00

TUNE IN, LOG IN, JOIN IN ESPN sports radio has a signature imperative at the end of their news update: tune in, log in, join in. Guess what? It is a good idea! As we begin the church season of Lent (a lengthening of days; 40 days before Easter), together we are called to tune in. As Jesus made his way to the cross, he implored his followers to TUNE IN to God’s way, truth, and life. He told his

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-69787737504622900362011-01-07T21:45:00.001-06:002011-01-07T21:51:15.416-06:00

In Touch in the New YearDraw me close to YouNever let me goI lay it all down againTo hear You say that I'm Your friendYou are my desireNo one else will do'Cause nothing else could take Your placeTo feel the warmth of Your embraceHelp me find the wayBring me back to YouYou're all I wantYou're all I've ever neededYou're all I wantHelp me know You are near

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-82044307361069123622010-08-03T06:38:00.000-05:002010-08-03T06:48:52.786-05:00

IN AND OUTd365.org is a devotional website that has a word for us this day! A few years ago my brother-in-law recommended it to me. The daily devotional format is as follows. It strikes me as a resolute way to be a faith-filled follower of God: Pause Listen Think Pray Go 1. Teach us to slow down, to PAUSE to hear God: we often do all the

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-64514143624368323352010-08-03T06:37:00.000-05:002010-08-03T06:38:09.624-05:00

LOOKING BACK TO LOOK AHEAD: THE PREACHER TALKS FRANKLYHave you ever wondered, “So what?” I have. The preacher who penned Ecclesiastes has. I commend this short book of the Bible to you. I’m grateful it is in our canon. The unnamed teacher/preacher asks the hard questions and doesn’t give us neat and tidy answers—for life isn’t neat or tidy. I

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-70593411063300829082010-08-03T06:36:00.000-05:002010-08-03T06:37:13.012-05:00

An Attitude of GratitudePsalm 42.4:These things I remember; as I pour forth my soul:how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God,with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. Can we talk? Why does it seem that for the Psalmists praise came easily? They seem to always be turning to God in praise somehow, some way. Well, not so

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-20927102362396857662010-03-07T22:04:00.001-06:002010-03-07T22:06:30.584-06:00

How Do We Know? Recently, I had an email from a committed, devoted, walking-the-walk friend. He writes a devotional email every day. After lifting up the prayer needs of others, he asked his readers to pray for him as he discerns God’s voice and has the courage to follow. His request has led me to wonder, “How can we know if we are doing the “right” things or not as we go through life?” It

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-85043703488720989442009-12-28T21:55:00.002-06:002009-12-30T13:02:14.336-06:00

A WORD FROM YOUR PASTOR LOVE BEYOND MEASURE As we begin 2010, I invite you to look back to an early experience of Nathanael under the tree: John 1:43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." 44Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-70882212817744099002009-12-15T19:45:00.003-06:002009-12-15T20:07:02.431-06:00

ADVENT: A TIME TO DRAW NEAR AND PRAYAs I ponder the meaning of Advent, one prayer comes to mind over and over again. You may recognize it. I encourage you to keep it close at hand, to pray often, and draw near to God this Advent season. Advent means “to come”. So come, see what God is doing! Christ ever with me, Christ before me, Christ behind meChrist within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-91771548931503877422009-11-17T21:58:00.002-06:002009-11-17T22:09:42.842-06:00

Christian Believer: Knowing God with Heart and Mind Come one; Come all: Advent Study Group begins Thursday, December 3 at 10:00 am. We will meet December 3, 10, and 17. And then continue in 2010! This is an excellent Abingdon Press resource that engages the voices of theologians through the

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-47677075695657123972009-10-01T11:10:00.001-05:002009-10-01T11:15:21.286-05:00

REDO AND RENEW As we make progress on our three phase construction project at the church: electrical, kitchen, and new rear entry, I am struck by the similarity to rebuilding our inner selves that we must do as Christians. It is a tenet of our faith that Christ makes all things new! (Rev. 21:5-7) This promise applies to God’s beloved children. We too are made new. But such newness requires

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-48688999037713244952009-09-29T21:00:00.000-05:002009-09-29T21:26:05.429-05:00

HOW THEN DO WE GRIEVE?Grieving is universal. It is something each of us will face at some point, and many of us have had to face multiple times. One loss may trigger a grief response from prior losses. In other words, grief is cumulative. But that isn’t all bad. We can draw from prior experiences to help us through current ones. The following are some suggestions to keep in mind as you grieve

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-26066746562497317032009-05-30T13:41:00.002-05:002009-05-30T13:43:22.657-05:00

We are the Church Together2000 years ago, the early church was just forming. Believers mostly gathered in house churches to worship and have fellowship (including food of course!) Preachers would stand on the street corners and crowds would gather to hear a Word. The body of Christ is just that. We gather to hear a Word, we share a Word, and we recommit to be Christ’s witness in the world. And we

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-81448580580879124782009-05-12T12:09:00.000-05:002009-05-12T12:12:00.889-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS!April found us celebrating so much: Easter, Confirmation, two wedding announcements, and winter’s gray becoming spring’s sunshine! Congratulations to the Confirmation Class of 2009. You will find in this newsletter our newest members’ faith statements. Read them, and let their words soak in. You have helped shape these young people. The words they speak are a thank you to each of

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-44332047733920166272009-05-12T12:06:00.001-05:002009-05-12T12:09:13.895-05:00

We are the Church Together2000 years ago, the early church was just forming. Believers mostly gathered in house churches to worship and have fellowship (including food of course!) Preachers would stand on the street corners and crowds would gather to hear a Word. The body of Christ is just that. We gather to hear a Word, we share a Word, and we recommit to be Christ’s witness in the world. And we

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-22623402085520890682009-04-01T15:11:00.000-05:002009-04-01T15:12:59.902-05:00

CONSIDER THE LILIESHave you considered the lily lately? We know Easter lilies bloom their hearts out, gracing God’s house. We know Spider lilies run rampant with their silky-looking red and orange tentacles. What Jesus said holds so true for our lives in 2009:And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-44991687530713844302009-02-23T09:26:00.000-06:002009-02-23T09:33:33.145-06:00

YOUR CHURCH IS YOUYou are a walking advertisement of your church and the Christ whom it proclaims. You take the church out of its four walls, and make it live in the everyday affairs of life. Some have the idea that the pastor is the church. It is true that the pastor often speaks for the church, declares what it stands for, and invites people into its fellowship. It is the pastor’s job to know

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-88007360144293279722009-01-30T14:20:00.001-06:002009-01-30T14:22:50.715-06:00

Fullness of Life in 2009 for your refrigerator1. Practice kindness. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is the greatest gift of all. 2. Focus on changing your behavior. What simple steps can you take to live life differently? 3. Challenge inaccurate thinking. Believe in yourself. Remember God’s word: “All things are possible through Christ who gives you strength.” 4. Share your feelings.5.

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-17852691274089339362009-01-14T21:32:00.002-06:002009-01-14T21:39:20.701-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEARHappy New Year! As my son used to say, "Mama, Happy New You!" He had a point. It is a time of year to be new. A time to reflect on 2008, and begin again in 2009. I have conflicting resolutions: one is to get in control of my stuff and another is to rest more! Alas, yin and yang! We may get caught in conflicting shoulds and oughts this year, but we may also resolve to let go of some

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-84290819079484909972009-01-14T21:30:00.000-06:002009-01-14T21:32:02.857-06:00

A Word from Your Pastor Two weeks ago, I attended a funeral for Glenn, age 43, the husband of the choir director who has taught Katie for 3 years. His funeral touched me in a deep place. All of that love in one room made me question my life and those places that need more love. It is so easy to get caught up in the shoulds and oughts of life and miss the good stuff. Glenn’s service was the

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-62203232976958637422008-11-04T00:14:00.001-06:002008-11-04T00:17:25.276-06:00

Crossing the Bridge into New Life As we approach the season of Advent (to come), I invite you to consider an obstacle in your life that God is asking you to overcome or to let go. I remember twenty-three years ago when I was trying to finish my social work degree, I almost let my self-doubt stand in the way of accomplishing my goal. Fortunately, I was blessed with a person in my life who believed

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-3837963107416784002008-11-04T00:11:00.002-06:002008-11-04T00:14:31.325-06:00

CONFIRMATION CLASS 2008-2009 What a privilege and joy to be with five young people in this year's confirmation class. We have met three times, learned the Lord's Prayer well, studied Who is a Presbyterian? and taken a mission trip to Trinity Assisted Living in costume!! It has been fun and educational, and...we have only just begun. Thank you for sharing your children! And many thanks to Carol,

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-80841499444201132402008-10-18T20:37:00.006-05:002008-11-04T00:22:45.505-06:00

Advent (to come) heralds the coming of the Messiah. It is the liturgical season before Christmas and begins November 30th this year. As a nifty way to re-member, we are publishing an Advent Devotional Book. This is simply a 26 page book (one page for each day of Advent) written by each of us during this holy season. So…we need 26 people to agree to write one page each. I will give you the texts

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-75381405136398291522008-08-31T22:43:00.001-05:002008-08-31T22:46:22.766-05:00

BREAKFAST AND WORSHIP ONTHEOLOGICAL EDUCATION SUNDAYSEPTEMBER 14, 2008MATT CURRY, PREACHING Come and see what God is doing! Matt is a first year Brite Divinity School student. He is a friend and a colleague. He has worked extensively with the Emmaus community and Kairos Prison Ministry. Matt will bless us as he shares his vocations and preaches. O come, let us sing to the Lord! PSALM 95O

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-21776842232797991122008-08-09T09:27:00.003-05:002008-08-09T09:36:24.195-05:00

Life in the Christ Lane Because He lives I can face tomorrow,Because He lives all fear is gone;Because I know He holds the futureAnd life is worth the living just because He lives. Bill and Gloria GatherThere are many instances in life when we get in a hurry, rush about, and forget that there is a still small voice that speaks to us. Let's start living life in the Christ lane. Then, when life's

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-60742293818417092662008-07-01T22:37:00.002-05:002008-07-01T22:45:04.778-05:00

Ice Cream, Hot Dogs, and Apple Pie"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the one who trusts in him." Psalm 34:8-9As we enter the “dog days of summer”, let’s get our sunscreen ready, our new beach towels fluffed and folded, and be ready for all the good God has in store. We might catch ourselves whining about the heat, but then we remember that God is good and

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-62180535469080652432008-06-06T21:59:00.001-05:002008-06-06T21:59:59.029-05:00

SUMMER ON THE HORIZONI appeal to you to remember God’s church this summer. You’ve heard the plea before. “The church still has to pay the bills even when you are on vacation!” As necessary as bill paying is, what concerns me more is how close we stay to the fount that gives us the living water of life. We need God. We need one another. We need the living water, especially when our tanks may be

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-9129710882534541222008-06-06T21:57:00.000-05:002008-06-06T21:58:46.972-05:00

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THISNever has there been a time when we need prayer more than now. Scripture, in fact, identifies our continual need to pray and in the 17th chapter of John’s gospel, Jesus gives us another model for prayer. His first model was the Lord’s Prayer. This second model teaches us how to live a life of prayer. First, Jesus petitions God to glorify Him. He knows that a life of prayer

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-75407563836453829632008-04-02T21:31:00.002-05:002008-04-02T21:36:08.581-05:00

Steven Curtis Chapman has a way of encapsulating the truth. Listen to this song and think of you! Fingerprints of GodI can see the fingerprints of GodWhen I look at you I can see the fingerprints of GodAnd I know it's true You're a masterpieceThat all creation quietly applaudsAnd you're covered with the fingerprints of GodNever has there been and never againWill there be another you

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-512465438318925062008-03-09T20:34:00.002-05:002008-03-09T20:35:58.882-05:00

A Word from the Pastor Journey to the Cross and the Empty Tomb LENT Lent is a time to take the time to let the power of our faith story take hold of us,A time to let the events get up and walk around in us,A time to intensify our living

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-34330757382240553762008-01-31T17:22:00.000-06:002008-01-31T17:23:20.536-06:00

A WORD FROM THE PASTORLIFE LESSONS: WORLD DAY OF PRAYER 2008 MARCH 7TH 10am PSALM 25:4-5Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. I had absolute joy when I came to

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-81674673602360798542008-01-31T17:19:00.000-06:002008-01-31T17:22:38.009-06:00

A WORD FROM THE PASTOR “ARISE, SHINE, YOUR LIGHT HAS COME!” Isaiah 60:1 Who knows where we are going unless we take a look back to where we have been? There is no easier way than to look at the pictures (big surprise!). We began 2007 with a visit from Grace Presbytery’s Rick Carus who was here for the Lord’s Supper and our Annual Congregational Meeting! We elected two

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-55193754498468552372007-11-28T10:12:00.000-06:002007-11-28T10:14:25.654-06:00

December, this year, marks the beginning of the Advent Season. Advent means “to come”. We wait in eager anticipation for the Christ child. It is a time for us to be reminded to wait on God. Waiting entails listening. I challenge each of us to listen well this month. Listening requires being still long enough to hear. This December listen for God. Recently, I participated in Lectio Divina, a

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-78079035708500029562007-10-26T09:15:00.000-05:002007-10-26T09:39:09.382-05:00

Here we are towards the end of 2007. I am readying to celebrate two years at this great spot on God's map of churches. It has been joy and blessing, and if I haven't said it enough: "THANK YOU!" Thank you for being a beacon of hope in a hurting world. Thank you for reaching out and reaching in to give care and a warm meal. Thank you for your enthusiasm and love and willingness to receive help

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-47113101111563041252007-04-05T10:33:00.000-05:002007-04-05T10:35:28.177-05:00

A Word from the PastorCHRIST IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN, INDEED! As we witness to God’s miracle of Resurrection, we respond with praise, praise, and more praise. This last great Psalm speaks of how we can do just that: Psalm 1501 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-34190377219828238162007-03-09T18:50:00.000-06:002007-03-09T19:24:48.219-06:00

Easter Eggstravaganza will be held Easter morning beginning at 9:30 am.Come join in the fun: Easter egg hunt, a visit from the rabbit, and...wonderful fellowship. Rejoice, "Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen indeed!"See you here!Lucia

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-85592826197006895512007-03-09T18:46:00.000-06:002007-03-09T18:49:05.062-06:00

Our Annual Ecumenical Maundy Thursday Service will be held on Thursday, April 5th at 6:30pm at First United Methodist Church followed by a light supper. Come and see what God is doing as we prepare our hearts for Easter.

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-50840217373224084512007-03-09T17:49:00.000-06:002007-03-09T17:54:17.634-06:00

This calendar year, one week in February, four weeks in March, and one week in April comprise the Lenten Season for Christians. Lent represents the journey to the cross and to Easter. The practice of Lenten observance began as a time of disciplined preparation for Baptism. Catechumens, those preparing to be baptized, took part in a year-long journey of study and prayer that culminated at

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1137775137358503192006-02-01T10:37:00.000-06:002006-01-30T11:46:30.753-06:00

Greetings from the Pastor February is "the" love month. I am reminded of what is called "The Law of Love." As Christians and as Presbyterians, we are called to do everything in a spirit of love.Hear the words from the Law: " You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1137632416887064942006-01-18T18:55:00.000-06:002006-01-18T19:07:20.596-06:00

Grace and Peace to You, indeed! How exciting it is for me to begin as Minister of Word and Sacrament at First Presbyterian Church of Bridgeport, Texas. Please come join us for worship every Sunday morning at 11:00 am and for Sunday school at 10:00am. We have breakfast goodies at 9:30! Come and experience God's love in this place. I can't wait to get to know everyone!Love in Christ,Reverend Lucia

Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203077582279408558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1088618710866936652004-06-30T13:01:00.000-05:002004-06-30T13:05:10.866-05:00

About lunch time on Monday, I held my breath with the entire seminary community as a flash flood swept into Leibrock Village, the seminary’s student housing complex. Cars floated through the parking lot and at least a foot of water lapped through the ground-floor apartments. Twelve families, one faculty member, and the housing office have been displaced. In less than an hour, though, students

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1088388791359978342004-06-27T21:11:00.000-05:002004-06-27T21:13:11.360-05:00

Watching TV and movies can be a spiritual practice, said a speaker at the PC(USA) General Assembly, but it takes a discerning spirit to make it work.

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-108801963916909622004-06-23T14:36:00.000-05:002004-06-23T14:40:39.170-05:00

Late last week, I stood in the sanctuary of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta singing the civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.” It was an emotional moment for many in our group of pastoral theologians from around the world, which had traveled together to the church where Martin Luther King Jr. had been pastor. But some in the group, myself included, couldn’t lift up our voices because of a

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1087137559461338492004-06-13T09:33:00.000-05:002004-06-13T09:39:19.460-05:00

A sermon on Luke 7:36-8:3: Imagine you’ve invited the pastor for an intimate barbecue on your back patio. You’ve got smoked chicken, grilled sausages, a big bowl of guacamole, 10 pounds of corn chips, cold beer, coke for the kids, and huge slabs of bloody beef just waiting to be slapped on the grill. You’re sitting around the table, telling jokes, sharing news of the day, when your neighbor

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1086835249013579262004-06-09T21:38:00.000-05:002004-06-09T21:40:49.013-05:00

In a world that wants to reject creeds ("I'm spiritual, but not religious"), Luke Timothy Johnson sees Christian creeds as "subversive documents" that open possibilities rather than shutting down debate. Johnson's point, I would argue, is precisely why Presbyterians include a creed in worship each Sunday and why a collection of creeds makes up the first part of our church constitution.

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1086804449291732122004-06-09T13:04:00.000-05:002004-06-09T13:07:29.290-05:00

With all this rain, I feel like I ought to preach about Noah and the Ark on Sunday! Wet or dry, though, we're having a community barbeque dinner on Saturday, June 12, at the church. About 45 people from the community and the church have said they are coming, and we hope others will just “drop by.” So come "taste and see" with us. We’ll start serving food at noon; entertainment (music, puppets,

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-108654467953605212004-06-06T12:42:00.000-05:002004-06-06T12:57:59.536-05:00

This is a sermon based on John 16:12-15; the sermon started with the congregation looking at the painting "Circle Dance" by Ann Altman (you can see it here), naming what those gathered for worship saw in the painting: people of all colors holding hands and dancing the mathematical sign for "infinity" formed by the ribbon held by the dancers the sun on the horizon, which the dancers are looking

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1086203520261696652004-06-02T14:10:00.000-05:002004-06-03T06:17:40.190-05:00

As thunderstorms blasted Fort Worth last night, I opened the door so my 2-year-old son could see the hail. He wanted to pick up a hailstone, so we stepped out onto the stairs--just as the wind ripped a huge pecan limb from the tree that shades our house, slamming it against the roof and then against the porch. It landed right on the stairs where we had been standing a second before. Somehow, I

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1085870484011036832004-05-29T17:35:00.000-05:002004-05-30T07:59:24.173-05:00

People of faith across America will leave a light or candle burning overnight Sunday-Monday as a part of "Lights for Human Dignity," a protest sponsored by The Interfaith Alliance against atrocities in Iraq.

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1085598492323329312004-05-26T14:04:00.000-05:002004-05-26T14:08:12.323-05:00

At lunch today, we talked and prayed about the story of Jesus healing two demoniacs in a cemetery near the sea from Matthew 8:28-34: When he came to the other side [of the lake], . . . two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1084993184756328802004-05-19T13:58:00.000-05:002004-05-19T13:59:44.756-05:00

My son Ben has a new tricycle, and the first thing he says every day is: “I want to ride my bike!” (It reminds me of that old Queen song “Bicycle” . . . but I digress.) Every night Ben pedals down the sidewalk toward the park, grinning, while I try to keep up. It’s a pleasure to see him enjoy the strength of his body as it delivers the experience of self-propelled speed. Remember how powerful

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1084734980303329472004-05-16T14:10:00.000-05:002004-05-16T14:16:20.303-05:00

A sermon on Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5: The brightness of the afternoon sun, the warmth of May, the smell of spring rain: None of the things I treasured about last week betrayed the fact that our world is shrouded in darkness. But it is. The horrific execution of American businessman Nicholas Berg in Iraq, unveiled to the world on videotape Tuesday, was juxtaposed a day later with the release

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1084392241846329312004-05-12T14:54:00.001-05:002004-05-12T15:10:33.856-05:00

That headline's quite an affirmation on the day after the execution of an American citizen in Iraq and on the same day that Congress received new photos of US soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners-of-war. These are dark times, and I suspect they will grow darker yet as the war in Iraq continues. But people who belong to Christ--people like us--affirm that a light shines in this darkness, and the

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1083876467455515902004-05-06T15:47:00.000-05:002004-05-06T15:52:14.043-05:00

Jesus told us that his followers should be "salty"--have a particular taste, and particular uses, when compared to the broader culture. Keeping ourselves salty, however, can be a challenge--but this quick assessment from Christianity Today can remind us how to keep a unique Christian flavor in all parts of our lives.

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1083794760330812662004-05-05T17:06:00.000-05:002004-05-05T17:10:26.216-05:00

Thanks to all who brought food for the hungry last month. Today we delivered at least eight sacks of groceries to the food bank at First United Methodist Church. The staff there reports more requests for assistance than is typical at this time of the year. We’ll bring food again on the third Sunday of May (May 16). Our “month of experiments” in worship will continue Sunday with repeated,

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1083548777349238232004-05-02T20:46:00.000-05:002004-05-02T20:50:38.936-05:00

A prayer from Hebrew Bible scholar Walter Brueggemann: "You mark us with your water, You scar us with your name, You brand us with your vision, and we ponder our baptism, your water, your name, your vision. While we ponder, we are otherwise branded. Our imagination is consumed by other brands, - winning with Nike, - pausing with Coca-Cola, - knowing and controlling with Microsoft. Re-brand us,

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1083184245998600692004-04-28T15:30:00.000-05:002004-04-28T15:35:01.950-05:00

Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA)--the national body of our denomination--has strongly criticized President Bush's policy in the Middle East in a recent letter. You can read his message to the president here.

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1083184027909755392004-04-28T15:27:00.000-05:002004-04-28T15:31:23.890-05:00

One of the delights of being a parent is watching your child progress through “developmental stages”—the points at which they develop new skills and abilities. My son Ben, for example, is learning to draw with a pen he holds by himself, to recognize the letters of the alphabet, and to tell right from wrong. All of those activities reflect the “developmental stage” he’s working through.

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1082820743896041722004-04-24T10:32:00.000-05:002004-04-24T10:36:33.920-05:00

Several times a year, the executive director and stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly--our "national office"--send a letter to pastors sharing their observations about the life of the denomination. Here is their letter that arrived this week: Dear Friends and Colleagues: We greet you in the joy of the risen Christ! This is the latest of our seasonal communications to

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1082300929212886802004-04-18T10:08:00.000-05:002004-04-18T10:12:51.310-05:00

A sermon on John 20:19-31. She refuses to wear a bathing suit in public anymore. She’s too embarrassed by the stretch marks on her abdomen that record her transformation from “child-free young adult” to “mother.” She wishes her body still looked the way it used to look. Men who are going bald use Rogaine and implants to hide their shiny domes. Ronald Reagan, throughout his presidency and after

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1081852039109767962004-04-13T05:27:00.000-05:002004-04-13T05:31:13.873-05:00

As many Americans seek spiritual nurture on the Internet as in church. Yet being involved in a congregation increases the chance that people will turn to the Web for spiritual friendship and connections. That's the finding of a study released this month by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. In a comprehensive study of Web behavior related to religion, the Project discovered that: *

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1081696364144893922004-04-11T10:12:00.000-05:002004-04-11T10:16:36.546-05:00

A sermon on Luke 24:1-12: It’s an uphill walk from the bus station in Chihuahua, Mexico, toward the cathedral on the city’s plaza—not a walk you would normally look forward to with a 35-pound backpack strapped to your shoulders. But we’d arrived at dusk, we were hungry, and the guidebook said there was a good, cheap, clean hotel—The Plaza Reforma—not far off the main square. So we hoisted our

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1081101307303425052004-04-04T12:55:00.000-05:002004-04-04T12:58:49.653-05:00

It started with an e-mail from God. OK--not from God. From me. But perhaps God had a hand in it? Read about church member Kay Pugsley's mission trip to India in February in an article from the April 1, 2004, issue of the Wise County Messenger.

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1080932136471644612004-04-02T12:55:00.000-06:002004-04-02T12:59:16.920-06:00

The period that Christians call "Holy Week" begins Sunday, with Palm (or Passion) Sunday--the entrance Jesus makes into Jerusalem for the final week of his life as a human being. The website Faith and Values has an excellent collection of resources for understanding Holy Week in the various Christian traditions.

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1080502918823139582004-03-28T13:41:00.000-06:002004-03-28T13:45:32.043-06:00

Our callings from God aren't always immediately clear--nor do they always follow a straight line. That's the essence of a Wise County Messenger article about our pastoral intern, Diane Oswald, and the path she's followed to ministry with the Presbyterian church.

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1080487000522640372004-03-28T09:16:00.000-06:002004-03-28T09:20:13.623-06:00

A sermon based on John 12:1-8. Not far from our house in Fort Worth is a neighborhood the police call The End. It’s less than two miles by car, but a world away by culture. The End anchors Fort Worth’s drug trade. You can buy crack cocaine or amphetamines on the street corners the way you can buy ice cream from a handcart at the park near my house. The sound of guns is an every-day occurrence.

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1079994420487506472004-03-22T16:27:00.000-06:002004-03-22T16:30:25.763-06:00

Thought I'd share this poem received today from Liz Budd Ellman, executive director of Spiritual Directors International. It's from the artist and poet John Squadra who wrote This Ecstasy, which is recommended reading at Heron Dance: If you listen, not to the pages or preachers but to the smallest flower growing from a crack in your heart, you will hear a great song moving across a wide ocean

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1079887464802359222004-03-21T10:44:00.000-06:002004-03-21T10:47:48.000-06:00

A sermon based on Luke 15:11-32. ********* The week started out quiet in Deep Root County, but it ended in a party—and not everyone was happy about it. All week, Liza Tuttle had watched the wildflowers blossom in her yard, the grey rain clouds blow in from the west and sail past without a drop of rain, and—through the gap in her Venetian blinds—the comings and goings of her neighbor and best

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1079874703498998592004-03-21T07:11:00.000-06:002004-03-21T07:15:06.936-06:00

It's a term coined by the late, great Wayne Oates. But it's also a national epidemic--people investing more of themselves and their lives in the work they do than in the vocation God has called them to take part in. But some people are working to reverse this trend. And check out the Faith and Values portal on work and spirituality.

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1079709269260155102004-03-19T09:14:00.000-06:002004-03-19T09:17:50.046-06:00

A couple in Georgia was arrested this month after a debate about Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ turned violent. She stabbed him with scissors; he punched a hole in the wall. They were arguing about whether God the Father is human or symbolic. "Really, it was kind of a pitiful thing, to go to a movie like that and fight about it. I think they missed the point," said Gene McDaniel,

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1079556980466582592004-03-17T14:56:00.000-06:002004-03-17T14:59:39.076-06:00

. . . I'm not wearing green on St. Patrick's Day! Playful holiday customs aside, the real St. Patrick has a lot to teach us about adventure and faith, slavery and liberation, and forgiveness and love. He was a British slave who brought Christianity to the pagan Celts in fifth-century Ireland. In the process, he helped create a type of Christianity that we--who know the church as dominated by

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1079288093145840742004-03-14T12:14:00.000-06:002004-03-14T12:18:07.263-06:00

This sermon is based on Luke 13.1-9. I spent much of December, January and February in a sort of pain-induced haze. Two herniated disks in my neck were pressing against my spinal cord, creating a thunderstorm of pain down my arms and across my shoulders—even a mild breeze could set off a flash of pain so severe I would cry. And when I coughed, or sneezed—unbelievable pain! And in the midst of

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1079094383354801582004-03-12T06:26:00.000-06:002004-03-12T06:29:34.233-06:00

Nature is God's book, and we have a lot to learn from our fellow creatures--as Elizabeth Canham describes here. Also: the face of Jesus as glimpsed in nature, courtesy of Rejesus.

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1078941044118604822004-03-10T11:50:00.000-06:002004-03-10T11:53:52.216-06:00

Scripture is full of stories about people hearing from God in the midst of a dream. Why not do a little dreaming yourself as a part of your Lenten preparation? Sit down, clear your mind and relax your body (deep breaths are helpful here!), say a brief prayer of intention (such as, "God, I give myself to you for the next few moments; speak to me about your call in my life"), and then write a

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1078683985537913112004-03-07T12:26:00.000-06:002004-03-07T12:29:29.903-06:00

A sermon on Luke 3:31-35: When my mother was a little girl, she had a pet fox. My grandfather found him while plowing, a tiny pup small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. She named the pup “Foxy,” and used an eye dropper and then a baby bottle to nurse the little fox into adolescence. When he was older, Foxy used to sit at the table in a high chair, using the Sears catalog as a booster seat,

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1078593929925517952004-03-06T11:25:00.000-06:002004-03-10T13:56:23.090-06:00

are all elements of an ethical business life, the Christian Science Monitor reported this week. Living a Christian life is, in large part, about ethics--how we live in ways that are responsible, honest, and maintain integrity. Given that, these three bywords--mission, models and mirrors--seem a helpful way of looking at our life during Lent: Whose mission are we serving with a particular

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1078346595802594882004-03-03T14:43:00.000-06:002004-03-03T14:46:14.576-06:00

Seems like the whole world's passionate about The Passion, Mel Gibson's new blockbuster about the final twelve hours of Jesus' life. Questions about faith virtually drip from this film, and to help sort through it all, Presbyterians Today Online has prepared a helpful viewer's guide that looks at the (Roman Catholic) movie through Reformed eyes. Take a look at the viewer's guide in preparation

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1078240115725527612004-03-02T09:08:00.000-06:002004-03-02T09:11:33.263-06:00

That's the title of a new book reviewed this week on the Christianity Today website. Here's the plug: "Selling Ourselves Short: Why We Struggle to Earn a Living and Have a Life, by Catherine Wallace (Brazos Press). Why, Wallace wonders, is it only paid work that seems to count in our society? What is work, anyway? How have we been led astray by the notion of "vocation"? Is there any prospect

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1078081190497502682004-02-29T12:59:00.000-06:002004-02-29T13:02:45.623-06:00

During Lent, I will preach mostly from a manuscript instead of from an outline, as I normally do. So I thought it would be nice to post each week's sermon on the Bridge/Port 'blog. So . . . here is today's sermon, based on Luke 4:1-14. **************** The minute I walked into his hospital room, Chris started waving the New Testament under my nose. “Man, this

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1077916704919145822004-02-27T15:18:00.000-06:002004-02-29T07:47:47.733-06:00

The United States has "failed miserably" in sharing its wealth with other people in the world, former President Jimmy Carter said at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum this week in Minnesota. Even worse, despite a growing chasm between rich and poor, Carter suggested Americans have no desire to be more benevolent and more caring toward others. [See also this Wise County Messenger editorial about recent

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1077856949222050892004-02-26T22:42:00.000-06:002004-02-26T22:45:20.356-06:00

So says a North Texas pastor after viewing Mel Gibson's controversial film about the final hours of Jesus' life. Three North Texas clergymen--one Baptist, one Presbyterian, one Jewish--watched the film together and comment on it in today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram. It sounds like a lively conversation. I'll let you read it and draw your own conclusions--but here's a taste from the Rev. Steve

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1077760547735088872004-02-25T19:55:00.000-06:002004-02-25T20:02:33.356-06:00

has a big pull on us sometimes. For me, it's ice cream when I'm stressed, but if I'm homesick, sad, or ill, only my mother's chicken-and-noodles will do. How about you? What brings you comfort? "Comfort" is important to Presbyterians; one of our creeds--documents that reflect how we understand (and misunderstand) God--begins with the question: "What is your only comfort, in life and in death?"

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1077161486461893422004-02-18T21:31:00.000-06:002004-02-18T21:42:37.983-06:00

That's how folks might dress for worship if a local congregation adopted the tactics of the "emerging churches" profiled in today's New York Times. The article [which I found via Tien Mao] describes the pastor of such a church as he led worship: "Mr. Musick, 37, wore a faded T-shirt and blue jeans and had mussed hair and a soul patch beneath his lower lip. Instead of his weekly sermon, he

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1076976830491883162004-02-16T18:13:00.000-06:002004-02-16T18:17:21.496-06:00

. . . but if that's what we are, how do we learn to live that way? The answer begins in childhood, and interest in the spirituality of children is growing in the church as a whole and in the broader culture. In a compelling charge to the church, Christian educator Carol Wehrheim calls Presbyterians to strengthen the ways in which they nurture the spiritual life of children. To help out, the

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1076892231740697202004-02-15T18:43:00.000-06:002004-02-15T18:46:27.390-06:00

. . . from Johnny Baker in London. The biblical book of Psalms has been called "the prayer book of the bible," and these poetic expressions of faith encompass nearly every sort of human emotion possible--with the possible exception of one. To learn about the psalms--and to figure out which common human response to life they don't seem to include--drop in on Johnny's "Psalm Twister" page at

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1076887928423154782004-02-15T17:32:00.000-06:002004-02-15T17:50:53.233-06:00

the parting of the Red Sea. Aren't you relieved? [I mean that as a joke!] Researchers at the St. Petersburg Institute of Oceanology, writing in the Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences, say a shallow reef on the north side of the Red Sea could have been exposed by wind long enough for 600,000 people to walk across on dry ground. In the biblical book of Exodus, the parting of the sea--

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1076773811988063582004-02-14T09:50:00.000-06:002004-02-14T09:52:46.436-06:00

do you know best? New books take a look at American concepts of Jesus and discover: ". . . Jesus the distant symbol, and Jesus the gentle friend. There's Jesus the pacifist and caregiver, and Jesus the gruff, muscular warrior. There's black Jesus, and white Jesus. Homely and handsome, capitalist and socialist, stern and hippie. Hardworking social reformer, mystical comforter — all among the

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1076473319505922372004-02-10T22:21:00.000-06:002004-02-10T22:28:31.606-06:00

The gospel reading this Sunday is Luke's story about the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6.17-26). [Matthew calls it "the Sermon on the Mount."] It's a passage traditionally called "the Beatitudes." In it, Jesus speaks words of blessing and words of woe to certain groups of people. (You know the drill: "Blessed are the poor, the hungry," etc.) I won't be in worship Sunday, but Diane Oswald will be

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1076470389130338022004-02-10T21:33:00.000-06:002004-02-10T22:02:37.750-06:00

I'm having surgery tomorrow. This isn't a personal (or confessional) blog, but I wanted to reflect a bit on what I was thinking and doing today. It pertains, I think, to safe crossings and to anchoring places--the focus of the Bridge/Port weblog. To put things simply: the prospect of surgery is frightening. The anxiety hasn't been overwhelming or even omnipresent; I am simply aware that I will

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1076383389932821132004-02-09T21:23:00.000-06:002004-02-09T21:28:32.983-06:00

First, let me say that I am not advocating this idea. Yet. Right now, I'm just wondering aloud, imagining the possibilities. Second, since there's no Kinko's or Office Depot or wi-fi connection in Wise County, it might be hard for folks here to understand what "free-agent infrastructure" is all about. But trust me: it works, and it's important. That said, take a look at the vision of the

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1076364252263791832004-02-09T16:04:00.000-06:002004-02-09T16:06:39.966-06:00

I've often wondered why more churches aren't involved in health ministries, given the emphasis Jesus placed on healing people physically, spiritually, and mentally. The good news: lots and lots of Presbyterian churches are involved in concrete ways of promoting better health in their congregations and in their communities. Make sure you flip through the photo album of healing ministries in

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1076339677040348152004-02-09T09:14:00.000-06:002004-02-09T09:17:04.246-06:00

Martin Marty, church historian and cultural critic, announced today that he won't be commenting on Mel Gibson's film The Passion. The film is getting much media hype right now, especially in relation to its realistic portrayal of the violence and suffering Jesus encountered. It's that aspect of the film that has moved Marty to write. After arguing that he isn't qualified to critique films,

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1076283009963312162004-02-08T17:30:00.000-06:002004-02-08T17:35:13.450-06:00

A member of our congregation, Kay Pugsley, is in Codacal, Kerala--a city in the the southwestern state of the nation of India--as a part of our presbytery's partnership with the Church of South India. On Monday, Kay begins an assessment of the church-sponsored Codacal Hospital. The hospital, located in a rural area, hopes to begin a nurse training program. (In fact, Grace Presbytery will take a

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1076110304698502862004-02-06T17:31:00.000-06:002004-02-06T17:34:07.983-06:00

More teens search for God than for pornography on the Internet. Surprised? That's the finding of University of North Carolina researchers conducting a four-year study of adolescents and faith. Rather than a place of temptation, report analysts with the National Study of Youth and Religion, the Internet has become a vital resource for religious teens. And far more adolescents use the Internet

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1076096660635301642004-02-06T13:44:00.000-06:002004-02-06T17:42:59.780-06:00

Issues of faith have become increasingly important on the geopolitical stage since the events of September 11, 2001. We've seen the "religion card" played several times in the current quest for the Democratic presidential nomination. At least one politician has invoked God to support the US invasion of Iraq. This mixing of religion and politics requires people of faith to thoughtfully and

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1075988730880141432004-02-05T07:45:00.000-06:002004-02-05T07:51:01.140-06:00

I'm not much of a fan of The Purpose Driven Church [especially the "10 steps to a better relationship with God" stuff], and the conservative bent of Christianity Today generally drives me nuts. But Tobin Perry, a writer for the "purpose driven" movement, does a good job of describing ways we can integrate worship into daily life. Paul told us to "pray always" . . . using Perry's article as a

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1075927884027488312004-02-04T14:51:00.000-06:002004-02-04T14:59:09.716-06:00

At lunch today, we talked about John 6:52-59, in which Jesus says, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I live in that person. . . . whoever eats me will also draw life from me." These words raise a lot of questions--questions about what "life" is, what it means to "live in Jesus," and what it means to "eat and drink" the flesh and blood of Jesus. There's good evidence

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1075779650352951662004-02-02T21:40:00.000-06:002004-02-02T21:44:10.716-06:00

At our weekly prayer lunch last month, Howard, Martha and Laura raised some questions about salvation--to wit, are people who haven't heard of Jesus doomed to eternity in hell? As we talked, we also explored some other questions: Will only a few Christians really be "saved"? Can God save people who aren't Christian and have chosen to practice another faith? Will God save everyone? In our

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-10757775898100972004-02-02T21:06:00.000-06:002004-02-02T21:08:48.170-06:00

For prayer, that is. Lots of us grew up believing that rote, spoken prayers are the only way to communicate with God. But MethodX, the Upper Room's website for young adults, includes some fantastic resources about different methods of prayer. "Communication is a two-way street," the site says, "involving listening as well as speaking. When it comes to communicating with God, though, we're

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1075671139517047932004-02-01T15:32:00.000-06:002004-02-01T16:36:03.543-06:00

Ever since reading Eugenia Campbell's partita on praise last week, I've had the lyrics to "Hallelujah" running through my head--not the chorus from Handel's Messiah, but a Jewish-Buddhist ballad expressing the heart of what it means to be human. The late Jeff Buckley recorded a version so sweet and spiritual it'll break your heart (in fact, it was featured in an episode of The West Wing many

Duanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340056.post-1075501214450161152004-01-30T16:20:00.000-06:002004-01-30T16:22:28.200-06:00

A year after his death, Mr. Rogers is emerging as a spiritual guide--all because of the discipline he built into his life, says one writer.

Duanenoreply@blogger.com