The reading today is from John 18:1-19,42 What stands out to me is a six word sentence. “I find no case against him.” (18:13)
Pilate finds no case against Jesus and yet he follows the custom of asking the people who to release instead of releasing Jesus himself. There are some hard things to read in this entire…..
I’ve been thinking about all the things happening in this world and the arguments for and against religion and people blaming war on religion and how others blame war on politics and I wonder why we don’t blame war on people? Yes – to me it makes so much more sense to blame war on people than on institutions. We blame human actions on institutions because it’s hard to…..
These verses wrap up the Sermon on the Mount bringing it full circle.
The kingdom of heaven gives to the poor in Spirit, filling them up so they may share the kingdom with other people who either have never heard of God’s love and a heavenly kingdom, or those who know but are depleted. Even Jesus went away to…..
In my book, “Praying Our Way Through Stress” in writing about The Lord’s Prayer and the phrase; Save us from the time of trial I quote Luke 22:31, which reads:
“Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
I go on to write:
Perhaps this relates to Peter (aka Simon) having his faith shaken by the arrest,…..
Sometimes people who are ‘investigating’ matters of faith, people who are seeking to understand the mystery of faith will ask: How do you know prayer works? It’s a good question, isn’t it? How would you answer it? The first time someone asked me that question, at least the first time I remember, I started telling them about prayers I had…..
After Jesus said “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ He and those with him entered the temple area in Jerusalem. I told you we had discussed the fig tree lesson at a quiet day several years ago. I remember having asked if Jesus and his disciples were still hungry when they entered the temple area. Did he drive out the people who were buying and selling…..
This is something I am learning well. I have received positive and negative feedback from having published this book. Some people who know me think that I’m being a little ‘self-righteous’ in publishing this book. I never really understand people who think this about me because I know I am not perfect and am in need of the Lord’s strength, grace, love, forgiveness and power – I know I’m a sinner in need of the Lord. This book in no way…..
In order to forget how to do something, first you have to known how to do it.
I grew up in the church and I had learned how to pray in church and in Sunday School and at home. I learned prayers that we memorized. Now there is nothing wrong with memorizing prayers. But sometimes when we memorize something it just becomes a ‘pat’ response to something. Kind of how our greetings are when we pass people on the street…..