Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
“Watch your thoughts, for they will become actions. Watch
your actions, for they’ll become… habits. Watch your habits
for they will forge your character. Watch your character, for it
will make your destiny.” -MARGARET THATCHER
Do Good
Results! We all would like to see positive and productive results from our efforts and words. Results can be difficult to see when working with people, such as a teacher or counselor. The political process can be very slow in producing results. How about gardeners and farmers who must wait months for results and sometimes suffer the effects of too little or too much rain, hail, insects, blights, mold and so on. I’m thankful they don’t give up and I know they are too.
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Think About It
“Within the character of the citizen, lies the
welfare of the nation.” -Cicero
Many Ways
Recently it was reported that a very high-profile denominational leader stated that all religions are paths to the same God. This was said to Christians living in Singapore. It’s like different religions are simply a different language talking about the same God. Really!? Can we lump all the world’s religions into one basket and say they all lead to the God who created and redeemed us? Hardly! They all have their own god and sacred writings and none of them completely agree on everything, therefore, religious doctrine will be contradicted.
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
“Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility.” -Peter Drucker
Reputation
Paul writes to the Christian church located in the heart of the pagan Roman Empire, a church he did not establish or visit prior to sending his letter.
The church Paul writes to, probably not a ‘mega,’ church had a reputation that spread far and wide. What was their reputation? First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world. Romans 1:8
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
God cannot be rejected without putting something else in his place. The history of philosophy is largely a history of setting up God surrogates. It is a history of idol-making. One of the most effective ways to understand history, then, is to identify the prevailing idols. -Nancy Pearcey: Finding Truth
September Briefing 2024
Shalom
What is this peace the bible speaks of? Peace from conflict, peace of mind? Shalom is the fullness of life: prosperity, happiness, salvation, restoration, repair – the sum total of the Gospel.