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Keeping Up to Date with the Church Around the World
We need to hear the voices of our brothers and sisters around the world even more. The persecution increases in the Middle East. Chuck Colson’s broadcast today focused on this issue. Please pray for the Body of Christ around the world. Before the Iraq War began, Christians comprised about five percent of the population of Iraq. Since then more than…
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Thoughts on Divisions… and Unity
This week I am preaching from 1 Corinthians 1:10-18. Some initial thoughts: What a passage to meditate on in our current political climate! “I am of Barack Obama.” “I am of Sarah Palin.” “I am of the Constitution of the United States.” We live divided. I wish we could do better in the United States. Right now we just seem…
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Book Review — The Liturgical Year
I received The Liturgical Year from Thomas Nelson as a complimentary copy for review. I am under no obligation to give a positive review. But I can’t help but be positive about the two books I have read in this series called The Ancient Practices Series. Joan Chittister walks the reader through the meaning of the liturgical year. I have…
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Extremists
This was from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals on January 15. It is one of the prayers: “Lord, if we are extremists: may we be extremists for love.” What timing.
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Learn from Failure
This column by David Brooks is tremendous. His columns are tremendous as a standard, in my book. As a culture, we have to come to a place individually where we admit our shortcomings and learn. Learn from FAILURE. But our culture has tried to shield us from failure. I am guilty of this as a parent. We all have our…
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Sorrow
Scripture tells us that there is evil in the world and that terrible things happen for reasons that defy human understanding. In the words of Job, “When I looked for light, then darkness came.” Bad things happen, and we have to guard against simple explanations in the aftermath. — President Barack Obama speaking at the memorial service in Tuscon, AZ.
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Prayers for the Church
I want to add my prayers for the Church around the world. In Iran, our brothers and sisters in Christ are being rounded up and persecution is increasing. Let us unite in our prayers for these and others who lay it on the line every day just to believe in Christ!
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Epiphany
Epiphany, Christmas, the Eastern Christmas… In the Church, December 25 isn’t the end. In the Western Church it’s over. We’re done. Get back to work. Get to the gym. For the Church, it is just the beginning. Through the celebration of Christmas and Epiphany, the East and West emphasize some strong points in the life of Christ: He is the…
