“Draw us, Lord, toward you, toward your way of self-giving love. Draw us away from all that is not love — from the forces of greed, fear, anxiety, and brutality. In this Lenten experience of so being drawn toward you and away from the powers of the world, may we come to find that new life that is the meaning of Easter. Amen.” — Walter Brueggemann, A Way Other Than Our Own
Tag: Prayer
Confronting the issues of the American Conservative Church
Yesterday I was in prayer for the American Church. I had read in Mark 11 about Jesus cursing the fig tree and cleansing the Temple, and I was grieved for the Church once again. Continue reading “Confronting the issues of the American Conservative Church”
The way home for the American Church
As surely as there will be messed up theology and practice in the Church, there is a marked way home. Our challenge is to follow it. That’s hard because it’s not the dynamic way. It’s not full of light shows and professional music and polished communicators. Continue reading “The way home for the American Church”
Being people of the Presence
2 Timothy 3:1–5 (NIV): But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Welcome to the American Church. 2019. Continue reading “Being people of the Presence”
Moving from scarcity to abundance
A prayer for the day:
We are constricted by stories of scarcity. Break through these false tales with the surprising truth of abundance. May we bask in your shalom and then perform your story of generosity over and over again. Amen. (Walter Brueggemann, A Way Other than Our Own)
Prayers of the Day
Collect of the Day: The Annunication
Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord; that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought unto the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.F
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“Last Days” living
1 Timothy 4:7 (NIV): Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
I Timothy 4 delivers stern warnings. They are crucial for our times. For Timothy it was vital to pay attention. Continue reading ““Last Days” living”
