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The joy in thankless jobs

John 10:1-21 In the distance a little old lady appeared. Her gray hair was blowing in the wind and her clothes were dirty and ragged. She was muttering something to herself as she picked up things from the beach and put them into a bag. Noticing this strange behavior, the parents of three small children who were enjoying the ocean and making castles in the sand called them to their side. “Stay away from the old woman,” they warned them. As she passed by, bending down every now and then to pick things up, she smiled at the family. But her greeting wasn’t returned. Many weeks ...

The church’s growth and thought diversity

Preach the Word! — II Timothy 4:2 If the local church is to be grounded in the Word of God, if it is to be what directs our lives as well as the body of Christ, then exactly what was the Word of God? And what is the Word of God today? We should know what it is if we are going to apply it in faith, life, and practice. Here is the answer to our first question. The inerrant, infallible Word of God was the original message, oracles, or burden, given to the prophets and men of God. God chose to reveal His mind, will, and purpose to men through the inspired Word of God, often called the ...

Why the pronouns used for God matter

By Annie Selak Georgetown University THE CONVERSATION The Church of England is considering what language and pronouns should be used to refer to God. The church’s General Synod has, however, clarified that it will not abolish or substantially revise any of the currently authorized liturgies. Nonetheless, this news made headlines and brought up questions of how religions refer to God. Is God male? What pronouns should be used to refer to God? As a Catholic feminist theologian who runs a women’s center at a Catholic university, I understand the impact of the pronouns ...

Not enough room for joy

Psalm 118:1-29 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD was one of the cries that went up as the crowds welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday. Luke 19 records that blessed event. Jesus and his disciples were coming into Jerusalem, the Holy City. He sent two of his disciples on ahead to find a colt which no one had ever ridden. They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of ...

The fate of those who rejected Christ

John 3:16 – XVII ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ When we consider the three words, should not perish, they seem to be in contrast to the next four, but have everlasting life. Those who believe in Jesus as Lord, and accept His sacrifice on the cross as payment for their sin, will not perish. But what does it mean to perish? What will happen to those who love their sin and reject the only remedy for breaking God’s law? Thayer’s Greek Lexicon gives the word perish in ...

To be loved and cherished by God

Greetings of love in the precious name of Jesus! This morning is chilly, but the sun is shining. I feel hopeful for something good to happen today. You, too? How are you feeling today? Can you trust those feelings, I wonder? You are wondering where that came from? Well, let's share... Recently, one of my little granddaughters had a birthday. She calls herself “Diana”, though that's not her birth name. I smile when I think of her innocence for the ripe age of four, but she's so far ahead of the game of life already, I think. She believes she is a princess! That she is! God made her ...