THE TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. THREE PRAYER MEETINGS I recently read a sermon by gracEmail subscriber and long-time friend Gordon Wilson, titled "Three Prayer Meetings," which in my opinion was deserving of the label "extraordinary." I asked Gordon's permission to tell you about it, and asked that he send a PDF of the sermon to anyone who sent a request to gleewilson@aol.com . He graciously consented and I thank him for doing so. THIRTY DAYS OF PRAYER FOR . . . Sometime in 1998 (gracEmail was approximately one year old at the … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2015
JESUS AS THE ‘WAY’
THE TWENTY-FIFTH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. A gracEmail subscriber observes that most Christian churches he has known emphasize Jesus more than they emphasize God his Father. However, Jesus identified himself as 'the way' to the Father, making Father God the destination to which Jesus is the route. Is this a problem? * * * Throughout John's Gospel narrative, Jesus repeatedly identifies himself as the Son of God the Creator who is the faithful God of Israel and the only living God. Jesus explains that he has come to earth on a mission from the … [Read more...]
Family Notes 21/10/2015
THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. MORNING PRAYERS One delightful way to begin a morning filled with an awareness of God's holy presence and awesome power is to participate in the Morning Prayer service, via podcast, of the Episcopal Church of Garrett County, Maryland. The 14-minute service of worship includes Scripture readings and prayers, a general confession, the Apostles Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and more. You will find this service each morning at: www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/morningprayer IN THE NEWS Now and then God … [Read more...]
HIMSELF OR OTHERS
THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. Dereliction. Darkened sky. Now abandoned. Anguished cry. Godforsaken. "My God, why?" For our sake, Jesus experienced the suffering of death (Heb. 2:9; 13:12). Death by crucifixion was intentionally and notoriously painful. One who looks closely at the English adjective "excruciating quickly finds at its root the Latin word for cross. When the metal spikes impaled his wrists, Jesus already had survived a bloody scourging, savage pummeling, and a crown of thorns pressed into his scalp. Yet worse … [Read more...]
BUT WHAT IF I AM WRONG?
THE ELEVENTH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. A gracEmail subscriber says that for many years he read his Bible, did good deeds, struggled against sin, and supported his church--but never enjoyed a strong confidence of salvation. One day while reading Ephesians 1:13, he heard Paul refer to the gospel as "the good news of our salvation." He realized that we are saved through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ as our representative, not through some record of our own performance--and he has felt at peace with God ever since. Lately, however, he has been … [Read more...]
Family Notes 07/10/2015
THE SEVENTH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. GRACEMAIL SUBSCRIBERS FIND 'LITTLE GRAY SQUIRRELS' TO THEIR LIKING If essays had emotions, one might suppose that last Sunday's gracEmail titled "Little Gray Squirrels" is tingling with delight at the warm reception it received from gracEmail subscribers. Following is a representative sampling of feedback from "Little Gray Squirrels." Amen! (Jerry Pardue) . . . Excellent response (Craig Churchill) . . . In Missouri, we find little gray squirrels tasty (Greg Carman) . . . I love it! (Sharon Green) . . . Great … [Read more...]
LITTLE GRAY SQUIRRELS
THE FOURTH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. A gracEmail subscriber writes: "No matter what the question, you answer them all the same. In the first paragraph you say, lawyer-like, 'It might be this way.' 'In the second paragraph you say, 'It might be that way.' In the third paragraph you say, 'Joy, grace, Jesus, and little gray squirrels.' Can't you ever just give a clear, straight answer?" * * * * * On some subjects, as least, I plead guilty as charged. For the record, I began preaching and teaching Scripture in 1961 and was not licensed as an attorney … [Read more...]