It’s not too early to begin thinking about Christmas, and what to give that special person who has everything. Consider a gift from the World Vision Gift Catalog.
Weekend Wanderings
It’s a beautiful fall weekend here in the sunny South. Yesterday, Jan and I spent the day at the farm of one of our friends, drawing with a group of artists. Jan did a good job on her drawing, and considering it was only about the second time I’ve really tried to draw anything, I didn’t do half bad either. While our state is drying out, the folks in California are getting much needed rain. The problem is that the ground is so dry that the rain ran off and caused flash flooding and landslides. Hopefully they’ll get more rain at a slower rate.
Here is the good stuff:
David Moore interviews Scot McKnight.
Sweden is going cashless.
Interesting, and disturbing.
Good article from Thom Ranier.
Son of a carpenter.
The neverending workday.
A poem.
Excellent post from Stephanie Phillips.
Waking up with Leah.
7 strikes.
Fathers and sons.
Letting go.
Just what is purpose?
Is there a tiny church movement?
Good question from Zack Hunt.
A prayer from Michael Spencer.
Lamp.
Just stories?
Which character are you?
Good post from Chaplain Mike.
Have a blessed week!
1 Corinthians 13: More Than Just a Sentiment
1 Corinthians 13 is one of the most widely known passages in the Bible. It is known as “The Love Chapter,” and is well loved. Many times it is read at weddings and is often used in premarital counseling. I think, though, that most of the time we miss the whole picture.
This chapter is set down in the middle of a section on spiritual gifts and the use, or misuse by the Corinthian church. The letter was written to a congregation that had a number of serious issues, issues that would be enough to cause many church leaders to quit. There was immorality, dissension, and arrogance. There were factions, and the people didn’t do a very good job of treating each other right. They were more concerned with their own spiritual gifts and using them for themselves than they were with loving their brothers and sisters.
It is in this context that we find the Love Chapter. Think of it this way:
Love is patient…with that person who just doesn’t get it.
Love is kind…to that jerk who thinks they are God’s gift to mankind.
Love does not envy…the success of that one who always gets everything they want.
Love does not boast…of my success.
Love does not dishonor others…by gossiping or slandering them.
Love is not self-seeking…even when I’m not getting my way.
Love is not easily angered…even when someone tries to tick me off.
Love keeps no record of wrongs… even when it keeps happening again and again.
Love does not rejoice in evil…even when we think they deserve it.
Love rejoices with the truth… and glorifies God.
Love always protects…because we are family.
Love always trusts…even when he has blown it again.
Loves always hopes…even when she is a hopeless case.
Love always perseveres… even if it’s taking forever.
Love never fails…the greatest of these is love.
As an old song used to say, love hurts. It hurts to love people who are not all that loveable. You may get your heart torn out and stomped on. Loving our brothers and sisters is not for the fainthearted.
But, without love, we are nothing.
Weekend Wanderings
The last two weekends have been extremely busy, so the links post took some time off. It is cooling down here in the sunny South and fall has arrived. Last weekend’s rain put much of our state under water and there are a lot people who lost everything. Dams have been damaged and there is more water coming from the mountains, so the devastation may become worse. Pray for those folks.
On to the links:
A heartwarming story.
Bacon. ‘Nuff said.
Maybe they were wrong.
And then, there’s coffee.
The blessing of belonging.
Bacon. ‘Nuff said.
Maybe they were wrong.
And then, there’s coffee.
The blessing of belonging.
Living the thug life in Oregon.
Don’t waste that food!
Good post from John Frye.
Irony obsession.
Come home.
Guilt hangover.
Getting ready for the end of the world.
Art critics.
The Withertongue Emails: Part 1.
Don’t think this is a good thing.
Drinking games.
Halloween do’s and don’ts.
Good post from Jeff K. Clarke.
Sounds like an excuse to me.
Have a blessed week!
Love Revival
I know. It sounds like the title of a Motown song. It’s the best I could come up with.
A number of Christian groups are seeking revival. Of course, revival means different things to different people. To some, a revival would mean a return to the morals of the past. To others, it means an increase in charismatic activities. Still others are looking for a revival of adherence to doctrine.
While a revival of some of those things may be a good thing, I believe what is needed is a revival of love. The vital importance of love is a theme that runs all through the New Testament. In the gospels, Jesus tell is that the two greatest commandments are, love God with all our being and love others as we love ourselves. He later upped the ante when he said to his followers that we are to love our brothers and sisters as he loved us.
The Apostle Paul said that we can perform all sorts of good and even spiritual acts, but if we don’t have love we are wasting our time. He also said that what counts is faith working through love. Peter tells us to love one another deeply. It is hard to read through any of the apostles’ letters and not find commands and encouragements to love one another. We are commanded to love more often than anything else we are told to do. It seems that love is something that God thinks is pretty important.
I believe the Church needs a revival of love for God that is shown by following Jesus and doing what he commands, and a revival of a love for others that is self-sacrificing and lays down our lives for others. It was said of the first Christians, “Behold how these Christians love one another.” Stop and imagine with me. What would the Church be like if those of us who claim to follow the one who laid down his life for us really loved God and didn’t just talk about it? What would it look like if we laid down our lives for others and were known for our love rather than what we were against.
I for one, would love to find out.
World Vision Wednesday
Because clean water is a necessity of life, World Vision is planning to spend 500 million dollars over the next five years to provide water in places where there is little to none. For more information about the program and to learn how you can help, click the link. You don’t have to have 40 million dollars either.
A Little Update
It’s been an interesting year plus around here. In June of 2014, the journey took me down on of those side roads. My father-in-law fell and broke his hip. That same day, I left my job as a teaching assistant. By the end of that summer it became clear my father-in-law would not be returning to his home. I became his representative for his financial and healthcare affairs.
There have been a few ups and downs on the emotional rollercoaster, as his health worsened, only to be followed by a rally, followed by a downturn, followed by another rally…. You get the picture. He has been under hospice care for a few months, and is still hanging in there.
Most of the heavy lifting has been done regarding his estate, so I was freed up to look for a job. Three days ago I began a part time job driving a bus that picks up people and takes them to work, medical appointments, or school. It is part of a county agency for the aging so the fares are low or free. I think it’s going to be good. Because it’s part time, I’ll be able to continue to do some of the things I have been doing as well as continuing to help my father-in-law. Because most of the folks I’ll transport are on the lower end of the economic scale, I’m looking at it as a way of serving the least of these and loving my neighbor.
It will be interesting to see where this back road takes me.
World Vision Wednesday
In developing countries, child marriage is still a common occurrence, with one out of every three girls facing marriage before age 18. For more information, check this out.
Weekend Wanderings
Another weekend is upon us. Football season has begun, baseball is winding down, and it won’t be long before basketball starts up. For those of you who are not sports fans, it’s pumpkin everything season. It seems there is a way to put pumpkin spice in just about anything. To each his own.
On to the links:
This is becoming a real problem.
A sobering essay.
This is coming.
Computers and reading.
So, “quality time” is not the key after all.
Missed opportunity.
John Frye is imagining.
Legalism, doctrine, and moody theologians.
Politically correct “Lord of the Flies.”
Marilynne Robinson on fear.
Keith Giles on our biggest problem.
A Socratic dialogue.
Michael Spencer on theology.
Zack Hunt is heartbroken.
Good article from Donavon Riley.
Dan Edelen on wrestling with God.
Just stop.
I want one of these!
Evidently, today is Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Finally, on the anniversary of his passing, something from Rich Mullins.
World Vision Wednesday
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Syrian refugee crisis.