secretary What’s in a Name? View in browser November 22, 2023 What’s in a Name? John Edgerton I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them … Read more
When a Minister Crashes the Party View in browser November 21, 2023 When a Minister Crashes the Party Matt Laney “Blessed is that servant who the householder finds at work. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of everything. But if a wicked servant says to himself, ‘The boss is … Read more
Don’t Fillet the Fish View in browser November 20, 2023 Don’t Fillet the Fish Mary Luti “Follow me, I will make you fish for people.” – Matthew 4:19 (NRSVUE) A lovely man in a church I briefly served was an astoundingly literal soul. Jesus’ metaphors confounded him. He was especially confused by “fishing … Read more
Golden Calves View in browser November 19, 2023 Golden Calves Donna Schaper And the Lord smote them for what they did with the calf Aaron had built. – Exodus 32:35 (NASB) On September 17, 2011, a bright gold papier-mâché calf, formed in the shape of the Wall Street bull, marched down Wall Street, … Read more
Night Bloom View in browser November 18, 2023 Night Bloom Kenneth Samuel “Watchman, how much longer until morning? When will the night be over?” – Isaiah 21:11 (NLT) Darkness suffers from bad PR. Images of fresh vitality and renewed vigor come with the morning light, while the night conjures voids of cheerful … Read more
Snares of Our Own Making View in browser November 17, 2023 Snares of Our Own Making Martha Spong We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. – Psalm 124:7 (NRSVue) Nothing prepares us for the shock of betrayal, even when we … Read more
Your Days Are Numbered View in browser November 16, 2023 Your Days Are Numbered Vince Amlin Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God… A thousand years in your sight are like a … Read more
Wrong View in browser November 15, 2023 Wrong Quinn G. Caldwell “Then the sign of the Son of Humanity will appear in heaven … and they will see ‘the Son of Humanity coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.’ Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until … Read more
Be Now Our Vision View in browser November 14, 2023 Be Now Our Vision Talitha Arnold And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and his sight was restored. – Acts 9:18 (NRSV) If only it were that easy. Or that final. If only it was a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. A one-time need … Read more
Stop the Clocks View in browser November 13, 2023 Stop the Clocks Rachel Hackenberg Joshua said in the sight of the people, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.” And the sun stopped in mid-heaven and did not hurry to set for a whole day. There has been no … Read more