He began to teach them, Matthew 5:2 says of Christ Jesus.
He still is.
Are we learning from Him?
United Methodist Bishop Ken Carter says is so uh darn well —
A word about how I contribute to social media. My practice, exclusively, is to write on the pages of others in order to affirm them, encourage them, pray for them, or celebrate something happening in their lives—perhaps a birthday or an anniversary or a graduation or an accomplishment. On my own page I try to reflect on other topics, for example this week on what it means to pursue a “third way”, or what Star Wars means to me, or what tradition and innovation mean in the world of bluegrass.
I try to stay away from what I call “trolling” behavior, which is to post long messages on the pages of others, attempting to criticize, redirect the conversation, or provoke, and especially not to characterize what the other person is intending to say. I have consistently tried to communicate what is my own perspective, on my own forum, and have not chosen to disparage others.
In social media, and in life, you will need to avoid the trolls. (5.07.22)
—– Amen?
Kayla Gant wrote this on March 7th, 2022 —
One of the greatest lessons that adult women need
to learn is meeting people where they are and to
stop writing friends off for being themselves.
This whole “we aren’t friends because she didn’t check
on me or she “never reaches out first”narrative is
lame. Women are out here struggling to just stay
above water every second of every day, fighting
their own demons.
There’s women out here going through divorces,
abuse, major depression, financial trouble, family
trouble, relationship trouble, health issues, work
issues, deaths and mental illness…and they are
supposed to constantly check in on YOU to be
your friend?
My friendship doesn’t have requirements. It
doesn’t have guidelines or quotas.
As long as it’s organic, unforced and NON TOXIC, you will forever
have my love and support.
John David Rockefeller was asked now that he had millions of dollars, what more did he want. His answer? “Another million.”
Again, let’s compare and contrast: I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
That’s our old friend St. Paul, writing about Christ Jesus in Philippians 4.
Again, whoa.
True/false for you and me?
Andrea True sang, “More! More! More!”
Many of us live there.
Compare and contrast: I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. (Philippians 4:12)
Whoa. Let’s marinate in that today, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow.
Tia Bircher Reid credits the line to a friend of hers, author Tracey McBeath. It was the first thing to go into my current back pocket notebook. It’s a reminder and a call to action and an invitation to life and a sobering reality and So. Much. More. —
You
Have
Today.
— Pause.
Catch your breath.
Join me here —
YOU. Feel the spotlight. YOU have today. What are you doing with it?
You HAVE. It’s already yours. Full possession. No need to strive for it. It’s a gift that’s not been given to everyone today. You HAVE today. What are you doing with it?
You have TODAY. As my youth group guy Jamey Garner sings with his Nashville band High South, “There’s never been a moment like now.” This moment. Expand that just a bit, but not into a Five Year Plan and not even into Tomorrow; expand it to include the Twelve Step teaching of “one day at a time.” You have TODAY…what are doing with it?
Weave all that together with this savory Scripture: We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it! This is the very day God acted! Let’s celebrate and be festive! (Psalm 118:23,24 the message version)
We have this present day, and the present is a gift.
Amen?
A wise son makes a glad father, says Proverbs 15:20.
I’m honored to be the father of LJ4, who is increasingly making wise choices.
And, in the process, for sure making me glad.
And today’s his birthday, so please celebrate and let’s be grateful!
“I’m already about twenty years older than I ever through I’d get,” said Gavin DeGraw in an interview on May 31 of this year.
I understand that. My dad had a heart attack and died at 48. I used to think I was only going to make it to 50; in fact, that was my goal.
Yesterday I was stopped by Amy Oden in Disciplines2022 when she asked three questions based on Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-25 —
What in your life right now feels like the end of the story but perhaps is not?
What concrete step is God inviting you to take toward the future?
How might your expectations stay open for God to do a new thing?
— Three good questions.
I gradually found my way back to our old friend St. Paul’s solid reminder, Do not lose heart! Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (2nd Corinthians 4:16)
How about you?
I invite you to take some time with Amy’s three questions today.
As in, right now’s a good time to start with that first one about “what feels like the end of the story but perhaps is not.”
And let your answers be seasoned by St. Paul’s Though outwardly, yet inwardly.
Remember that God is still in business. In you!
Hope to see you back here tomorrow.
Your humorous and thoughtful posts help me get through many days. Don’t think they go unnoticed.
That came from a friend quite some time ago.
It came, as our Presbyterian friends might say, “providentially” at the perfect time.
And it’s stuck with me.
You and I have people in our lives we appreciate greatly.
When’s the last time we told a couple of them?
This week would be a good time to do that.
Today would be a good time to do that.
Now is a good time to do that.
Let’s tell ’em.
joescheets 