Either way, the bottom line is the same — It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people God is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before God in their worship. God…

  “It can happen anywhere, any time. That’s the thing about songwriting: There’s no fixed hours.” — Keith Richards Many pastors would say the same thing about writing sermons. Many of our family and friends who have watched us scribble on a napkin that’s greasy with popcorn butter in a darkened movie theater would agree…

Back to what Christ Jesus says in Luke 6. But how you coming along with your taxes and the whole Charitable Giving thing? Current on your tithing? Okay, back to what Christ Jesus says in Luke 6 — If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity?…

Three days in a row now, Christ Jesus has been narrowing down our wiggle room. This one from Luke 6 isn’t making things easier — If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. — So who we gonna help today? And what do we expect in return?

“As we stay tethered to a community of believers in the church, we hear the good covenantal deeds of our God week by week.” — Ashely Hales Truth: we can’t gather as we’d like right now. Truth: we have a myriad of ways to “stay tethered to a community of believers.” Question: Given all of…

“If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back?” Then he capped it with this: “Run-of-the-mill sinners do that.” He wasn’t kidding. That’s in Luke 6:32. Let’s let that nudge us today. Repeatedly.

  “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior,” he said. “Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!” Sounds familiar. And challenging. And I don’t think he was kidding. He said that in Luke 6:31. What’s it gonna look like for you…

  With gratitude to Fred Schmidt, real life friend and colleague, who sourced this — “Trust grows as slowly as a palm tree, but falls at the speed of a coconut.”  

  Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. Five hundred twenty five thousand moments so dear. five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you measure, Measure a year? In daylights? In sunsets? In midnights? In cups of coffee? In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife? In five hundred twenty five…

Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. — 1st Peter 2:17. “You’re kidding, right? Showing proper respect to everyone is impossible, especially the people I have in mind right now.” I hear ya. And I thank friend, colleague, and Presbyterian Scotty Smith for helping you and me at…