Great Quote that Just Missed
‘The Cut’ to be Included In the Sermon

      Jen Wilkins, in her excellent exposition of the ‘Ten Words’ writes:
“If I am walking into my home and see a ladybug on my doorstep, I smile and take care to relocate it to the nearest plant. But if I see a cockroach, I have a different response. Why? Because I feel affection for one and contempt for the other.

Gossip

      I’d preached on the Ten Commandments or the Ten Words before (I know, who would have guessed).  In that sermon I focused a bit more on off shoots of false witness such as hypocrisy and gossip.  Here’s one of my favorite illustrations regarding spreading falsehoods about others.

Thankfulness is the Mother of Nearly All Good Things

          Of all places, I came across a quote from the Roman Senator, Cicero, on the business website, Forbes.com.  He said, back in Julius Caesar’s time, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”  That was the gist of what Bishop Trimble said to us from the pulpit.  ‘Thank you’ is not only a beautiful prayer, it is the well spring from which love, grace, and Christian living flow. 

Archived Posts

You Might Be Thinking It’s All About You If…

In working on Sunday’s sermon I asked my computer’s AI if she/he could come up with a few suggestions in answer to the above: "You Might be thinking it’s all about you, if…." 

Prayer Changes Things

Here is a transcript of the prayer I prayed at the end of yesterday’s sermon. 

Optimism, Faith, and Hope:

Practical Steps For Increasing All Three

Here are some practical, spiritual, and relational ways to grow faith, hope and optimism:

Listening Heart

It’s kind of crazy when you think about it.  Wisdom in the Bible is all about listening.  Of course it makes sense that wisdom would start with listening to God, to God’s law and commandments, as well as the promptings and leadings of the Holy Spirit. 

Here are some quotes that
didn’t make it into Sunday’s sermon.

(But it doesn’t mean that they don’t offer real insight into the power of risk over the fear of failure...)