06/13/2019
One of our members, a veterinarian, shared with me on Sunday that a nail salon next to her veterinary practice caught fire and burned. She received the emergency call while the fire burned in the salon next door to her practice where pets were boarded. All of the pets were retrieved safely but the nail salon has a board covering the doorway…do not enter. The fire had done its damage.
This last Sunday we celebrated Pentecost which is the birthday of the church. We are reminded each year of the Scriptures in the Book of Acts that describe flames of fire that rested upon the heads of those present as the Holy Spirit descended to dwell within each of them. As thousands were baptized that day, the church was birthed. When I hear this story, I also often think about the time in the life of Moses when a flame came into a burning bush. In both Biblical situations the fire did not consume the persons but instead came to dwell and to be a source of life...not death. The fire did not consume or damage. The fire came to bring life for Moses to move forward in ministry as God was calling him.
God’s church, baptized by the Holy Spirit, is alive in the world today. Who's the church? We are the church. The flame is lit but it needs us to flame the fire so that the fire of the gospel is shared and spread.
We have two mission teams serving this week away from Carmel. One in Frakes, Kentucky and the other in Nashville, Tennessee. My prayer for them is for safety but also that they may be on fire for God and that that flame may spread to all they meet. Each of us in our daily lives has the opportunity to live on fire because of the flame of the Holy Spirit, which is alive in each of us. Think today...how may you spread the fire of God’s love where you are…
Blessings today and always, Pastor Patti
Archived Posts
Matthew 24: One More Thing...
I sometimes stumble on old documents I’ve created but have completely forgotten about. I cannot remember why I created them or what purpose they were originally supposed to serve....
Keeping the Church Doors Unencumbered
Sunday, we considered Jesus’ disruptive actions in the Temple in light of his frustration with keeping gentiles from worshipping in their designated courtyard. We then reflected on how we still tend to throw up roadblocks to those who don’t normally attend church. I found the following, but didn’t have space for it in the sermon. It’s provocative and worth chewing on for a while.
What Was the Crowd Celebrating on Palm Sunday?
I came across this list which feels a little like a "Greatest Hits of Jesus' Ministry". I share it with you today for your inspiration and edification. Enjoy!
The Best Kind of Trouble-maker
While working on this last week’s sermon I was looking through Phillip Yancey’s excellent book—The Jesus I Never Knew—when I came across a section that I found profound. It didn’t quite fit my sermon, but it caught my eye enough that I copied it down.
Practical Tips To Avoid Judging Others
When I research a sermon, such as Sunday’s message on judgmentalism, I always try to think through some practical steps or tips in how to implement God’s desire for our lives. I rustled together a herd of ideas this week and I offer them to you.
The Shepherd, the King, and the Rescuer
God has got a long list of names, but some of those names are better than others. There is a small child who thought God’s name was Harold since the Lord’s Prayer includes the phrase “Hallowed be thy name.” When you think of all the scriptures that are most likely to be memorized you would have to include Psalm 23, The Lord’s Prayer, and John 3:16. The danger for us is our tendency to focus on the wrong thing.
Old Jokes Are The Best Jokes
Sunday morning, we took a look at Jesus’ command to make our enemies into neighbors and loving our neighbors as ourselves. One of the obstacles to doing this is our growing sense of tribalism—whether it’s a political, socio-economic, or even theological tribe.