We desire people so secure in their faith, that they need not argue with others. I've kept that phrase from my hospital chaplain training. If your faith is based on certainty, it must be kept pure and not leave any room for doubt. Two ways to do that is to ignore others or argue with them. Hard to keep that up and hard to put up with. |  |
If you faith leaves room for doubt, or as we look at not being certain from a spiritual view: mystery; then your faith is actually more secure than when you are certain. For certainty depends on how good your will is, while faith relies on God's good will.
I hope you have enough faith to be secure in God without needing to be certain on your own.
I Used To Be Certain...Now I'm Faithful
Then Job answered the Lord:
'I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. "Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?"
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
"Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me."
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.'- Job 42:1-6
Bible quotation from The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Creator of each generation, may we be good stewards of the blessings we have been entrusted with. Guide us to be a blessing to the children that follow us and worthy examples to follow. Amen.
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SCRIPTURE Mark 9:38-40 Genesis 11:1-9
Videos: (click title to watch)
September 11, 2001 on YouTube
Disturbing pictures and President Bush’s speech
Note the Christian and Bible references. Song: “Only Time” by Enya
Bruce’s Revenge from Bruce Almighty
We Have Babel and Towers
Sasquatch music festival 2009 on YouTube
The third guy makes a difference.
Note how the crowd grows. Song: Unstoppable by Santigold
Tmobile Dance on YouTube
Liverpool, England Train Station
Notice how folks are brought into community
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| Bless Right Back At You I've appreciated the phrase "Blessed to be a Blessing" and have used it to encourage our folks to pass on the blessing that has brought us into the Presbyterian Community and God's kingdom. A recent Sunday was the first time I had "Blessed to be a Blessing" acted out! Our newest baptized member gave me the blessing right back, high-five fashion before I was done blessing him! (Click on the photo for a larger version.) Maybe it will start a trend of "giving back" a blessing. I know I will never experience a "high-five" the same way again. |  |
I hope you raise your hand when you're called on for a blessing.
Be Witnesses not Know it Alls
Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.- 2 Corinthians 9:7-8
Bible quotation from The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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| Faith Before Prayer "Preach it!" "Yes" "Amen" "Help Him Lord". These are all preaching "cheers" given by listeners in some churches. Sometimes the preacher even asks for feedback, as "Can I get an 'Amen'?" (I never know what to do with "Help Him", I want to say, "I don't need help, I'm doing fine." but that response probably proves I need help.) One of the calls for a congregation's response is "Can I get a witness?" (The answer would be "Amen!" not "Yes." by the way.) Christians are called on to be witnesses. Telling others what God has done in our lives as one elder recently put it. Too often we seek other roles in the courtroom: criminal prosecutor, sentencing judge, deputy enforcer, jury foreperson, or defense council. There is even a court reporter or two among us. |  |
Presbyterians believe the Holy Spirit convicts people, so we don't have to. I do hope people look at our lives and speech and find evidence of a loving God.
Be Witnesses not Know it Alls
So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?' He replied, 'It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'- Acts 1:6-8
Bible quotation from The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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