Amazing how The Holy Spirit can move a group of men over the course of one short hour!

Here’s a reminder of one such situation…

In August of 2016, three of us arrived at the jail, greeted by 31 men for worship. Early on we did Amazing Grace – it’s a frequent starting tune for worship because most everyone knows it.

Yet on this day, virtually no one was singing; a troubling sign, for sure …

A transformation happened over the course of our scripture-prayer-song formatted worship … by the time we were done the men encouraged one another to stand while praying the joys and concerns. The final song – If I Had a Hammer – was enjoyed with virtually everyone singing along, including some dancing with all energized.

A magical hour of worshiping God, fueled by the Spirit, for sure!

Even on those days when the Spirit doesn’t immediately seem to be working through you, have confidence and persevere, knowing that your love and caring can shine through in the most unexpected ways and circumstances…

Enjoy the day, filled with the amazing Spirit and unbridled love that can come so abundantly to “Jesus people”…

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 26, 2018:

• 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43 and Psalm 84
• Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 and Psalm 34:15-22
• Ephesians 6:10-20
• John 6:56-69

The song Say a Little Prayer for You shares a message about the number of opportunities to say prayers for others, putting “pray without ceasing” in a context of activities of a typical day. A beautiful rendition of this song is HERE, performed by Aretha Franklin.

ACTION: Who in your life is particularly needing your prayers today? Think of an activity you’ll do several times during your day and each time you do that activity, “say a little prayer” for that person.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 26, 2018:

• 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43 and Psalm 84
• Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 and Psalm 34:15-22
• Ephesians 6:10-20
• John 6:56-69

Riding the Rapids is the title of the Our Daily Bread devotional HERE. My kayaking style is definitely to go for the rapids, but only with proper preparation and a dose of caution. Maybe that’s why the article resonates so much with its description of preparations of weight distribution, detailed directions, etc..

Which detailed directions would we describe as being helpful while riding the lifetime of rapids as Christians?

Finding your community of Christian friends?

Developing a daily prayer time?

Continuing education and growing your faith?

Seeking experiences that allow for incremental strength of character and Christian witness?

May we each develop and enhance those detailed directions in our lives this day and in the days ahead…

ACTION: Ask a friend or two which “detailed directions” she/he has found most helpful in strengthening their faith? Which activities would you like to take on or enhance in the months ahead as you continue thinking about “What would Jesus have me do?”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 19, 2018:

• 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 and Psalm 111
• Proverbs 9:1-6 and Psalm 34:9-14
• Ephesians 5:15-20
• John 6:51-58

The title “Brighten the Corner Where You Are” gives a nice hint of where Ina Mae Duley Ogdon wants Christians to make a difference – right where you are! Charles Hutchinson Gabriel provides a pleasant, speedy melody to highlight the brightening aspect.

Take a listen HERE.

A mighty fine example of a person who takes this song to heart is our mom. As Krista Tippett described in the podcast referenced in the last CP post, our mom is heavily informed and yet still has plenty of joy to share where she lives.

This past week our mom had minimally-invasive heart surgery and it resulted in lots of prayers, prayerful activities and discussions. We were blessed with a wonderful, skilled group of medical professionals working with us and the surgery appears to be a complete success. Praise God, that we have this wonderful example continuing to brighten the corner where she lives.

ACTION: Consider 1-3 actions that might brighten this day for you and others in your path. Among the possibilities: 1) smile and/or wave to someone as you walk past; 2)

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 19, 2018:

• 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 and Psalm 111
• Proverbs 9:1-6 and Psalm 34:9-14
• Ephesians 5:15-20
• John 6:51-58

Based on the last Christian Playbook post, our good friend Joan sent along this Krista Tippett 9 minute interview as part of the OnBeing podcast. Krista mentions a regular practice of partaking of the news and at the same time limiting her exposure so the 24 hour news cycle doesn’t occupy her full-time. Otherwise it can overwhelm: “we are analog creatures in a digital world.” She also discusses embodying joy-filled and hope-filled practices as a way to balance the sobering news.

So taking a pause is important. Maybe we Christians could go so far as to say that the Spirit automatically equips us with joyful opportunity if only we’ll engage it? Those moments of silent contemplation can go a long way to helping…

ACTION: If you’re in the mood, take a listen to Paul Thorn singing Don’t Let Nobody Rob You of Your Joy. One line is “let the light of love shine in.” [Great lyrics, Paul, and a wonderful message!!!]

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 12, 2018:

• 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 and Psalm 130
• 1 Kings 19:4-8 and Psalm 34:1-8
• Ephesians 4:25-5:2
• John 6:35, 41-51

Jesus said to them, “You cannot make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? ~ Luke 5:34

Expressing joy is the focus of THIS 2016 DEVOTIONAL from Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, IL. Written by Shannon J. Kershner, Pastor, it describes a challenge many have experienced on occasion in church. WHERE IS THE JOY?!?

This reflection reminds me of two books in my bookcase: Jesus, Man of Joy by Sherwood E. Wirt and The Humor of Christ by Elton Trueblood. Both books provide – as Trueblood’s subtitle suggests – “bold challenge to the traditional stereotype of a somber, gloomy Christ.” If you’re looking for some enjoyable, challenging reading, consider one of these…

May we live this day with the joy of Christ in our hearts and in our actions!

PRAYER: God, fill us with joy as though at a wedding celebration with the bride and groom. Amen

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 5, 2018:

• 2 Samuel 11:26 – 12:13a and Psalm 51:1-12
• Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 and Psalm 78:23-29
• Ephesians 4:1-16
• John 6:24-35

“When you pass through the waters, God will be with you” ~ Isaiah 43:2

The MWPC congregation was worshiping in great style this past Sunday. Worship leadership was heavily influenced by efforts of children/young adults who attended/led VBS. They had us singing, moving and listening (at least most of the time 🙂 )

The themes of Adventure, Acceptance, Joy, Rest and Peace fit the “rolling down the river” experiences in so many of our lives, whether we’re white water rafters, canoeists on a peaceful lake or “none of the above.” We would say that Cokesbury has a big hit in this Rolling River Rampage (https://rrr.cokesburyvbs.com/) VBS program. If you have a minute, it’s well worth checking out the scripture and key messages from the 5 sessions online HERE.

ACTION:

• Remember when you pass through difficult waters that God is with you. Be a reminder of that message with others who are around you today.
• Have time to listen to the Peace Like a River song HERE?

PRAYER: Dear God, in this day help me in every way to share your love and work towards the peace that passeth all understanding. Amen

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 5, 2018:

• 2 Samuel 11:26 – 12:13a and Psalm 51:1-12
• Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 and Psalm 78:23-29
• Ephesians 4:1-16
• John 6:24-35

After a month of Monday references, maybe you feel like you know just about everything you’d ever want to about Fred Rogers? Today is the last of the July Mondays so we’ll conclude this segment with a little story…

Our family had a man in our lives who emulated Fred Rogers (or maybe Fred emulated Uncle Bob?) Here are some of the ways:

• “Let the little children come unto me” – when in the company of adults and children, it was more likely that Uncle Bob would be found with the kids playing turtles, car dealer or some other fun activity
• Jesus, gentle and mild – soft spoken and deliberate like Mister Rogers, Uncle Bob was an easy person to be around
• Won’t You Be My Neighbor? – when a new person came into his presence, Uncle Bob wanted to know a little something about that person (or an update from the person if he already knew her/him)

Our family was blessed by this Mister Rogers-like person in our lives. Praise God for the ministry and life of Jesus and Fred Rogers (and Uncle Bob!)

ACTION: Think back to your own childhood. Can you think of a person who had some of the same Mister Rogers behaviors? Is there one of those positive behaviors that could become even more part of who you are? If you feel like it, please send along (to salong.now @yahoo.com) a quick story for possible use in a future Christian Playbook posting

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 5, 2018:

• 2 Samuel 11:26 – 12:13a and Psalm 51:1-12
• Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 and Psalm 78:23-29
• Ephesians 4:1-16
• John 6:24-35

The Christian Playbook Daily Prayer Audio theme for Wednesdays is World. There are so many opportunities to pray for our world leaders, including the UN Security Council and UN Secretary General.

Give a listen today HERE (5-6 minutes in length.)

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, July 29, 2018:

• 2 Samuel 11:1-15 and Psalm 14
• 2 Kings 4:42-44 and Psalm 145:10-18
• Ephesians 3:14-21
• John 6:1-21

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” ~ John 1:9 NIV

Monday devotionals in July will continue to highlight “missionary of the month,” Fred Rogers.

In her book, The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers**, Amy Hollingsworth says: “Jesus transformed the question ‘Who is my neighbor?’ into the directive ‘Be the good neighbor.’ If there is a central biblical theme to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, this is it. … His (Mister Rogers’) definition of neighbor was simple: the person you happen to be with at the moment – whether that person is a Samaritan, a hermit bearing gifts, or a television viewer.”

In the Super Wednesday program at our church, the saying was “everyone is a child of God.” This helped the participants young and old stay grounded in the idea that we should do unto others as we would have them do to us. When that happens, the light gets a little brighter and the love a little stronger. Now, who reading this devotional today wouldn’t like a little more love shared with her/him?

ACTION: Share love with an unlikely neighbor this week, possibly someone you don’t even know! 🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

** pp. 77-78

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, July 29, 2018:

• 2 Samuel 11:1-15 and Psalm 14
• 2 Kings 4:42-44 and Psalm 145:10-18
• Ephesians 3:14-21
• John 6:1-21