As we get ready for the new “program year” at churches, it’s a good time to mention one of the best Christian development efforts in my life. For years, a group of MWPC men got together early on Friday mornings for fellowship, prayer and action as part of the FATHERS Team. Ron Rand’s materials gave us opportunities to practice being better fathers, husbands and Christian citizens.

The nice thing is, most FATHERS materials easily would work for a CHRISTIANS team. Here is one of the “daily signals” that participants said each day – and some of us still have memorized – that works for all Christians:

As for me and my fellow Christians we will consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, but encouraging one another, and all the more as we see the Day drawing near ~ FATHERS signal from Hebrews 10:24-25, with CP change of  “Christians” in place of “Fathers”

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• Try saying the “signal” above on a daily basis for this upcoming week
• If you, your church or small group is looking for study materials or retreat possibilities that “upbuild men, women, and children in practical expressions of their Christian faith” check out Ron’s website http://www.upbuildingministries.org/

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 8, 2019:

• Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
• Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Psalm 1
• Philemon 1:1-21
• Luke 14:25-33

Jesus Loves the Little Children… Does this phrase bring a certain song to your mind?

That song is in my mind while thinking of a recent evening gathering. It was a celebration of how one Cincinnati charitable organization, Whole Again, works with organizations to share Christ’s love. Churches, schools and other groups sponsor summer programs that include breakfast and lunch. The witness of loving hundreds of children this past summer was celebrated.

Discussion around our table was filled with ways to share love with children. Helping allay fears. Encouraging prayer. Sharing consequences. Feeding their bodies, minds and spirits.

Inspiring!

Ted Williams – a man known more for his baseball swing than his philosophical tendencies – said something along these lines: a man never stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.

POTENTIAL ACTION: can you find an additional way to love a little child today? I can see you growing taller even while you think that through… 🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 1, 2019:

• Jeremiah 2:4-13 and Psalm 81:1, 10-16
• Sirach 10:12-18 or Proverbs 25:6-7 and Psalm 112
• Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
• Luke 14:1, 7-14

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”  ~ John Muir in Our National Parks (1901)

Isn’t that imagery fabulous? … peace flowing like sunshine … cares dropping like leaves …

A couple years back, a note from my good friend Bill brought a nice smile and reminder for us all. “Today’s message {from d365.org} really helped me recenter and reminded me to face challenges with faith instead of fear.”

God’s word will be with us at just the right time in any number of ways.

Technology can help our focus on God. Devotionals from d365.org, Our Daily Bread, Christian Playbook or other God-focused websites can provide nice reminders to spend time focusing on faith.

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• consider adding a new devotional to your mix by subscribing to a daily email from one of the sources HERE
• encourage a friend(s) to subscribe to the same devotional so you can periodically talk about the messages

May your stormy seas become smooth as a carefully-ironed cotton shirt… Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 1, 2019:

• Jeremiah 2:4-13 and Psalm 81:1, 10-16 
• Sirach 10:12-18 or Proverbs 25:6-7 and Psalm 112 
• Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 
• Luke 14:1, 7-14

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”  ~ John Muir in Our National Parks (1901)

Our Daily Bread has an online offering: Christian University. It’s now included that in the STUDY section of the CP.

The Christian University segment on The Melting Pot shares thoughts on world religions, including six principles of relationship of interacting with other faiths (Be Genuine, Respectful, Humble, Fair, Discerning, Discrete.) The 13 minutes of listening, viewing or reading goes by quickly and shares some nice thinking.

Implementing these six principles of relationship with anyone seems like a good idea, especially when we expand this to all of humanity, including those supposedly of the same or similar faiths (or those with no claimed faith at all!)

PRAYER: God, help us in this day to share your love to all people of the earth (rich/poor, believer/non-believer, _____/_____, …) Amen

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 25, 2019:

• Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 71:1-6
• Isaiah 58:9b-14 and Psalm 103:1-8
• Hebrews 12:18-29
• Luke 13:10-17

HERE is an article with background and then a prayer you might say on a bad day. Julia brings us to this prayer: “Lord, what do you want me to learn?”

Sounds like good advice. Prayer can especially help in the dark times.

Maybe the same prayer can be similarly effective in the good times too? 🙂

PRAYER: “Lord, what do you want me to learn?” Help me to allow the Spirit to move me in that direction… Amen

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Church announcement humor:  Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house… Bring your husbands.

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 25, 2019:

• Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 71:1-6
• Isaiah 58:9b-14 and Psalm 103:1-8
• Hebrews 12:18-29
• Luke 13:10-17

“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” ~ Romans 15:2

The ODB posting (HERE) discusses President Abraham Lincoln and mixes in a nice, Christian message.

Great as he was, Lincoln would describe melancholy times in his life. In addition to the affirming people around him, those newspaper clippings were some of the neighborly, positive messages to help Lincoln through tough times. What a blessing to have “neighbors” who are living out the Romans 15:2 message!

POSSIBLE ACTION: Are there some people you will encounter – intentionally or unintentionally – who can use a little building up today? Look for those opportunities to live out Romans 15:2!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 18, 2019:

• Isaiah 5:1-7 and Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19
• Jeremiah 23:23-29 and Psalm 82
• Hebrews 11:29-12:2
• Luke 12:49-56

Church Signs – #7: Store the Bible in your heart, not on a shelf.

“Summer Has Come and Past” is a lyric from Green Day in their beautiful song Wake Me Up When September Ends… The song’s author would like to sleep away all of September.

Our mom has been known to say “don’t wish your life away.” Most of us do not really want to sleep through a particular month or season, but at times it might sound appealing to sleep through troublesome times… Hopefully your summer is continuing to go well and you’re not wishing for the next season just yet.

As summer has come – and not yet passed fully – we have the opportunity to enjoy some summer prayers, courtesy of Bob Hostetler and this Guideposts post.There are several written prayers and also this 99 second video prayer with music, pictures and words.

May this summer day find you enjoying conversation with God using one of these prayers and/or any of your effective connection approaches…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 18, 2019:

• Isaiah 5:1-7 and Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19
• Jeremiah 23:23-29 and Psalm 82
• Hebrews 11:29-12:2
• Luke 12:49-56

Church billboard: “Jesus does not save halfway.”

Cousin Nancy forwarded this YouTube video a few days back with the comment “this was beautiful.” We usually agree and this was no exception: beautiful photos, words and music in this “Interview with God!”

What questions would you ask God, given the opportunity? Maybe give it a try…   🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Seen on church billboard: “The fact that there’s a highway to hell and only a stairway to heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers.”

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 11, 2019:

• Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 and Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23
• Genesis 15:1-6 and Psalm 33:12-22
• Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
• Luke 12:32-40

Some churches display the saying “All Are Welcome Here.” Yet skeptics among us may wonder if some of the congregants might want to express their love like in the comic strip HERE.

Pearls Before Swine followers recognize that Rat might be finding quite a few “unfriendly ones” to be hitting with a stick. It’s important for all those with life challenges – and don’t we all have some form of faith challenge? – to realize that we are welcomed into Christ’s church.

ACTION OPPORTUNITY: in the days ahead, can you extend the Christian hand of friendship/welcome to someone you might not ordinarily seek out?  [No sticks allowed! 🙂 ]

Prayer: Dear God, help me to be more loving and more Christian “inna my heart.” Amen

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Seen on church billboard: “Pray all the time; use words if necessary!”

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 4, 2019:

• Hosea 11:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-9, 43
• Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 and Psalm 49:1-12
• Colossians 3:1-11
• Luke 12:13-21

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” ~ Matthew 14:28-33

This post on the UCC devotional site is too good NOT to share. As Vince says, discerning the time for specific care is the tricky part.

ACTION: May each of us feel empowered to make a suitable number of mistakes in the pursuit of “so many ways to get care right.”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, August 4, 2019:

• Hosea 11:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-9, 43
• Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 and Psalm 49:1-12
• Colossians 3:1-11
• Luke 12:13-21