James, the brother of Jesus, is no promiser of happy days. Notice what he says in James 1:6-8: 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything [...]
A Brief Letter from a Friend: Everday Heresies
Feb 25, 2009 @ 12:05 By 39 Comments
Great question I’ve been asked: Scot, what are the “everyday heresies” the church embraces and/or espouses? Any insight? Wondering if complacency, consumerism, and the outsourcing of parental responsibility are more harmful than doctrinal irregularities or inconsistencies.
Ash Wednesday
Feb 25, 2009 @ 6:16 By 8 Comments
Ash Wednesday: here is the order for Ash Wednesday from The Book of Common Prayer. It is a time for confession of sin as we prepare ourselves for Good Friday and Easter, the days on which God removed sin and into which we live as we participate in Lent. I encourage you to fast today, [...]
Pastor’s Bookshelf: Matthew
Feb 25, 2009 @ 0:03 By 43 Comments
I’m going to begin a series on commentaries for pastors, teachers, and those who want to study the New Testament. I will try to give my top five commentaries, but one has to make judgments each time and there are many others who could be mentioned. Go ahead and mention others. So, here goes for [...]
Orchard Grove Community Church
Feb 24, 2009 @ 15:11 By 5 Comments
Last Thursday Kris and I flew up to Detroit for a conference put on by Orchard Grove Community Church called Equip. Chris Cramer, a lead pastor, knew how much he had benefited from attending conferences and yearned for his whole church to go … which usually can’t happen, so he brought the conferences to Orchard [...]
A Brother’s Wisdom 6
Feb 24, 2009 @ 13:02 By 3 Comments
James is like his brother Jesus in how he understands God. God is good and God is there and God is not silent and God responds. who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. One thinks of a text like Matthew 7:7-11: 7 “Ask and it will be given [...]
Romans 5: Part 2 – Adam (RJS)
Feb 24, 2009 @ 6:00 By 87 Comments
Romans 5:12-21 proves to be one of the key texts in any discussion of science and faith these days. We began a discussion of this passage last week with a consideration of the meaning and nature of the death introduced in Gen 3. Another issue in the conflict or reconciliation of scientific knowing with the [...]
Prayer Book Suggestions
Feb 24, 2009 @ 0:00 By 16 Comments
Last week one of the prayers in the prayer book tradition Kris and I use (The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime (Tickle, Phyllis) ) was this prayer: O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into my heart your greatest gift, which [...]
NPC
Feb 23, 2009 @ 17:00 By 7 Comments
I’m a bit behind getting up a brief report on my time in San Diego at the National Pastor’s Convention. The NPC is a mix of young pastors and older pastors, a mix of concerns for both, and a whole lot of getting to see folks I love to see. And I thought I’d focus [...]
A Brother’s Wisdom 5
Feb 23, 2009 @ 12:52 By 5 Comments
James starts off James 1:5 with a line that has brought comfort to many: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. Many take comfort in being able to turn to God for wisdom, and they should. Why [...]
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