Blog Posts containing "Easter"

Let us begin to wonder together. It is good for a dialogue. What was on their mind while they walked along the road to Emmaus? It had to be grief for the loss of their beloved leader. But, it also had to be more than that. There was anger at how their chief priests and leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death and crucified Him. There was depression and loss of hope because they had hoped He was the one to redeem Israel. Their grief was long lasting, it was now the third day since these things took place.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Acts 2:14a, 36-41 Literal Religion: “the Lord calls to Him.” He only calls certain ones. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “For the promise is for you, your children, and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’” Spiritual grace: “the Lord calls to Him.” He calls all but not all respond to His call. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “For the promise is for you, your children, and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

Life is what happened between our old and our new plans. It is an opportunity for a “Time Out”. How many of us need a time out. We perhaps could use a time out in our personal life. It seems to be headed down not up. There are time outs needed in our relationship at times. When was the last time we took a time out with our spouse, or with our children or with our parents? Our problem is we do not have time to take a time out. It is frivolous to think we can do it. Too many things to do, places to go, people to meet. And, yes, we are about to take on some more busy work. We believe the wise old warning that “the Devil is in the details.” We just do not have time to check out the details.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Acts 2:14a, 22-32 Literal Religion: Believes they are full of gladness because His Presence is in us. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” Spiritual grace: Believes they are full of gladness because they are in the Presence of God. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

Easter is all we expect it to be. There is the large choir, the outstanding music, the color of the robes, the flowers, even some hats. Yes, and even the sermon. Most of us are used to it. Whether we believe or not, we still have come to expect the expected. Then there is the unexpected. Suddenly, there is no body, just a cloth folded and lying on the ground. But where is the body? It is too much to wrap your head around.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Acts 10:34-43 Literal Religion: “God shows no partiality,” conditionally. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality.’” Spiritual grace: “God shows no partiality,” unconditionally. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality.’” Did you feel the Grace? Legalism is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted from grace!  Read more

Seventh Sunday of Easter. Rationally, this prayer is the Mother Lode. It is filled with golden nuggets. It would take a theologian a life time to mine the nuggets and still they would not have come near the finish. It is really loaded. Spiritually it raises some real questions. Who wrote it? Jesus never wrote anything.  Read more

Seventh Sunday of Easter: Worldly believes rationally to be saved. Godly experiences belief spiritually to be saved. Worldly believes righteousness is doing the right thing. Godly believes being in a right relationship with Jesus, you will do the right thing.   Read more

Sixth Sunday of Easter. When you read the commentaries they center on “keeping the word if we love Jesus”. Their definitions of the word can be all over the place. If we want to know what is John’s definition of the “word” all we need to do is go back to the first Chapter. “In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, the Word was God.” John’s definition of the Word is the “One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  Read more

Sixth Sunday of Easter: Worldly listens with the head. Godly wonders in the heart. Worldly looks to what is done to see the face of God. Godly senses the face of God to see what He does.   Read more