Why Are You Here?

After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.  When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.  A voice said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?” 1 Kings 19: 12-13 It is a beautiful morning here in greater Baltimore. As I awoke,[read more]

Anger and Formation

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry[read more]

Straddling the Issue

Elijah appealed to all the people and said, “How long will you straddle the issue?  If the Lord is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.”  The people, however, did not answer him. Elijah taunted them: “Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating, or may have retired, or may be on[read more]

Anxiety and Hospitality

“Do not be afraid.  Go and do as you propose.  But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.  Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.  For the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘The jar of flour shall not go empty, not the jug of oil run dry,[read more]

Working In Harmony

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called NIger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I[read more]

Learning To Love God

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”  Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel!  The Lord your God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with[read more]

Discovering Courage

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.   2 Timothy 1:6-7 This morning’s  news features a story about a famous fashion[read more]

Growing in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ

Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability.  But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3; 17-18   The other day something that occurred had agitated[read more]

Living Originally in an Unoriginal World

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love. 1 Peter 1:5-7 But those tenants said to one another, “This is the heir.  Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance[read more]