Over the Christmas holidays, an experience brought to mind the Biblical principle of hospitality. Possible blog post topics pop into my head, and I often let them formulate for days, or weeks, before I finally put my thoughts into writing. As I ruminated on the topic of hospitality, the word surfaced in my Bible study as a desired quality in leadership (Titus 1 v 8). Days later, hospitality was the theme in a devotional I’m currently reading. For me, that was enough confirmation to pen the blog!
It’s OK that none of us has a grand foyer like The Mandarin Oriental.
As I mentioned, after Christmas we experienced overnight hospitality with close friends from our DC days. Halfway through our two-day drive home, we arrived at their house depleted of emotional and physical energy. Approaching the front stoop and entering their purple foyer, I felt relief at being “home,” as I later shared in a thank you note. The familiar surroundings, the memories, the dear friendship and warm welcome ministered deeply. There we’ve sat by fires in the fireplace and cookouts on the porch. We landed there the night we left our family home for the last time and munched leftover Halloween candy in our exhaustion. The guest room often welcomes me with a special treat from the hostess, and the host makes sure we help ourselves to the tea drawer. Being able to spend the night in their home and catch breakfast together before hitting the road again is the spiritual gift of hospitality: sharing out of God’s provision to others in the family of Christ.
While specific spiritual gifts are given especially to some, the New Testament calls all Christians to be hospitable. Romans 12 v 13 says, “Practice hospitality.” I do not think that means doing routines like piano or soccer practice, rather the instruction suggests making hospitality part of your way of life. Unfortunately, hospitality seems threatening to many due to the likes of Martha Stewart in my day and Joanna Gaines these days. We get the idea that everything must be perfect: the food, the décor, and the beautiful hostess. But this is not God’s hospitality plan. Biblical hospitality is genuine and unassuming, from a humble heart and even a humble abode. I encourage you to practice it: have a friend in for coffee, a family over for supper or host a mid-winter party. Scripture says you might even entertain angels unaware (Hebrews 13 v 2)!
Niagara Falls is stunning! My family stopped at the Canadian Horseshoe Falls many times as we vacationed and visited family nearby. The Falls always scared me. The edge’s height, and the rushing forceful river plummeting to a deep drop below was nothing I wanted to be close to! I feared the power and danger of it all. Recently someone close to us shared a momentous waterfall experience. It is deep, personal, and worth passing on to you, but I’ll not use his actual name.
I remember being at this spot as a child. Photo by Ken Lund, wikimedia.org
Matt, as I’ll call him, told us his story of a dangerous edgepoint in his life. He was young and making choices; temptation teased him, and he was caught in its rush. Matt shared that as circumstances swelled around him, an older confidant reached out to him. The mentor spared no words in confronting Matt regarding his precarious situation. Matt said that he counselled him with words something like this: “Matthew, you are nearly at a point of no return. It’s as if you’re headed toward a Niagara Falls. You’re so close to being swept up and thrown over. You’ll plunge into disaster and be dashed on the rocks and tumult below. You’ve got a choice to make. It’s almost too late.”
Matt reflected on the mentor’s wise words, spoken out of love and concern. Time and proximity were opportune, so shortly after the conversation, Matt drove to Niagara Falls. He walked to the viewing edge. Looking over into the swirling depths far below, Matt shared that the gorge looked peaceful, something his life was not. I sensed that it was a moment of crisis: maybe he even considered taking that plunge; I was not sure what he meant.
But Matt continued his waterfall story. The following day, alone and still contemplating his future, he turned on the TV. In his channel surfing, he came across a preacher, who was standing in front of a waterfall backdrop – probably the filming magic of a ‘green screen’! The preacher blurted out, “Do you want to know the secret of real joy?” Matt did not want to know what the preacher’s idea of joy was, so he quickly changed the channel. A few moments later, Matt thought maybe he did want to hear the preacher’s answer. He clicked through the channels again, but he found no waterfall and no sermon. Without the TV message, the Lord brought to mind a little ditty his father had once told him. You probably have heard it too: JOY is found when you order your life with Jesus, then Others, and then Yourself. It seems trivial but it is truthful. Jesus must come first for a right life.
The rest of Matt’s story is that he edged away from the rushing whirlpool he faced. Instead, he turned toward the safety of solid ground although we know that shoreline can be steep and rocky. It was a victory for him because of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. We all admitted with Matt that we are always nearer a dangerous water’s edge than we realize.
This morning, I read these words in Psalm 94, “When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your love, O Lord, supported me” (v 18), “ the Lord has become … the rock in whom I take refuge.” (v 22). Turbulent temptations rage at times, but we can claim the calm of Jesus’ victory on the cross. (See 1 Corinthians 10 v 13
Fun waterfall frolic at the NY State Fair last summer!
Sometimes appointments, introductions, and gym training sessions are divinely scheduled. When my husband and I joined the gym with the silver set membership, a trainer gave each of us an initial assessment. I enjoyed the gym overview and felt comfortable with the experienced trainer, Max. We agreed to schedule four paid sessions to learn about proper equipment usage, as well as develop targeted workouts.
The front desk staffer (see Part 2 below) pulled up the trainers’ schedules and informed us that Max was not available but suggested Andrea, also an experienced trainer but new to the gym. “Great,” I thought, “bait and switch – this will be crummy.” I shared my disappointment with a friend at the gym, but when she heard that we got Andrea, a huge smile broke across her face. Our friend assured us that Andrea was not only a qualified instructor and a nice gal to work with, but she knew the Lord and had a radiant faith.
Our friend was right. Andrea was a knowledgeable trainer who followed Jesus and a lovely person to work with. She taught us exercises suited to our needs, and we enjoyed getting to know her. About the third session in, Andrea said she had something she wanted to share with us. Her husband had been experiencing back pain for several months. He had tried various medical and exercise options, but he worsened to the point of being taken to the Emergency Room, being admitted to the hospital and finding out he had serious cancer – it was just days before Thanksgiving. She asked for prayer.
My husband and I finished our paid sessions with Andrea and got updates on her husband Greg. Diagnoses and treatments took over their lives and it was rough with their jobs and teenagers at home and being so new to the area. In a twist that seems unlikely yet clearly divine, my husband started driving Greg to some of his cancer treatments. We have had appointments and experience with the same facility, so it was easy to say yes to their need. To me it was an embodiment of the Scripture which says that because of our troubles, “we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1 v 4)
Full credit to Coastal Fitness where we work out.
The transport trips lasted only briefly due to Christmas travel and then a similar caretaking situation for my father-in-law. We still see Andrea at the gym; Greg continues to face medical challenges. Their faith in Jesus is intact, and we are thankful to God for His Divine introduction at Coastal Fitness through our silver set gym program! AMEN
Part 3
The sport of boxing has emerged as a good form of exercise, even for the silver set. While visiting my mother in June, I chatted over breakfast with a couple who are fellow residents. They told me they were headed to a group boxing class specially designed tor folks with Parkinsons. I agreed that the punching and quick footwork would be good for the mind and body, but they clarified that this boxing is done sitting in a chair! The participants ‘fight’ a volunteer opponent but the sport is obviously modified. Nevertheless, the gentleman was pumped up by his opportunity to box.
Another girlfriend of mine takes a kickboxing class at our gym. She says kickboxing is a rigorous class, leaving her huffing and feeling the stretch and pumps afterward! I think I’ll skip that class and stick to the easy elliptical for now. How surprising to me that Rocky’s famed sport worked its way to fighting the effects of aging!
The phrase “Your Arm’s Too Short to Box with God” wanders in my mind. It is not from Scripture: it is the name of a 70’s Broadway musical based on the Gospel of Matthew. There is however a Biblical reference to the reach of God’s arm. Isaiah 59 v 1 says, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save.” The statement seems inquisitive, as if someone is having doubts and wondering if God can come through for him. The Isaiah passage then unfolds a list of numerous grievous wrongs happening at the time. Although the verse promises that God’s arm is never too short or too weak to knock the breath out of any obstacle we face (“nor His ear too dull to hear”), He may choose not to engage when He has been disregarded, or His ways disobeyed.
The other day, I stopped by our gym to suspend our membership. We have been out of town frequently and we have had a lot going on when home. Rather than lose our ‘senior’ gym privileges, I put our membership on hold with hopes of getting back to workouts next month. God is in control. Gloves on, He’s in the ring for me!
Here’s a similar song of encouragement I heard at church a couple of weeks ago. The Lord Will Provide
Part 2
In part 1 of Gym Wonderings, I shared my observations as a new gym member, part of the silver set who exercise against aging. I noted with amusement the people-types at the gym. The physically fit gym regulars are known as gym rats. I try to get to the gym often, so I do not lose my membership, but my level of working out does not fall into the gym rat category.
I have noticed a gym employee who also does not fit the usual gym rat stereotype. She wears loose t-shirts and jogging pants rather than spandex athletic wear. Her body type is not the muscular, toned variety of most of the staff, but she is cheerful and confident in the uber fitness environment where she works. I admire her courage, her confidence to be who she is, though she stands out from her lean and lithe coworkers. I will add here that I understand there are many body types; not every figure is built to be lanky and trim. In fact, I’m sure she exercises regularly and has a healthy heart rate.
Honestly, not everyone at the gym should be in good body shape. Exercisers like me are there working out to become more fit. Our muscles need strengthening, we need to build stamina, and we want to firm up flab. We go to the gym as we are … in our not-so-haute workout attire!
There’s a spiritual parallel here. Many people think they will return to God once they clean up their act. They feel they must do better before they exercise any spiritual muscle. But like going to the gym, you don’t get spiritually fit first. Nothing we do fixes us spiritually. Instead, the Bible tells us to release ourselves to God, then the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will do its transforming work. “Wash me [God], and I shall be whiter than snow,” declared David the Psalmist (Psalm 51 v 7). And Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5 v 32) Just like you can’t put on a trendy Under Armour outfit and call yourself fit, you can’t put on a Christian face and think you are saved. God’s power works in us from the inside out. Take courage, as the front desk gal at the gym does, and show up at a good workout place (a personal Bible study, or a church community group, or a worship service at a Bible believing church would be good starters for you). I would love to hear your story and how things are going!
Part 1
Last fall, my husband and I joined a local gym. Thanks to an advantage of our health insurance, we, the Silver Set, get free membership! It’s a great deal and we are blessed to have a very nice facility close to our home.
This is a new experience for me. I was not a high school athlete, so I did not work out in a gym, except for the required P.E. classes. In my adult life, I’ve taken various exercise classes, but it is a first for me to frequent the gym for personal workouts.
A few things immediately stood out to me. I noticed the types of folks at the gym and the types of workout outfits they wear. Many gym goers are younger than me, with buff bodies, seemingly very fit. They flaunt well-defined muscles in spandex-tight workout clothes. I now recognize gym regulars, the body builders, and the staff trainers. While that crowd is miles ahead of me in fitness, I’ve found them to be friendly and respectful.
I’ve noticed another set of gym types. They are older and less fit. They work out in outfits from their drawer: maybe stretchy pants and a t-shirt but I saw one guy in denim jeans, with a leather belt and flannel shirt. Bless his heart, at least he was exercising! I am more aligned with this group: working out on a basic level, dressed in something less than Under Armour.
So, what am I wondering, you’re wondering? Does the Bible say much about fitness? Yes, fitness is addressed in Scripture. New Testament events took place in Greco-Roman times, when body building and sports competition were popular, and there are Scripture references to both. The Apostle Paul told young Pastor Timothy to train for a godly life because “physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way” (1 Timothy 4 v 8). In Hebrews, believers are encouraged to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12 v 1)
As summer approaches, I will continue my gym visits and not neglect to train spiritually as well. Of course, I love that the Hebrews quote above calls Jesus our Author! I encourage you to exercise the habit of reading His Word regularly. “How to Read the Bible” on my Pages tab provides ideas for Bible reading. I also added a new quote on the Testimonial page.
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Hello Readers. It’s been longer than I like since my last post, but life is full, we are coming and going a lot, and there are preparations to make. There are respites though, and I’ll share a recent one.
On a crisp spring day, I plopped myself on one of the lower treads of a classic wood staircase at my daughter’s house. Late afternoon sun rays streamed through the smudged glass storm door. Warmth and light flooded my spot, the kind of basking spot any cat would envy! Two of my grandchildren sat beside me. I’m not sure if we stopped there to remove boots or if we were all just drawn to the sunshine and an invitation to sit.
My friend’s cat relishes a sunbeam, as all cats do! I’ve said of our various cats, “they are lucky dogs!”
I made small talk with the two preschoolers and eventually the third one joined us. Realizing the three were content in the moment, not anxious to move on, I kept the chit chat going. We pondered silly questions like, “Do trolls live on mountains?” I sang goofy songs like “My Darling Clementine” and dodged the inquiry about why it was “dreadful, sorry.” I sure did not want to divulge her aquatic demise. Somehow this spontaneous repose went on for a restful fifteen minutes or more, until dinner was called and all calmly headed to the dining room. What a surprising variation from the normal energy and activity level of this age group! And I too felt refreshed in body and spirit by taking the load off my feet and mind.
Quiet, stillness, and interludes restore us. A nonstop, hectic pace produces a hectic heart. Scripture speaks of our need for rest. Tranquil words like “abide” and “dwell” pepper its pages. Not surprisingly to me, Sunday’s church class touched on this subject in Micah 2 even as I was already mentally drafting these thoughts. The lesson reminded us that God called the Promised Land His place of “rest” for His people (Micah 2 v 10, Exodus 33 v 14, Deuteronomy 12 v 9). He planned that His chosen would live peacefully and flourish if they followed His ways. For all, the heart finds rest when it depends on and trusts in God, His goodness, and His plan for us.
The familiar Psalm 23 notes the priority of rest: not being in want; lying down; pastures; quiet or still waters; restored souls; no fear instead comfort, goodness, mercy; and the hope to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” It is a wonder that Ecclesiastes 3 does not say, “a time to rush and a time to bask.”
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Our cat enjoys an ocean view, not our home, in this basking spot – “Lucky dog!” My days are not always so sunny. To be honest, I was in stressful tears a few days ago, having to drive our new car alone for the first time. After 11 years and 181,000 miles with our former car, the adjustment scared me. Now I love its comfort and innovative safety features. I guess “there is a time for a new vehicle.” Thank you, Lord.
The local bagel shop was uber (excuse my German) cheerful that morning! Patrons and clients alike exuded a happy mood. A school aged girl sharing a bagel with her mom noticed a wad of bills on the floor. She picked it up and handed it to the manager. The manager quickly realized which customer had dropped it. A teen was happy to get his spending money back. Later the manager rewarded the honest girl with a free cookie.
I guess every Eastern seaboard town has its English twin. This is the tea from ours.
As our breakfast continued, I observed another guy checking out with his order. The cashier took his cash payment and reached out with the guy’s change, which was more than just a few ones. The customer waved it off, giving it back to the worker as a generous tip. “Thanks, man,” the cashier answered in surprise!
Not too few customers later, another man drifted by our table on his way out. He cheerily offered that he was on his way to sell nuts and bolts and added that it was a job he loved! He was especially happy that day to be headed to the Marine base in Jacksonville, NC. He appreciated being able to do business with the military, he said.
We left the bagel shop behind a family of three. The manager teasingly hollered to them, “Have a good drive back to Hawaii!” All three of them were wearing t-shirts from Hawaii … but you can’t get there by car. Hopefully, they smiled at the quip.
So, are things always this happy where I live? Of course not. Like any town in America or any place in the world there are difficulties and tragedies. This summer our town experienced a family murder. It shocks a community to witness that kind of tragedy: a young woman’s life gone; the rest of the family torn apart. Every place eventually experiences the same.
The towns that I am currently thinking so much about are the hamlets and the hollows of western North Carolina. Beautiful, rural mountain communities were ripped apart by rare flooding due to Hurricane Helene. The loss of life is still being counted, property devastation is widespread, and the infrastructures of water, electricity, roads, and internet are still heavily damaged. The ‘happy’ part of this, and I don’t joke or take lightly the deep loss and pain, is the way folks are coming together to help. Big organizations and small are sending supplies and showing up to be involved. Local ministries, churches, and schools and colleges in the mountains are also answering the call to reach out to their own, like Queen Esther, unexpectedly called “for such a time as this” (Esther 4 v 14). Among them are Samaritan’s Purse, headquartered in Boone, NC, literally on the ground immediately; sister ministry, Billy Graham retreat center, The Cove, now housing volunteers and law enforcement personnel; and Excel College in Black Mountain, who have agreed to host Adventures in Missions Disaster Relief. Our friends the Horvaths head up Adventures Relief and have committed to two years of disaster recovery in the Swannanoa Valley area. They will soon move their family of six, in their home on wheels, to Black Mountain, NC. You can follow their mission at Adventures.org/relief.
God promises to make “beauty from ashes” (Isaiah 61 v 3). We are witnessing goodness out of calamity. And I love that this good movement is receiving positive publicity for many to see! Jesus encouraged action of His followers, saying, “so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5 v 16) AMEN
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It’s an odd thing to be grateful for, waiting rooms. Specifically, waiting rooms in a doctor’s office or clinic. Though some doctors offer plush lobbies with a stack of great magazines, that’s not the ones I have in mind. I am referring to ones with sterile styling and plasticized upholstered chairs. Though there may be light chatter, more often there is a serious quietude. In these anterooms, one observes unfiltered humanity. It’s like people watching at an airport but with far more pathos. So why would I be grateful for waiting rooms? It’s not the patience factor.
Experiencing waiting rooms evokes gratitude in me first because I usually see folks who are going through so much more than me. Whatever I may be dealing with that brought me to this place, it is clear that others are suffering and facing more serious, even life-threatening illnesses. It is hard and humbling to see sick people or those going through extreme treatment.
During one wait, my husband noticed a frail, elderly woman come in alone. She checked in and was handed a clipboard of forms that appeared to overwhelm and confuse her. He asked if she wanted help, and he was able to read and write for her until she was called back for her appointment. Another time we ran into a friend of mine and her husband. We greeted each other but didn’t ask any questions; later I found out her husband had advanced cancer. I thank God for the reminder, the wakeup call, about my many blessings, including my health.
I also welcome the opportunity to witness the goodness of mankind in medical lobbies. In the waiting and watching I observe care and concern between families, between friends. I have noticed elderly sisters; husbands and wives, young and old; adult children with a parent; paid caregivers; and other companions accompanying patients. There’s so much to admire and appreciate in the compassion and sacrifice of one to another. One young woman, clearly experiencing difficult illness and treatment, came in with her uncle who lived several states away because her husband had to be out of town on business – heartwarming and heart wrenching all at once. But it is good to see goodness.
Theologians call this goodness “common grace.” It’s the capacity God gives His human creation to do good, as He Himself is good. Doing good is not to be equated with salvation however: salvation comes through faith in Jesus, God’s grace-filled gift to us. The Scriptures say, “ … He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy …” Titus 3 v 5 But our disposition for goodness, despite our sinful selves, uplifts us and ultimately lifts us to acknowledge God, the provider of goodness, compassion, and salvation.
We are grateful for God’s encouraging presence during a recent medical journey.
References on gratitude: Psalm 136, 1 Thessalonians 5 v15 & v18. If you receive my blog via email, thank you. The posts are best viewed at “A Writer’s Daughter”
The trek through turmoil is a slow one. When mess surrounds, the mundane persists. Life unravels but the dishwasher needs to be loaded and unloaded, the car needs gas, and the trash must go out. Elisabeth Elliot, widow of one of five missionaries murdered in the Ecuadorian jungle in 1956, taught this admonition: “do the next thing.” In other words, in that spot of loss or commotion, you move forward to a task at hand, however menial, even if you don’t feel like it.
John Ortberg assigns such a holding pattern to the Saturday between the crucifixion and the Resurrection. He writes of the “silent Saturday,” when the terror and adrenaline of Friday’s nightmare were over, yet no one knew about Sunday’s coming triumph (Ortberg, 2012). The followers of Jesus could not foresee it, especially as they waited through the silent Saturday ritual day of Sabbath rest.
But they got through Saturday and got up on Sunday. With their world having fallen apart, Mary and two other women arose early, prepared spices, and went to the tomb to embalm the dead body of Jesus. It was a routine task, but they managed to get up and “do the next thing.” (As ordinary as the women’s act of ministration was, it is recorded in all four Gospels: Matthew 28 v 1, Mark 16 v 1, Luke 24 v 1, John 20 v 1.) And that’s when they discovered the miracle! The tomb was empty, angels on guard, and then their encounter with Jesus! In doing the mundane, they experienced the Divine!
In our lives, the extremes are not usually as glaring as crucifixion Friday and Resurrection Sunday. We face losses and tragedy, healing and success. In the middle life of these, we press forward in daily simple obedience to God. Though I find the encouragement to “do the next thing” very helpful, here on Easter Monday, I remind myself that every day this side of the cross is really a victory lap!
Ortberg, John. (2012) Who Is This Man? Zondervan.
Credit for this photo goes to the official Paris 2024 Olympics site.
This past spring the movie “Jesus Revolution” was released in theaters, more than doubling its projected earnings for the first three opening days, eventually making fifty million in theater showings. A digital format has now been released and the movie played on Netflix. I did not see the movie in the theater but recently watched it on Netflix.
“Jesus Revolution” is the true story of hippie Christians in Southern California. The movie is based on a book of the same title, written by Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn. I grew up with Ellen and am happy for her continuing success as an author. I have clear recollections about the hippie era. I remember the church facing the issues of the day: rock music, drugs, freedom, and anti-establishment sentiment. But genuine faith in Jesus among hippies needed to be celebrated and welcomed in traditional churches and that struggle played out in the movie.
In the early 70’s, hippies seeking truth found the truth of Jesus and began spreading the Gospel among their peers. The movie tracks a hippie Christian leader and his connection to a local church pastor, picking up on the spiritual story of a young man named Greg Laurie. The hippie pastor, Lonnie Spears, is shepherding his flock of young Christians in a commune-like setting. He teaches them and ministers to practical needs, eventually forging a relationship with a local pastor and his traditional church. The local pastor takes a risk on Lonnie, but it proves fruitful for the most part. I was captivated by this part of the story because the pastor of the church my husband and I attended for decades was also named Lon, and he too followed Jesus in the 70’s, radically changed from pushing drugs and a freefall lifestyle. Like Greg Laurie who turned to Jesus and still pastors a large ministry in Southern California, the Lord had a great plan for our Pastor Lon, who ministered to thousands, including us!
On just about a weekly basis, my husband and I recall a sermon or something we learned under our pastor for all those years. We and so many others grew spiritually because of our pastor’s commitment to God’s call of ministry on his life. I think of other pastors who have been used by God in my spiritual life too. Pastor means shepherd. Pastors lead their flocks, who wander and may be unappreciative. Ministry is hard and at times, unrewarding. The movie shows how it is personally demanding and involves difficult people dynamics. This is common in churches, but God’s work always continues, even in disappointing circumstances.
October is Clergy Appreciation Month. I encourage you to express your appreciation to those who minister in your life: pastors, Sunday School teachers, Bible study leaders, youth group volunteers, and other church staff. They will appreciate your heartfelt “thank you.” Scripture tells us to do this: “Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work.” 1 Thessalonians 5 v 12-13a
This building in Parry Sound, Ontario now houses Harvest Church.
I took the feature photo of this 100 year old church last summer as I vacationed in Muskoka, Ontario. The church is located just blocks from Parry Sound that connects to Georgian Bay of Lake Huron. My husband and I attended the Sunday worship service here with relatives, and I recall the encouragement of the gathering and the meaningful Bible sermon. Timing is everything: I had recently experienced a hard conflict.
You might wonder why we “wasted” a day of vacation by going to church. Aren’t there fifty-one other weekends to attend church? We went not out of obligation, but to join a community of fellow believers (that’s fellowship). Personal blessings flow from music, a message, and even as visitors we taste of local ministry at work. I have particularly experienced that worshipping in a new setting, not my own church, has unique benefits. I am not distracted by who’s leading praise or what friends are in attendance, rather I focus solely on the elements of the service, and I gain reassurance from new congregations who share my faith. A waste? Not at all! As the Psalm goes, “Better is one day in Your courts, than a thousand elsewhere.” Psalm 84 v 10
Yesterday was another case in point. In a small group at our church, we discussed 1 Peter chapter two*. It starts out boldly with a charge against several evils related to lying (1 Peter 2 v 1). A deeper dive took us back a few sentences into the first chapter of 1 Peter. There, God’s Word clarified that those who follow Jesus are “purified … by your obedience to the truth” (1 Peter 1 v 22). Yes, that makes sense: truth is the opposite of lies. The passage continues by highlighting the strength of pure brotherly love (v 22), the importance of God’s “abiding” word (v 23) and the value of hearing it preached (v 25). Devoted community, reliance on the Bible, and Gospel preaching are all found in none other than the church! There is no substitute for joining a church, and it will be okay if you miss a Sunday on vacation!
*1 Peter, which is usually read as “first Peter,” is the first of two letters the apostle Peter wrote to Christians in Roman provinces in the early 60’s AD
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This is the church we now call home in NC, taken at peak azalea season!
I’m stuck at a hurdle here. This is the 100th post on my “A Writer’s Daughter” blog site. One hundred is a milestone and suggests something significant. One hundred is a century and a dollar. The 100th day of the school year is a big deal at the primary grades; teachers always look for creative things to celebrate, and the number 100 is important in our numbering system so it’s a math lesson too! But this time, my mind isn’t formulating a significant contribution to honor one hundred.
On the five-year anniversary of my blog, I wrote a recap of my venture into blog writing. I reviewed my highs and lows, topics of my posts and my continued goal in writing. Those reflections remain the same just 15 months later so I will let them stand. You can reread them at https://www.brendaproulx.com/2021/08/
I will move forward past the hundred marker now and pursue the next blog topic, as God allows me ideas and time. Mostly, thank you for reading my posts, encouraging me, and sharing your comments. I pray my writing ministers to you, as it does to me and that I might “abound … in this labor, knowing that it is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
Missions Disaster Relief. Our friends the Horvaths head up Adventures Relief and have committed to two years of disaster recovery in the Swannanoa Valley area. They will soon move their family of six, in their home on wheels, to Black Mountain, NC. You can follow their mission at Adventures.org/relief.
