Ask yourself: “Does the Jesus I read about in scriptures and the Jesus with whom I commune in my prayer – did that Jesus speak passionately about me or us doing these things? Is what we are doing on Jesus’ to-do list”?
And of course, the problem with praying for humility is that the “class” God teaches involves a lot of suffering and pain; though it gets the job done
…because the donors need to give some of their money away and need help with that task
This time last summer, I spent a lot of time in the chapels and glades of Iona, an island off the coast of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. A shift seemed to occur there which is playing out here at Parajito Farm. The shift is that of finding God in the land, and “church” in a family room with a few new friends.
I am wondering about letters since we worship with them, through them, even. What would it be like for you or for me, or for a church or Vestry or retreat group or house-church to sit down and draft “The letter to the Americans?”
Ideas are like exotic birds, they are stunning, arresting and a source of wonderment as to how they even formed.
Friendship is a sacrament. It is what makes life so beautiful
People are too busy with summer fun. So use the time wisely and write your case in the relative freedom of the summer-slowness.
“Of the seven deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor the last toothsome morsel; both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back “
If a person, deciding about their philanthropy is not grateful for what they have, philanthropy will be rendered as effective as a cellphone without a charger. This is why a good stewardship program in a church is only, ever as good as its formation program.