Musings with PWC

There are many things, concerns, and ideas that bombard us in our 'church' or 'christian culture.'  There are many ideas or activities that call for our time, effort, support and money.  I am wondering if in the plethora of social media, magazines, posts, sermons, and youtube teachings we might be missing the core of our calling. Peter, in Acts 10--is branching out with the gospel (fulfilling Jesus' prophecy of Acts 1:8).  Here in this text Peter is taking the gospel to the house of Cornelius.  As Peter explains why he had come to the house of a Gentile--he grapples with the real issue at hand--the gospel!  He explains his core calling in these terms: " And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is ordained of God to be the judge of all--the living and the dead.   He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”  (Se...

It is I who desires God?   Or is it God who desires me? “Hunger for God will not go unanswered, because it is a gift from God.  Our longing is already an answer from our heart as it is stirred by God’s Spirit.  No one who seek God fails to find God, because she or he is already found by God.  In seeking we are found.  In longing we express God’s desire, God’s longing evoking our own.” The soul speaks: ‘God, you are my lover, My longing. My flowing stream. My sun. And I am your reflection.’ God answers: ‘It is my nature that makes me love you often, For I am love itself. It is my longing that makes me you love you intensely, For I yearn to be loved from the heart. It is my eternity that makes me love you long, For I have no end.’ (Mechthild of Magdeburg) We may be tempted to feel that the desiring of God is all on our end.  But our desiring originates in God’s desiring of us…. David Benner p 82  Des...

Let's be honest--we are impressed with superstars.  We love our heroes--even 'Christian' heroes.  Have you read--so and so's--book?  Seen her videos?  Go to his website--it is awesome! I am taken back afresh as I read John 13. Jesus begins this particular narrative by describing who He is--what makes Him tick:   13:1 * ¶ Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love.   2 * It was time for supper, and the Devil had already enticed Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to carry out his plan to betray Jesus.   3 * Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. Notice:  Jesus knew His mission was almost over Jesus wanted His followers to know the "full extent of his love" Jesus knew: The Father had given him authority over everything Tha...

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