If you are used to working hard and putting food on your table by working hard, then it can be very difficult to learn to rest. I am not just talking about ancient Israel. I’m talking about American life now. Especially in cultures like the one I live in, Lancaster County. We are work-oriented. Generally-speaking,Continue reading “The gift of sabbath is sometimes very difficult to receive – Rest & Sabbath, Part 3”
Tag Archives: christianity
What do we do when we come to the end ourselves? – Rest & Sabbath, Part 2
I was outside this past weekend splitting firewood, and a very uncomfortable feeling came over me. The feeling was one part sick in the stomach and another part unsteadiness. I was afraid I was going to faint. I walked inside my house to get a drink of water, closed my eyes, and I saw aContinue reading “What do we do when we come to the end ourselves? – Rest & Sabbath, Part 2”
Playing sports on Sundays, and hunting, is now legal in PA – Rest & Sabbath, Part 1
The headline reads, “Bill that would end Sunday ban on football and baseball passes Pa. House.” Take a guess at what year that headline was published. Believe it or not, 2022. The article goes on to report, “The state House passed a bill Monday [September 19, 2022] that would repeal a…law that makes it illegalContinue reading “Playing sports on Sundays, and hunting, is now legal in PA – Rest & Sabbath, Part 1”
My Amish neighbors and their nonstop leaf blowing – Sabbath, Preview
My Amish neighbors are out there with their loud leaf blower at all hours of the day, blowing every speck of rubbish. Nearly every day. And their blower is loud. Why? They absolutely do not need to do that. Yet they do. I love Lancaster County where I’ve lived all my life. But I haveContinue reading “My Amish neighbors and their nonstop leaf blowing – Sabbath, Preview”
The second movement to bring peace – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 5
As I’m typing this, my wife is at Refreshing Recreation. The program is an effort her organization started to provide a place for local families living in hotels to have a delicious meal and a gym for their kids to play sports and other games. Our school district has so many families living in localContinue reading “The second movement to bring peace – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 5”
The first movement to bring peace – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 4
I recently heard a person in my church family claim that it is wrong for the rainbow to be used by those who promote gay pride. I suggested to this person that the Scriptures do not delineate how the rainbow can be used as a symbol. They agreed, but still felt it was wrong. IContinue reading “The first movement to bring peace – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 4”
You likely can’t change America, but you can change how you live in your own community – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 3
Purple Church is just about the church. The question of the week, however, “How do we allow the love of Jesus to bring peace to America?” is talking about the wider society. Not just the church. And yet, the inclusion of “the love of Jesus” in the question narrows the answer primarily to Christians. Furthermore, myContinue reading “You likely can’t change America, but you can change how you live in your own community – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 3”
Allowing people to disagree with you (even if you are convinced they are wrong) – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 2
Allowing ourselves to encounter and express the love of Jesus, I believe, starts with humility. By saying, “I need more of you Jesus.” By saying, “I don’t have your love all figured out. I could learn more about it, maybe a lot more. I could live your love more in the day to day, hourContinue reading “Allowing people to disagree with you (even if you are convinced they are wrong) – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 2”
The importance of free will – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 1
In the first century when Jesus was alive, the land of Israel was controlled by the Roman Empire. Rome was the superpower of the day, and they had an ideology called the Pax Romana. Roman Peace. They wanted peace in their empire. And largely they achieved peace. Do you know how the Romans achieved peace? Continue reading “The importance of free will – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 1”
What can we do to allow Jesus’ love to bring peace to America? Post the Ten Commandments in all school classrooms? – Preview
Next week is another Q & A week. Once per quarter I ask people in my congregation for questions or current events suggestions that they would like me to preach about. My goal is to bring biblical theology to bear on that subject to help us think Christianly about the headlines of the day. IContinue reading “What can we do to allow Jesus’ love to bring peace to America? Post the Ten Commandments in all school classrooms? – Preview”
Engaging Scripture 