religious acronyms

during the 1990s a popular acronym among Christians was WWJD--What Would Jesus Do? It was coined to remind Christians "of their belief in a moral imperative to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through the actions of the adherents.[1][2]" 

What would Jesus do? - Wikipedia 

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WWJD has lost its steam since the 1990s--so much for "moral imperatives". 

perhaps a better acronym for the 2020s would be LLGL--Love Like God Loves. faith, hope and love: Love Like God Loves  

in 1967 there was a popular song: Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World (Lyrics) - YouTube  

what a wonderful world it would be if we all loved like God loves.

Love Like God Loves

May 31, 2015 message: “Love Like God Loves” – Lake Harbor UMC

PRAYER

POWERFUL!!! 

 

Romans chapters 6, 7 and 8

attribution: Dafongman

There Is A War Raging (Romans 7:21-24) | Forgiven - Bethel M… | Flickr

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attribution: Sapphire Dream Photography

Romans 8:38-39 | Sapphire Dream Photography | Flickr

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Divine Mercy in Scripture

 "... It showed itself as what it was at the beginning, that is, as love that gives, love more powerful than betrayal, grace stronger than sin."

Divine Mercy in Scripture | The Divine Mercy 

The world gives us many reasons not to trust: lies, fraud, scams, hate, war, greed, oppression, deprivation, betrayal, etc.

Trust in God's infinite Divine mercy.

attribution: Dr. Michael D. Evans

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Isaiah 41:10

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love

1 Corinthians 13

Dare to Love One Another for Your Best Relationships | Ginger Harrington

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stay the course

  http://www.flowingfaith.com/2020/06/how-to-stay-the-course.html 

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on the road to Emmaus

"Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. 

He asked them, 'What are you discussing as you walk along?' They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, 'Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?' 

And he replied to them, 'What sort of things?' They said to him, 'The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.' 

And he said to them, 'Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?' Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. 

As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, 'Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.' So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, 'Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?' 

So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, 'The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!' Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread."  

Luke 24: 13-35

Risen Lord, Who met two travelers on the road, contemplating the events that occurred,

When I feel disappointed, please meet me and open my heart to your word.

Loving Savior, Who stayed alongside the travelers, for sorrow prevented them seeing,

When I fail to understand, please stand by me as I continue seeking.

Amen

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after the horror of Friday comes the glory of Sunday

 

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sermon on the mount: "So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

In the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB) the theme of righteousness is prominent, and even at this early stage of the ministry the note of opposition is struck between Jesus and the Pharisees, who are designated as “the hypocrites” (Mt 6:2, 5, 16). The righteousness of his disciples must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees; otherwise, in spite of their alleged following of Jesus, they will not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Mt 5:20). Righteousness means doing the will of the heavenly Father (Mt 7:21), and his will is proclaimed in a manner that is startling to all who have identified it with the law of Moses. The antitheses of the Sermon (Mt 5:21–48) both accept (Mt 5:21–30, 43–48) and reject (Mt 5:31–42) elements of that law, and in the former case the understanding of the law’s demands is deepened and extended. The antitheses are the best commentary on the meaning of Jesus’ claim that he has come not to abolish but to fulfill the law (Mt 5:17). What is meant by fulfillment of the law is not the demand to keep it exactly as it stood before the coming of Jesus, but rather his bringing the law to be a lasting expression of the will of God, and in that fulfillment there is much that will pass away. Should this appear contradictory to his saying that “until heaven and earth pass away” not even the smallest part of the law will pass (Mt 5:18), that time of fulfillment is not the dissolution of the universe but the coming of the new age, which will occur with Jesus’ death and resurrection. While righteousness in the new age will continue to mean conduct that is in accordance with the law, it will be conduct in accordance with the law as expounded and interpreted by Jesus (cf. Mt 28:20, “…all that I have commanded you”). 

Matthew, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW | USCCB 

can you imagine loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you (Matthew 5: 38-48)?

in Ukraine we are witnessing unimaginable persecution by Russian "pharisees". Jesus Himself was the victim of unimaginable persecution by Roman and Hebrew pharisees. 

Jesus teaches his followers to pray to the Father to "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us" and "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6: 5-15).

"Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48 

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Who do you trust?

 a parent? your spouse? a friend? a teacher? a pastor? a priest? 

these may be good choices, but some people, even those closest to us, betray our trust. after all, we're all humans.

that's the point. why not trust God? God is our Father. 

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,

your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread;

and forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors;

and do not subject us to the final test,

but deliver us from the evil one.

Ask God for no more than our daily bread and for God to forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sinned against us. 

Then thank God, and praise, worship and love God. 

God knows best. Trust God implicitly. 

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breaking news

Good evening. We're coming to you from a remote area near Siverek. However, our story begins approximately 720 miles southeast from here in the ancient town of Ur (in what is now southern Iraq). Avraham (Abraham), then 75 years' old, and his wife Sarai, left their large estate in Ur with Abraham's father Terah and nephew Lot and settled near Siverek (in what is now southern Turkey). When asked why he left Ur, Abraham said that he made a covenant with God. 

a covenant with God? Tell us about it.

Abraham said that God came to him in a vision. Abraham told God that he and Sarai were childless. God said that even though he and Sarai were very old, that Sarai would have a son. God told Abraham that his descendants will be more numerous than the stars in the sky. 

Abraham put his faith in God, who attributed it to him as an act of righteousness. God then said to Abraham: I am God who brought you from Ur to this land. God told Abraham to prepare a sacrifice by splitting a heifer, a goat and a ram and placing the halves opposite each other. 

After sunset Abraham fell into a deep sleep. God told Abraham that his descendants will reside as aliens in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed for four hundred years. God said that eventually Abraham's descendants will return to this land and occupy it as their own. Then there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch that passed between the split animals signifying God's covenant with Abraham.

 

For more on Abraham, his remarkable story and his descendants, see the book of Genesis, beginning with chapter 11. 

Good night from Siverek, Turkey.

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faith

• war 
• natural disasters
• poverty
• injustice
• personal tragedies
• etc. 

 
faith is believing that no matter what happens that it is what it is because God wills it. faith is trusting God no matter what happens. 

God's greatest attribute

we christians are taught at an early age that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-merciful, all-just, all-loving, etc. 

God's greatest attribute is the one that separates God from his creatures the most. 

God alone is holy. (Revelation 15:4)  

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baptism

Why are thousands of baptisms deemed invalid? | Crux  

from the catechism of the catholic church:

1239 The essential rite of the sacrament follows: Baptism properly speaking. It signifies and actually brings about death to sin and entry into the life of the Most Holy Trinity through configuration to the Paschal mystery of Christ. Baptism is performed in the most expressive way by triple immersion in the baptismal water. However, from ancient times it has also been able to be conferred by pouring the water three times over the candidate's head.

1240 In the Latin Church this triple infusion is accompanied by the minister's words: "N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." In the Eastern liturgies the catechumen turns toward the East and the priest says: "The servant of God, N., is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." At the invocation of each person of the Most Holy Trinity, the priest immerses the candidate in the water and raises him up again.

change from immersion to pouring water over one's head and differences in eastern rites' baptism suggest to me flexibility. 

failure to recognize the validity of thousands of baptisms because of the unfortunate use of the word "we" instead of "I" suggests rigidity.

who determines the validity of baptisms? answer: only God.

to suggest that God would decree the baptisms of the victims of the unfortunate mistake as invalid suggests to me self-righteousness and a lack of understanding of a loving and merciful God.

PS further research on this topic revealed that the problem of priests performing baptisms incorrectly is not new. yet the church seems unable to correct the situation. such is the case with many other seemingly more serious problems, abuses and scandals within the catholic church today. matthew 23. 

JOY = HOPE

"euangelion" translated from Greek to English is "gospel". it means "good news". 

how do you feel when you hear good news? joy? 

how do you feel when you hear the word "hope"? joy? 

do we as Christians project joy and hope? do our leaders? 

without joy, there is no hope. 

without hope, there is no joy. 

JOY = HOPE.

let us rejoice in the Lord!

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faith

faith is beautiful. faith is a gift that allows us to believe what we don't know for sure.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

EMU Professors' Play On Nazi Dissident To Hit Stages in Harrisonburg, Vienna | Features | dnronline.com 

the Lord's prayer

Our FATHER in heaven, HALLOWED be YOUR NAME, your KINGDOM come, your WILL be done, on earth as in heaven. 

Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;

and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 6: 9-13

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never been born?

"For the Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born."

Mark 14:21


9 Of others no memory remains,
for when they perished, they perished,
As if they had never lived,
they and their children after them.

10 Yet these also were godly;
their virtues have not been forgotten.

11 Their wealth remains in their families,
their heritage with their descendants.

12 Through God’s covenant their family endures,
and their offspring for their sake.

13 And for all time their progeny will endure,
their glory will never be blotted out;

14 Their bodies are buried in peace,
but their name lives on and on.

15 At gatherings their wisdom is retold,
and the assembly proclaims their praises.

sirach 44: 9-15

heaven. hell. purgatory? (Purgatory - Wikipedia) "never been born"?

I believe that God loves all of His creations as a father loves his children--even when his children fail to do his will. would a human father wish eternal fire and brimstone, weeping and gnashing of teeth for his disobedient child (see Luke 15: 11-32)? while there may be some exceptions, I think not. perhaps "never been born" is the manifestation of God's justice working together with God's love for all of His children. 

"Of others no memory remains,
for when they perished, they perished,
As if they had never lived,
they and their children after them.

... their bodies are buried in peace...".

may all of the souls of the faithfully departed (including disobedient ones) rest in peace. amen.

matthew 8: 5-13

ever since I was a kid, matthew 8: 5-13 has been one of my favorite bible stories.

When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”

He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”

The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven, but the children of the kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

And Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And at that very hour [his] servant was healed.

I'm no longer a child. I'm 75 years old and I still love this story. when I was in the army, it was said that company commander (typically a captain) was the best job in the army. a company commander commands about 100 men. as an enlisted man, I could easily see why company commander is the best job in the army. "... For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

after the army, I spent 40+ years in the business world as a civil engineer. during my later years, I managed relatively small groups of engineers and technicians (much less than 100). I knew full well what it meant to be "a person subject to authority, with others subject to me". 

Today I think the things that I most love about this story is the centurion's faith and his begging Jesus to heal his servant. when I think about it, that's the posture with which we should all approach Jesus--as beggars with faith. we are sinners. Jesus is our Savior. why wouldn't we have faith? why wouldn't we beg for His mercy and forgiveness? why wouldn't our faith in Jesus be as strong as the centurion's?  

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