May 13, 2013 by Pastor Rex
Yesterday in the sermon I referenced Dr. Stephen G. Post and the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love. His work has been especially inspirational for me and offers many examples of what God’s Love is reflected in our lives. the web page is worth your checking out at www.unlimitedloveinstitute.org
Yesterday we asked people for their favorite hymn on a favorite hymn survey. I always find these surveys interesting as they reflect over the years changes in the worshipping congregation and offer lessons for leader’s.
We will schedule the hymns then post in the newsletter and on the web page the hymn titles and when they will be sung in worship. I few hymns were mentioned on more that one response form. We asked for people to sign their name so if we had any questions we could check with them when for example there is more than one tune for a hymn we could check which one they had in mind.
People who do not understand or do not want to include their name also could not follow directions. Asked for a favorite hymn or two they enter more than two which always strikes me as a hymnal they cannot get published. Those forms were added to recycling as we could not check back with the individuals and we are not looking to publish a new hymnal.
This summer at the traditional 9:00 am worship we will be doing a series on the liturgy and worship. Always fun and interesting when we do this.
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April 3, 2013 by Pastor Rex
I was struck by an article by Stephen G. Post that 80% of people across America self-report an experience of God’s love at least “once in a while” and 45% report an experience of God’s love at least once a day. Given recent publicity reporting the decline of churches & religion in America this seemed high.
Easter is about God’s love for us and this year I especially found the Easter message that Jesus brings freedom, God’s freedom to us everyday. I wonder if I miss God’s love some days and if I miss it is because God is absent or like the blind man before Jesus can I not see.
The E100 this week focus’ on the miracles of Jesus perhaps I most of all look for the miracle of God’s love to be my experience today.
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February 22, 2013 by Pastor Rex
Days into Lent and how hard it is to take evn 15 minutes for God. After hearing Dr. Carol Lynse call for us to take “A Pause in Time” I thought what a good Lent discipline. A healthy few minutes to feed my soul and her research showed those minutes in prayer were good for my brain, my attitude and general health. But she was so right about the brain. As soon as I pause the brain begins to shout out thoughts of what needs to be done and everything but listening to God. The thoughts that tomorrow will offer a better time and once “all these are taken care of” then will be a better time for God. Yet repeating her simple mantra and letting the thoughts pass through the mind (I find they all come back later anyway) the brain clears and God enters in. I am beginning to look forward to those minutes with God each day. So simple yet so hard and soooo worth it!
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February 9, 2013 by Pastor Rex
The E100 looks at the Judges of Israel of long ago. They speak the truth and people of prayer. As we enter Lent for christians through the ages prayer is a Lent practice. Often our prayers, like the Judges of old, we lay before God our concerns and ask for God to help us make a decision. Tomorrow Dr. Carol Lynse brings to Grace prayer that “listens” to God. What does God want to place on out toughts? Where does God want me to be? What does God want as a priority in my life?
Can prayer be comforting and discomforting at the same time?
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January 9, 2013 by Pastor Rex
A new day for Grace and for me as we blog. I would be interested in what you would like to have on here as we grow in this new ministry.
Starters as we take on the E100 Bible Reading challenge I reflected on Genesis 3:6 What knowing means to me, often I want to know everything God knows. Yet often I would have enjoyed life without knowing about my own sins and mistakes. The pains of suffering and death in life. How much do you want to know?
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