C.S. Lewis from The Screwtape Letters on how politics can divert a Christian.
“As long as activism matters more to him than genuine religious practices, he’s in our grip. And the more he prioritizes those worldly causes under the guise of being ‘religious,’ the better.”
“Burnout is usually regarded as the result of trying to give too much, but in my experience it results from trying to give what I do not possess.”
Parker Palmer
Grateful for a couple of days with these brothers. We’ve been connecting monthly for 7 years.
Every pastor needs this. Every human needs this.
@gpackiam@aaronstern
There were two responses to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2).
“They have had too much wine.”
and
“What does this mean?”
Cynicism and curiosity.
Responses still common today.
I love that on the 1st Pentecost Sunday, it is the Apostle Peter who preaches. This same Peter had just denied Jesus a few weeks earlier.
The Holy Spirit is not a reward for good behavior & unwavering faith. The Holy Spirit is a gift to those who turn to Jesus & wait on him.
The bible doesn't end with souls ascending to a disembodied heaven. It ends with a fully embodied heaven descending to earth
The resurrection is the good news that God in Christ is committed to the renewal, reconciliation & resurrection of all things—and so should the Church be.
Easter weekend is a good time to tell the story of how agnostic UNC prof Molly Worthen recently discovered the evidence for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. A 🧵…
On Holy Monday, Jesus flips tables in the temple, confronting the religious leaders for their abuse of power.
Power is a tricky subject. It regularly gets a bad rap because of its misuse, but power is unavoidable. Everyone has power…how it is used is the issue.
Henri Nouwen wrote, “Power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life.” (In the Name of Jesus)