Ministry in Motion

A slain Lamb. A borrowed tomb. A huge stone. Frighten guards. Befuddled believers. Excited followers. Emptiness. Everything. “Easter is the hope of the world, the dawn of a new age...Easter is God saying: ( “…this is my beloved Son, listen to him...” ) * The Easter story gives the world a new reality, a new hope a new direction. With Easter bursting upon us with the resurrection of Christ it becomes more than a happy ending to the Gospel's narrative. We find ourselves possessing a strength that is not our own, freely given to solidify our Christian objective: love God, love others, and forgive our enemies. Peace be with you...pkes #minmchurch   * A Farewell to Mars , by Brian Zahnd, pg40

“… he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities…”  Good Friday is a picture of the world at it’s worst. Pastor Brian Zahnd wrote: “ On Good Friday we come to the devastating realization that our violent system of blame and collective killing is so evil that it is capable of the murder of God. (In this sense Nietzsche was correct in saying, “God is dead, and we have killed him.”) It’s in the darkness of the crucifixion that we find hope, and mercy and love and liberty. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out [our] transgressions. …pkes # minmchurch #GoodFriday

Life's Trials and Challenges  When we are crushed like grapes,  we cannot think of the wine we will become... #minmchurch

#PoliticalUnrest Frustration in America and with our elected leaders is a pretty big deal right now. Levels of trust are seemingly at rock bottom and all sorts of political underhandedness and conniving is going on. For the most part, these electoral actions are legal, but kind'a morally deplorable and repugnant. It’s time to change the political landscape!  Here comes the arriving dignitary. He's the one that will help defeat the reigning political party and restore national independence and pride. Imagine a huge crowd pressing in, cheering the arriving candidate. Listen to the shouts of approval from the supporters; I bet his pole numbers are be off the charts.  Draw closer and lean in, listen to the crowd: " Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"  The word Hosanna means save us. Save us from this political climate. But within a week the adoring crowd will change their tune. They'll be voting for the notorious prisoner Ba

Leaning into #Lent - Reflection. I have a confession to make; I was a huge Michael Jackson fan. And just to clarify, I was an admirer of his music and work ethic, not his personal & social meanderings. The pop song “Man in the Mirror” released in 1987 on the “Bad” album features Jackson, backed by a gospel choir, belting out lyrics about struggling to reconcile oneself to society and personal responsibility.  <@>  Check this out . In the Book of James the author writes: “… don’t just listen to God’s word… do what it says… if you listen… and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror… y ou see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like…”   As we move towards Easter, I double dog dare you to look at the man (women) in the mirror and ask: God, in what ways do I need to change? Father, make your message to me really clear; remind me that it’s up to me to make the world a better place. Thank you, Amen. Now go ahead - take a look at yourself, and the

#Lent , Think of Lent as a time when our story is being redefined and refurbished.  For some odd reason I'm hooked on the HGTV series Fixer Upper. Chip and Joanna Gaines own & operate Magnolia Homes, a remodeling and design business in Waco, Texas. The couple saves, renews and rejuvenates homes that look hopeless, renovating the imperfect, and revealing them in a magnificent way. Chip and Jo breathe new life into these residences. <@> The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus : "...take a fresh breath and to let God renew your attitude and spirit..." [CLICK]   An aging home might not be the only thing in our life that requires a little rejuvenating. Our spiritual life may very well be in need of an ambitious makeover. Acknowledging that reno-work is needed requires honesty followed by cost and time of demoing the old me and letting God create a new person. The Psalmist penned, "...Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit