Greetings!

BlogFam,

There are so many things we might name in our lives, families, churches, politics, friendships, careers, education, housing, finances that we could say make us ashamed - embarrassed or guilty because of one's actions, characteristics, or associations.  BUT I am glad to say that the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ is not one of them.  We might be ashamed or embarrassed by the ways certain followers of Jesus might behave, but in and of itself, the Gospel is love and the Gospel is hope and no one should ever be ashamed of that.

Greetings!

BlogFam, as a child, my mother would often tell my siblings and I these words: 

"Your name will go further than you ever will."

In other words, there will be people and places who will hear of your name and the reputation attached to it that you may never know.  There will always be someone who has heard about you and you need to be mindful of how you carry yourself so that you can help what they might hear.  Obviously, none of us can completely control the script that is written in the public square about us but we can be careful to live our lives in a way that is holy and honorable.

Greetings!

BlogFam, I do not have a set way for determining the scriptures for our reflection.  Since I was invited to preach and to use selected verses from Romans 1, this week we will spend time in Romans 1.  As I was invited, so do I invite you to walk with me to discover how the Lord might speak to us...

The very first thing I notice in Romans 1 is how Paul writes an extensive greeting.  Honestly, it seems like he could have gotten straight to the point a little quicker.  But Paul has a few goals that he is trying to accomplish by making his greeting so long.

GREETINGS!

BlogFam,

Have you ever wondered why the Lord continues to call you seemingly in spite of your personal history?  Have you ever wondered why you still have any kind of divine assignment in the Kingdom given your recent attitude, challenges, or shortcomings?  Have you ever wondered why the Lord keeps sending you out when you would have made it clear in so many ways and words that you would rather not go right now?

Friends, I think we have all had these kinds of thoughts at some point.

Greetings!

BlogFam, 

I have to backtrack for a moment. There was a phrase, a vague description that I must go back and reflect upon.  

Here is the verse:

 After that he appeared in a different form to two of them who were walking along in the countryside. 

Here is the description within that verse that has given me pause this morning:

 After that he appeared in a different form...

Friends, what does that look like?  What kind of a different form?  How did He appear to them?