Lynne Gardiner

Are we there yet?

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans 12: 10-14) “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”( James 1:2-4) “Are we there yet?” (Every child, on every … Read more

Equal in God’s Eyes

There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28) A few months ago, I was having a conversation with a young person who was part of a sports team at school.  This young person described a team mate who struggled with anxiety and depression and the team mate’s parent had confronted the whole team on some of their language and inclusion, saying that the team was ‘bullying’ this team mate.  The young person I was talking to … Read more

Living in the tombs

26Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”— 29for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the … Read more

Unfading Beauty

Deep calls to deep     in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers     have swept over me.    By day the Lord directs his love,     at night his song is with me—     a prayer to the God of my life. (Psalm 42: 7,8)   Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1Peter 3: 3-4) … Read more

Pentecost, Pride and Dill

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, … Read more

Strangely Warmed

“In the evening, I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street…About a quarter before nine, while [the preacher] was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed.  I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.’ (John Wesley) This past week, May 24, besides being Queen Victoria’s birthday, it is also ‘Aldersgate Day’.  It’s a pretty obscure church history reference … Read more

How is it with your soul?

As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked … Read more

St. Bethel of the Wounded Knee

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  Luke 22: 19 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25 Its been an odd time for Bethel, hasn’t it.  While things are slowly ‘opening up’, and we’ve been able to do more together, … Read more

New Things. Good Things. Right Things

 I am about to do a new thing;     now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness     and rivers in the desert.  (Isaiah 43:19)   A few weeks ago I was at a social event with a friend of mine from wayyyyy back.  She and I used to work together a long time ago and even though both of us have moved on from that job, we’ve stayed in touch.  It was a small group – small groups, after all, are the only safe ones, but I was the only … Read more

Humility

“… he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.  Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;  for this son of mine was … Read more