The Church Mouse

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness  (2 Corinthians 12) “Little ones to Him belong.  They are weak but he is strong” (From ‘Jesus Loves Me” written by Anna Bartlett Warner). A couple of years ago I was watching an episode of ‘The Simpsons’.   Yes, I know that this cartoon can be outrageous, crude and irreverent, but I also find it at times a scathing and amusing statement on society.  I also am impressed with how they sensitively and progressively handle issues of faith and church most of the time.  Anyway…..in this episode, … Read more

Oh-oh, what’s love got to do, got to do with it?What’s love but a second-hand emotion?What’s love got to do, got to do with it?Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken? (From “What’s love got to do with it?” Written by Graham Lyle and Terry Britten and recorded by Tina Turner) There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1John 4:18) The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, … Read more

Where can I go from your spirit?     Or where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there;     if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning     and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me,     and your right hand shall hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,     and night wraps itself around me,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you;     the … Read more

But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. (Psalm 31:15) I woke up this morning to an email notification that some groceries I had ordered were out for delivery.  I though this was a little weird, being a Friday an all.  This grocery delivery is an automatic one that happens every Saturday, typically.  I got up, made coffee, puddled around in my jammies and stopped and surfed social media for about 45 … Read more

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone”  (Isaiah 9:2) “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  (Hebrews 1:1) Last Wednesday, I had to go to the hospital for one of those many many pre-op appointments that knee surgery people have.  This appointment was with anesthesia, and I knew it was just going to be a 5-minute conversation, but I also knew that it was a pretty important 5-minute conversation.  My appointment was … Read more

John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3: 16,17) And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do? (Luke 3: 10) I was chatting with a friend of mine the other day about … Read more

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 33: 14-16) Today is Black Friday.  Black Friday is a new phenomenon for me, and for … Read more

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke … Read more

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24:6) There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18) Last week, one of our political leaders perpetuated a rumor that Military Chaplains were banned from praying at Remembrance Day events.  I know a lot of Military Chaplains.  I went to school with several, and our … Read more

3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But … Read more