Sharing the Ascension Experience
Dear Folks, The Fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance — Paul of Tarsus (c. 5-67) The Bible, Galatians 5:22 As the seasons change from the harsh days of winter to the Gentle days of spring, we have a physical reminder to approach life and others in an Affable … Read more
Dear Folks, We are shaped and fashioned by what we love. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) Poet These two qualities remind me of my brothers. They are Indefatigable artists. It is in their blood, but more importantly it is in their souls. Maybe they cannot help but see the world in beautiful patterns, but … Read more
Quite often, men of the world refer to believers as troublemakers; as Ahab called Elijah a “troubler of Israel” (1 Kings 18:16-18). Interestingly, Jesus might appear more of a troublemaker than a peacemaker, as people could not agree about him. Jesus explains, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did … Read more
Marc Gopin of George Mason University explores what makes peacemakers tick in Bridges Across an Impossible Divide. The book emanates from the “Unusual Pairs” film project, a series of videos that focuses on Israeli and Palestinian partners in the quest for peace. The narrative unfolds in the words of the peacemakers themselves as they search … Read more
A new book that tells a story set in war-torn Iraq sends a straightforward message applicable to everyday Americans: Get to know your neighbors. Greg Barrett, who worked in The Charlotte Observer’s Rock Hill bureau in the early 1990s, recently spoke at Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he told the story of his book “The Gospel … Read more
For the past decade, the Peace Corps has released an annual ranking of the top large, medium and small schools that graduate students who then serve overseas for a little more than two years. The organization, an independent U.S. government agency that has been around for more than 50 years, has more than 8,000 volunteers … Read more
Dear Folks, The Fruits of the Spirit: Loving Kindness, Courageous Loyalty, Sincere Fairness, Enlightened Honesty, Undying Hope, Confiding Trust, Merciful Ministry, Unfailing Goodness, Forgiving Tolerance, Enduring Peace — The Urantia Book, Jesus of Nazareth We have two of the mightiest of values to contemplate this week. Peaceful and Merciful work well together, are essential companions. … Read more