“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)   A life “worthy” of your calling is not a life of rule keeping or even orthodoxy, it is a humble, patient, and gentle life where you bear with one another in love. It is a lifestyle that makes every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the only bond that can accomplish that, the bond of peace. It is not enough just to…

“The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-9)     I AM God; one…

Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” (Exodus 34:5-7)     I am still the compassionate and gracious God. This means five important things to those who want to know me more:   — I am slow to anger. This doesn’t mean that I am never displeased or that I never become angry, but that it is a very slow process in me….

*** I’ve jumped up to an entry from today’s journal as we finish up this strange year of 2020 ***     For some, this year 2020 has been a kind of “reboot” in understanding what my church will look like in the future. For others, this year has only been a year of difficulty and disappointment. The first group will look upon this year as the beginning of many new things while the second group will only see this year as a pause before continuing to do what they have always done. This year will one day be seen as a crossroads where my church went in two very…

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again, Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my…

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:36-37)     Jesus came into the world to testify to the truth of my kingdom. How people receive that testimony depends on which side of the truth about my kingdom they are standing…

*** This was a personal word to me, but it might also speak to you. — Ralph   If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7)     I want you to take this statement literally. You can ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you… if you are remaining in me and my words are remaining in you. The problem is not that you don’t abide in me, the problem is that you don’t really believe that you can ask whatever you wish. It is not humility to refrain from…

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (John 12:24-26)     To follow Jesus is to come into a life of fruitfulness, but it is fruit developed in a different way than the world’s definition of fruitfulness. To follow Jesus…

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. (John 5:19-20)       You can do nothing by yourself. There is a major and long-planned spiritual attack taking place in the United States that is not only targeting democratic institutions, but also much of my church and the witness of my gospel. It…

“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” (John 4:23-24 MSG)     This truly is what I want when you come to me in prayer, not someone playing a role out of duty, but a child who is unafraid to simply be himself. I love you,…