Archive for June 2017

June 20, 2017 Daily Reading Genesis 25:7-11 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 Psalm 126 This week’s sermon text: James 5:13-19 Field NotesThe Book of Psalms sits at the center of the Bible. It is a collection of songs and prayers that express the heart and soul of humanity. ‘Heart’ and ‘soul’ are words of depth; words of…

June 19, 2017 Daily Reading Genesis 23:1-19 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 Psalm 126 This week’s sermon text: James 5:13-19 Field NotesAs I was preparing this week to pray, read, and write, I felt a strong pull toward the Book of Psalms. Had I given the weekly psalm enough attention, or had I read hurriedly through it…

June 17, 2017 Daily Reading Mark 7:1-13 Psalm 100 This week’s sermon text: James 5:7-12 Field NotesIn today’s reading, Jesus draws a sharp line between human tradition and God’s commandments. As the passage opens, the Pharisees are criticizing Jesus’ disciples for not washing their hands before they eat, thus violating their religious traditions. Jesus calls…

June 16, 2017 Daily Reading Exodus 4:27-31 Psalm 100 This week’s sermon text: James 5:7-12 Field NotesOur passage could use a little backstory. Earlier, in chapters 3 & 4, God commissioned Moses to go to Pharaoh in Egypt and demand that he free the Israelites from slavery. But Moses balked. He didn’t want to go.…

June 15, 2017 Daily Reading Hebrews 3:1-6 Psalm 100 This week’s sermon text: James 5:7-12 Field NotesDo you think a lot about hope? American poet Emily Dickinson said that “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.” Desmond Tutu, the…

June 14, 2017 Daily Reading John 14:25-26 Psalm 29 This week’s sermon text: James 5:7-12 Field Notes In today’s reading, there’s an interesting word in verse 26. The New Revised Standard Version translates it as “advocate,” but the Greek word is paracletos, which is literally translated “one called alongside to help.” There have been many times…

June 13, 2017 Daily Reading 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 Psalm 29 This week’s sermon text: James 5:7-12 Field NotesThere’s a member of our church who owns his own business and for years was asked to serve on the administrative committees of our church – the ones that deal with finance and facilities and business-oriented tasks. He…

June 12, 2017 Daily Reading Job 38:39-39:12 Psalm 29 This week’s sermon text:  James 5:7-12 Field NotesThe central character of the Book of Job is a righteous man who, due to no wrongdoing of his own, has everything in his life stripped away – his home, his family, his health. Many commentators assert that the…