Archive for May 2018

May 31, 2018 DAILY READING Exodus 31This weekend’s reading: Matthew 5:43-48 FIELD NOTES Exodus’ commands on keeping the Sabbath in Exodus 31 are intense: “Keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who violates the Sabbath will be put to death. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath, that person will be cut off…

May 30, 2018   DAILY READING Numbers 6This weekend’s reading: Matthew 5:43-48   FIELD NOTES Recent studies have shown that depression and acute anxiety rates are on the rise, especially among youth and young adults starting at age 12. The reasons are complex and complicated and I am far from a psychiatrist, but experts suggest that a lack…

May 29, 2018   DAILY READING 1 Corinthians 2:1-10   FIELD NOTES Have you ever had one of those deep, authentic, wonderful relationships with someone where you feel like you can share anything and you won’t be judged?  You are both willing to share the deepest longings, hurts, and joys of life with each other and…

May 28, 2018   DAILY READING Psalm 20 FIELD NOTES This week was one of those weeks where the world just seemed to be throwing everything it had at me and those around me.  I was working my tail off and couldn’t seem to get everything done, falling exhausted into bed every night, too preoccupied…

May 26, 2018 DAILY READING Philippians 2:12-13This weekend’s reading: Philippians 2:12-13 FIELD NOTES One of my college professors had been a pastor.  Down the street from his congregation, a pastor of another church decided it would become the perfect church.  Their Administrative Board voted to kick out any members who had any criminal records, and who…

May 25, 2018 DAILY READING Philippians 2:12-13This weekend’s reading: Philippians 2:12-13 FIELD NOTES A farmer noticed his six-year-old son not succeeding in pushing a very large rock that weighed about two-hundred pounds to a corner of a field.  His father asked, “Are you using all of the strength available to move that rock?”  His son said,…

May 24, 2018 DAILY READING Philippians 2:12-13This weekend’s reading: Philippians 2:12-13 FIELD NOTES Today, we celebrate John Wesley’s Aldersgate experience of 280 years ago on May 24, 1738. Why? It’s good to remember and re-tell this story. John Wesley wanted to be perfect so God would love him. He was very methodical with his a daily ritual of prayer,…

May 23, 2018 DAILY READING Philippians 2:12-13This weekend’s reading: Philippians 2:12-13 FIELD NOTES In the TSSAA High School semi-final basketball game, Perry County High School was down 18 points with about 3 minutes to play. Dave Rhodes, PCHS’s coach, called timeout. While he was barking some instructions for a comeback, his younger brother, and star player, Mike (Tennessee’s…

May 22, 2018 DAILY READING Philippians 2:12-13This weekend’s reading: Philippians 2:12-13 FIELD NOTES Practice! Practice! Practice! The theory is that ten-thousand hours of practice takes one to a level of perfection. If a person practiced one hour a day, ten-thousand hours would be twenty-seven years and five months. After that 10,000 hours of practice, one continues practicing to…