Lost and Found

Slowly it dawned on me that one reason Jesus sent his disciples into the world was to use us to find and be in ministry with the forgotten, the weak, the least, the last, and the lost.

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The Multiplier Effect

In my early years of ministry, I thought I had to do things myself because I was the one paid to do ministry. Eventually, I learned that I accomplished so much more when working with others.

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A Spacious Place

October 12, 2019 DAILY READINGS Psalm 66:1-12Jeremiah 28:1-17Luke 5:12-16This weekend’s scripture:Proverbs 29:17 FIELD NOTES Psalm 66 ends with this line: we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.  It’s a reference to Exodus 3:8 where God declares: I have come down to deliver my people from…

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Come and See

October 11, 2019 DAILY READINGS Psalm 66:1-12Jeremiah 27:1-222 Timothy 2:1-7This weekend’s scripture:Proverbs 29:17 FIELD NOTES In the first chapter of John’s Gospel (v39), two men spot Jesus and ask him where he is going.  “Come and see”, Jesus replies.  And they become some of Jesus’ first disciples. A few verses later (v46), one of those…

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Make a Joyful Noise

October 10, 2019 DAILY READINGS Psalm 66:1-12Jeremiah 25:1-142 Timothy 1:13-18This weekend’s scripture:Proverbs 29:17 FIELD NOTES This week so far: I went to the gym and cried out in pain. The line at the grocery store was forever long and I grumbled to myself. My wife told me her family was coming in and I rolled…

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Remember Your BUT

October 9, 2019 DAILY READINGS Psalm 137Lamentations 5:1-22Mark 11:12-14, 20-24This weekend’s scripture:Proverbs 29:17 FIELD NOTES Lamentations is a tough book to read.  It is so emotionally raw, the grief is so transparent, the pain so honest, that it sometimes feels too voyeuristic and inappropriate to keep reading.  Typically, we Americans are not used to reading…

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The Conquered AND The Conquerors

October 8, 2019 DAILY READINGS Psalm 137Lamentations 2:13-221 John 5:1-5, 13-21This weekend’s scripture:Proverbs 29:17 FIELD NOTES A co-worker was sharing about her friend who used to check in with her by asking: who are you in scripture right now?  Lost like Hagar in the desert? Successful like David over Goliath?  Frustrated like Elijah after Mt…

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Mature and Complete

October 7, 2019 DAILY READINGS Psalm 137Lamentations 1:16-22James 1:2-11This weekend’s scripture: Proverbs 29:17 FIELD NOTES My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature…

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Singing in the Checkout Lane

September 21, 2019 DAILY READINGS Psalm 79:1-9Jeremiah 8:14-17; 9:2-11Mark 12:41-44This weekend’s scripture:Proverbs 17:19-22 FIELD NOTES I spent time this summer in a peaceful mountain setting where Jeremiah was the name we gave the bullfrog who resides in our cattle guard. Reading from the Book of Jeremiah all week sets the scene for re-entry back into…

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