…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) When I moved into town as a new pastor, I heard terrible stories about George. He had chased the ladies, been too fond of liquor, and been a shady businessman. Every time I heard one of these …
Tag: kindness
Traveling with Jesus
He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two… He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts… (Mk. 6:8) Recently I was behind a woman in the check-in line before a flight. When she put her suitcase on …
Through the Lens of Gratitude or Ingratitude
Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord… (Hab. 3:17-18) Every year …
Continue reading Through the Lens of Gratitude or Ingratitude
“Jamie, who are His People?”
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham…. (Mt. 1:1f) If Jesus had lived in the neighborhood where I grew up, my grandmother would have been worried about me playing with Him. She would have wanted me to shy away from Jesus because He came from …
The Real Hope of Bethlehem
Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem… While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. (Luke 2:4,6) While visiting the Holy Land I was very excited to see Bethlehem—the place where Mary and Joseph traveled, where Mary gave …
What Jesus Knew
Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. (Jn. 8:6) The woman caught in adultery stands in the midst of the crowd ashamed of her actions and afraid for her life. The Pharisees are feverishly using that woman to set up Jesus. Many of the townspeople are gathered around with great curiosity, some …
Let the Little Children Come to Me
People were bringing little children to [Jesus] in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me…' (Mk. 10:13-14) David, a seminary classmate, and I were at a folk mass. As we …
…and a Little Child Shall Lead Them
“The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.” (Is. 11:6) Let me call him Fred. He didn’t like the changes I was making at church. He made an appointment to express his …
A Kingdom of God Moment
Jesus said, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.' (Mk. 1:15) At the end of each session at the jail I always ask the inmates what subject they would like to talk about for the coming week. On one occasion they decided to …
Room For All
He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.’ (Lk. 4:17-18) One of church’s receptionists buzzed to tell me that she had a woman on the phone that demanded to talk with …