Tomorrow's Offering

You may have noticed that I didn't blog this week. That's mainly because things seem to be cruising along so nicely that I haven't bothered myself with blogging. I think the topic of Sunday's sermon challenged me to slow down a little this week.

Pray more. Blog less.

Tomorrow I begin a new sermon series that I'm calling "Better than Jesus." The first installment is called "Busier than Jesus." I will get help from two people throughout this series. Next week I'll be out of town so youth minister extraordinare', Ryan Bader, will deliver the sermon "Nicer than Jesus." The others are "Cooler than Jesus," "Smarter than Jesus," and "Happier than Jesus." The series will end on June 29th with Jeff Miller preaching the second of a two-part sermon called "Better than Jesus."

I hope today is as beautiful where you are as it is here in Johnson City. Tomorrow should be a good day as my youngest, Cora, turns 10-years-old. Happy Birthday, Cora!!!

Peace.

Prayers of the Church for Grandview

18 May 2008

God who made the earth all that is in it in six days, this morning we take the tools of our trade and we set them aside. We walk away from our lists of things that need to be done. We turn our backs on our worries and anxieties; preferring to turn our faces squarely and fully in the direction of the one who made us.

We have been distracted by many things, when only one thing is necessary. You created a universe so large that we can’t wrap our little intellects around it. You formed a solid place for us to stand and then you set it spinning. We didn’t even notice. We thought we were standing still and that everything was revolving around us. How like you to make the impossible a reality; to make reality so amazing that we fail to see it!

As we stop this morning to acknowledge you remind us who is responsible for our lives, for our loved ones, and for eternity. Give us the grace to enjoy the roles you have called us to fulfill, to be anxious about nothing, to live with the joy that can only come from knowing that this universe is ultimately in your hands.

Forgive us for trying to manage and control everything in, and just beyond, our grasp. Forgive us for squandering your gift of life in fear and uneasiness.

In the silence please give us peace, helping us to give to you our fear, pride, and power.

silence

From the perspective of eternity and the cross we can ask you to bless our enemies; both the kind who are literally dying to kill us and the kind who just don’t like us and seek to undermine your call in our lives. Bless those on our prayer list. Give healing to the sick, peace to those who are hurt, protection to those who are in dangerous places, encouragement to those who are buckling under the weight of life’s pain, and a peaceful death to those whose time to die has come.

Bless the institutions that exist for kingdom purposes, especially Agape Women’s Services, Appalachian Christian Camp, Appalachian Christian Village, Christian Student Fellowship at ETSU, Emmanuel School of Religion, European Evangelistic Society, Higher Ministries, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Milligan College, and the Salvation Army.

With one voice we pray according to the example of your Son,