Rev. Zach

One of the many beautiful movements in the rhythm of life in our faith community is our Agape Prayer Lunch. We usually eat and chat about life and current events and the concerns of members and family and friends. Then we just pray. It's open and vulnerable and grounding. Our closing prayer is scripted – and we say it together – but the heart of it is when those that feel moved just drop their filters and open their hearts before God. We always send the list out to the congregation, and I know that some use it in their prayers as well. Today, since it is the day before the fourth of July, I added a few encouraging thoughts to the list. Even though it goes out by email, most folks would not want their info posted here. So I'll just share the following [with a few editorial comments added] in the hope that it will be encouraging to your faith, Dear Reader. Enjoy! "On the day before the day we celebrate our nation’s independence, I urge you to spend some time in prayer...

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14      Galatians 5:1, 13-25      Luke 9:51-62 Well, I hate to say it, but these passages are the type that makes a lot of people say, “ This is why I don ’ t read the Bible. ” Consider the evidence.   First, we have the story of Elijah being taken up into heaven with all of its mythological fanfare . Then we have Paul. He ’ s just told us that we are free … so that we can be slaves to one another. Then he gives us a laundry list of things not to do. Some of these are easy to avoid, but some not so much. Of course, he assures us that there's  no penalty for being a decent human being. There ’ s just not much of a rewar d beyond being a decent human being. Love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, self-control, these are kind of rewards in and of themselves, right? Then there ’ s Jesus and his disciples. They get rejected by Samaritans. That makes sense. I mean, what were they doing there anyway? Samaritans bel...