pastortom.blog
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“Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.”—Psalm 69:34 To borrow from another season, my heart sings: Joy to the world! The Lord is come!Let earth receive her King;Let every heart prepare Him room,And heaven and nature sing!—Isaac Watts Heaven and nature sing the glories and praises of…
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Pastor Mary Jones sat at her desk, contemplating the strategic-planning process she was about to present to her working team. On one side were the demographics: a community snapshot, perceived and documented needs, feedback from neighbors, and a growing awareness of the church’s mission. On the other side was the church-health report. An outside consultant…
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“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”—Exodus 20:16 I have recently published two related reflections on our responsibilities as citizens. In “You Have Been Appointed to the Oversight Committee,” I suggest that every citizen participates in the oversight of government. We cannot personally investigate every decision, attend every hearing, or examine every public…
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“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near.”—Mark 13:28 It may not be summer yet, but summer is coming. A change of season is always on the way. While we do not want to spend our lives jumping ahead…
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“He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.” — Habakkuk 3:6 KJV The nations of the earth sometimes suffer under a grand delusion—the delusion of absolute sovereignty, permanence, and omnipotence. It is a delusion because…
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When the Facts Argue One Thing and God Says Another I have been known to debate with myself. One of my finest debating partners is hope. There are two seats at the table in my mind. Occasionally, I take the seat of the naysayer—the one who insists that there is no hope. From that chair,…
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Maturity is not guaranteed by age. I am meditating on maturity. We can grow old and still remain stuck in childish notions, habits, and patterns. At the same time, some people begin to mature remarkably early. They embrace who they are. They acknowledge their pain and struggles. They decide to move forward. They open themselves…
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Sing to the Lord “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”—Exodus 15:1 KJV Almost everything reminds me of a song. It might be a…
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Bible Chat – Leviticus 16:20–34 There is a moment in this ritual that invites us to stop and watch. Aaron has spoken the words.Hands pressed firmly on the head of the goat.Every category of failure named—iniquities, transgressions, sins. And now… the goat begins to walk. Away from the camp.Away from the people.Away from the presence…
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