I first met Mr. Charles J. Johnson on Goodreads. On I noticed his blog post and this poem. He was offering it up for anyone who would like to read it for Easter Services. I think it is very appropriate for the end of Holy Week.
28 March 2013
06 March 2013
Books and Religion
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| Solomon's Men by Glenn Starkey |
03 November 2012
Viewpoints from the Pulpit: National Elections
A church friend and fellow member of the Emmaus Community shared this video of Dr. David Jeremiah with me. The video is about forty-five minutes long. I had to look at it in spits and spurts as I was also listening out for my Godson at the same time. So I have not heard every single word said. I did hear enough to know that Dr. Jeremiah was doing his level best to be fair in his assessment of both Presidential Candidates.
He based his assessment from a biblical standard of leadership...not spiritual leadership as from the pulpit. His standards made sense to me overall. The argument that most caught my attention was the stance of the leader of the United States towards Israel. Basically, anyone who is against Israel is against God.
I am not about to tell anyone how to vote, that is a personal decision. What I'm offering is a way to become more informed from a biblical perspective before the Presidential Election on 6 November 2012. Short notice, I realize. Still, I hope that the final words of Dr. Jeremiah regarding Political Stewardship help sway anyone who is inclined not to vote at all.
DeColores,
Lynn Hallbrooks
He based his assessment from a biblical standard of leadership...not spiritual leadership as from the pulpit. His standards made sense to me overall. The argument that most caught my attention was the stance of the leader of the United States towards Israel. Basically, anyone who is against Israel is against God.
I am not about to tell anyone how to vote, that is a personal decision. What I'm offering is a way to become more informed from a biblical perspective before the Presidential Election on 6 November 2012. Short notice, I realize. Still, I hope that the final words of Dr. Jeremiah regarding Political Stewardship help sway anyone who is inclined not to vote at all.
DeColores,
Lynn Hallbrooks
25 March 2012
Parable of the Prodigal Son
Today's Sunday School lesson was The Prodigal Son from Luke 15: 11-32 which was lead by the husband & wife team of Larry and Kay. We had great discussions on different aspects of this parable, so much so, that my mind was processing it in the background during Church and through lunch.
While I was doing the lunch dishes, my brain began putting some pieces of the puzzle together. I think I may have come up with an interesting parallel.
The Elder Son is the people who were following all the laws in hopes of getting into Yahweh's good graces. The Prodigal Son is the new converts. Naturally, we all can figure out that the father in the story is Our Heavenly Father. To me it shows, that we are all equally welcomed by God. Whether we are Repentant Sinners or Covenant Keepers.
On a side note, the ending, in some ways, could be a foreshadowing of what was to come for Jesus who died for our sins then rose again and was welcomed home by the Father. As to what the elder brother did after that, I will leave that part of the story up to your interpretation as did Jesus when speaking to his audience.
I hope that all of you are blessed in some way by my simplistic layman's interpretation of one of Jesus' well-known parables.
DeColores,
Lynn
While I was doing the lunch dishes, my brain began putting some pieces of the puzzle together. I think I may have come up with an interesting parallel.
The Elder Son is the people who were following all the laws in hopes of getting into Yahweh's good graces. The Prodigal Son is the new converts. Naturally, we all can figure out that the father in the story is Our Heavenly Father. To me it shows, that we are all equally welcomed by God. Whether we are Repentant Sinners or Covenant Keepers.
On a side note, the ending, in some ways, could be a foreshadowing of what was to come for Jesus who died for our sins then rose again and was welcomed home by the Father. As to what the elder brother did after that, I will leave that part of the story up to your interpretation as did Jesus when speaking to his audience.
I hope that all of you are blessed in some way by my simplistic layman's interpretation of one of Jesus' well-known parables.
DeColores,
Lynn
02 October 2011
The Other Side
Once, I was a Pilgrim. Green and uncertain of what was about to happen to me. Now, I've graduated and been on my fourth day adventures. Last night, I was on the other side of a momentous night in the life of every pilgrim. If you have not been a participant in this event, it is difficult to describe what it feels like.
I will, however, attempt to describe what it feels like on the other side. It is anxious anticipation. You know what you saw and felt as a pilgrim. You wonder if the newest pilgrims will see and feel the same as you.
As I type and edit this blog, I flash back to a month and half ago to my special event. I have to hold back tears of joy. I decided not to reveal any of the details as it may dampen the experience for those who have yet to go on a Walk to Emmaus. I will say this, life is not the same as the pilgrims continue through their journey into their fourth day.
The journey of the Walk to Emmaus is on-going. Each pilgrim grows in their walk with Jesus in his or her own way. If you have not been privileged to be a part of this experience and would like to be, I encourage you to seek out information from your local church community. If they do not have any information, then visit this link to learn more.
DeColores,
Lynn Hallbrooks
I will, however, attempt to describe what it feels like on the other side. It is anxious anticipation. You know what you saw and felt as a pilgrim. You wonder if the newest pilgrims will see and feel the same as you.
As I type and edit this blog, I flash back to a month and half ago to my special event. I have to hold back tears of joy. I decided not to reveal any of the details as it may dampen the experience for those who have yet to go on a Walk to Emmaus. I will say this, life is not the same as the pilgrims continue through their journey into their fourth day.
The journey of the Walk to Emmaus is on-going. Each pilgrim grows in their walk with Jesus in his or her own way. If you have not been privileged to be a part of this experience and would like to be, I encourage you to seek out information from your local church community. If they do not have any information, then visit this link to learn more.
DeColores,
Lynn Hallbrooks
27 September 2011
Some things I learned in Church
In an attempt to rejuvenate the membership, there are changes going on at the little church on Hughes Street. One example is using a computer projector and screen. Sunday's spiritual message (also a new addition) was about "10 rules for Life". I tried to find the exact URL link that was on the screen with a Google search but no luck. I did find out that it's from a book, If Life is a Game, These are the Rules by Cherie Carter-Scott. Then,I found an excerpt which includes the ten rules on scribd.com, a place that I've only recently learned about myself.
The sermon this Sunday was from the book of James, second chapter, verses 1 through 7:
My brothers and sisters,* do you with your acts of favouritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?* 2For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Have a seat here, please’, while to the one who is poor you say, ‘Stand there’, or, ‘Sit at my feet’,* 4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.* Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition)
The main points that I took away from the sermon were that Jesus didn't discriminate against anyone. As a human, Jesus still sought out the ones who were less fortunate. On the other hand, the so call followers that James was writing to were prejudice towards those without wealth.
Our pastor touched on three different forms of Prejudice. They are Economical, Racial and Educational. How do I relate these things to myself (for I cannot speak for others)? Well, I'm in debt up to my eyeballs and beyond. Racial prejudice...I don't judge people by their covers. If anything, I have more of a conflict with personalities. The Educational prejudice for me came more into play in my previous career. Somehow, I managed to get through 30 years without even an Associates degree. My current career, it might have helped to have more English and Literature classes behind me but I seem to hold my own.
One other note that our pastor touched on was that up until relatively recent times, the church was responsible for "the widows and orphans". Then the government was tasked with it. My little church does what it can to support the local food bank. My friends help me directly. God bless them for that.
My question to you is...do you discriminate or find yourself prejudice in some way? If so, do you think that is something that Jesus would approve of?
DeColores
Lynn Hallbrooks
The sermon this Sunday was from the book of James, second chapter, verses 1 through 7:
My brothers and sisters,* do you with your acts of favouritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?* 2For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Have a seat here, please’, while to the one who is poor you say, ‘Stand there’, or, ‘Sit at my feet’,* 4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.* Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition)
The main points that I took away from the sermon were that Jesus didn't discriminate against anyone. As a human, Jesus still sought out the ones who were less fortunate. On the other hand, the so call followers that James was writing to were prejudice towards those without wealth.
Our pastor touched on three different forms of Prejudice. They are Economical, Racial and Educational. How do I relate these things to myself (for I cannot speak for others)? Well, I'm in debt up to my eyeballs and beyond. Racial prejudice...I don't judge people by their covers. If anything, I have more of a conflict with personalities. The Educational prejudice for me came more into play in my previous career. Somehow, I managed to get through 30 years without even an Associates degree. My current career, it might have helped to have more English and Literature classes behind me but I seem to hold my own.
One other note that our pastor touched on was that up until relatively recent times, the church was responsible for "the widows and orphans". Then the government was tasked with it. My little church does what it can to support the local food bank. My friends help me directly. God bless them for that.
My question to you is...do you discriminate or find yourself prejudice in some way? If so, do you think that is something that Jesus would approve of?
DeColores
Lynn Hallbrooks
18 September 2011
Dee Henderson's books
I'm sure many of you know by now that I'm an author by profession. I also love to read. I haven't done it quite as often as I should have over the years. Now that I'm living with my friend who is a librarian by profession as well as an avid book lover, I find myself in the middle of a large home library. I've learned to expand my reading comfort zone. My friend recommended to me the Uncommon Heroes books by Dee Henderson. She says, you'll like them...they are about the military. She was both right and wrong...I didn't like the books, I loved them.
The first one was a Christian fiction book that talked about of all people...Navy SEALs as Christian men. It blew me away. Sure, I was in the military and I was around Christian people in the military. It just never occurred to me that Navy SEALs might be considered leading a Christian life style. It even seemed that much less of a chance of them being much of a romantic. It did occur to Ms. Henderson and for that I'm grateful. It lead me to reading more and more of her books out of my friend's library.
The book that I just finished is God's Gift. As with all of Ms. Henderson's novels, there is a life obstacle in the path of the main characters. This obstacle has them talking to God and even questioning what God has planned for them. Who among us, hasn't done that at least once in our own life.
Another fairly consistent thing that I see in all of Ms. Henderson's books is the pairing of the romantic lead characters. At first they seem so different from one another that it makes you wonder how this relationship will ever work out. Sometimes the characters don't really like one another at the beginning but something changes their opinions. Other times the characters like one another but have had a past that makes them resistant to risking love. I most certainly can relate to that one. It is hard to move forward when you cling to what might have been.
Mostly what makes the books truly Christian is the use of scriptures that one or more of the characters find or quote to help them through their trials. It is a reminder to the rest of us that when we find ourselves in need of an answer there is one book that we can always turn to.
I truly believe Ms. Henderson possesses one of God's Gifts...an awesome ability to write so an everyday believer can become embroiled in a true Christian relationship. One not only between two people but between humans and their Heavenly Father, to whom she gives great credit for her works.
DeColores,
Lynn Hallbrooks
The first one was a Christian fiction book that talked about of all people...Navy SEALs as Christian men. It blew me away. Sure, I was in the military and I was around Christian people in the military. It just never occurred to me that Navy SEALs might be considered leading a Christian life style. It even seemed that much less of a chance of them being much of a romantic. It did occur to Ms. Henderson and for that I'm grateful. It lead me to reading more and more of her books out of my friend's library.
The book that I just finished is God's Gift. As with all of Ms. Henderson's novels, there is a life obstacle in the path of the main characters. This obstacle has them talking to God and even questioning what God has planned for them. Who among us, hasn't done that at least once in our own life.
Another fairly consistent thing that I see in all of Ms. Henderson's books is the pairing of the romantic lead characters. At first they seem so different from one another that it makes you wonder how this relationship will ever work out. Sometimes the characters don't really like one another at the beginning but something changes their opinions. Other times the characters like one another but have had a past that makes them resistant to risking love. I most certainly can relate to that one. It is hard to move forward when you cling to what might have been.
Mostly what makes the books truly Christian is the use of scriptures that one or more of the characters find or quote to help them through their trials. It is a reminder to the rest of us that when we find ourselves in need of an answer there is one book that we can always turn to.
I truly believe Ms. Henderson possesses one of God's Gifts...an awesome ability to write so an everyday believer can become embroiled in a true Christian relationship. One not only between two people but between humans and their Heavenly Father, to whom she gives great credit for her works.
DeColores,
Lynn Hallbrooks
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