paravanes:meditations

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.. –Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) Many doubters of God’s existence have said, or written, “If there is a God, why isn’t the existence of such a Being obvious to everyone? Why isn’t God’s existence and presence completely obvious and beyond question or dispute? Why is there so much mystery and uncertainly about whether or not there is a God? Why does God make humanity struggle in order to know Him?” One day, many, many years ago in a temple in Jerusalem (a temple visited by people of different languages from throughout that region), God’s presence was visible and obvious to everyone present. Th...

Paul, the first century apostle, wrote to early Christians that if they did certain things, the peace of God would guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. What does this mean, and is this available to everyone? What were the certain things that had to be done in order to get and maintain this special peace? "  Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!     Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.     Do not be anxious about anything,  but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God,  which transcends all understanding,  will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  (Phillipians 4:4-7) Paul tells those reading or listening to the reading of his letter to do the following things: 1) Rejoice in the Lord, always. Do not be jealous, resentful, or envious of anyone, regardless of appearances and circumstances. Rejoice...

Are you estranged from a family member, or feel on the verge of becoming estranged from a family member? Do you feel it's time to put real and feel-able space between yourself and a family member? Are you tired of trying to adjust to a family member's anger, dysfunction, or endless drama? Are you dealing with a family member who always promises to change, but can't or won't follow through? Are you tired of crying over hurts inflicted by someone who is related to you and you feel should love you? How long have you tried to change someone who isn't motivated to change? Have you spent too much time (only you know how long is "too much time") praying for a family member to change in a way that will make it easier, or possible, for you to get along with them and spend time with them free of arguing, extreme stress, and frustration? Are you measuring love based on how much time you can spend happily with someone? Are you feeling pressured to adjust to so...

On tax deadline day, someone hid bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The bombs exploded, killing three people and severely wounding many, many more. The investigation continues at all levels of law enforcement. Those are some of the facts, but it’s maddening that these clear words have been used over and over in news reports to summarize a truth that is founded in someone’s madness, in someone’s evil thinking and evil deeds. The madness of the bomber or bombers makes clear (as if we needed more clarity!) that no corner of our Earth is free from the deadly madness that some call insanity, others call terrorism, and some call sin. What is the meaning in all of this? Christians should resist the temptation to try to explain these horrific events in a context of “why God allows things like this to happen.” Honestly, not one of us really knows why God allows things like this to happen. We should stop saying, suggesting, or implying we know. We don’t know. We should n...

image from inbythroughhim.blogspot.com My father died eleven years ago, on April 5, 2002. It was a staggering loss for me, because although I grew up with both of my parents in our home, my mother had been ill with multiple sclerosis for many years of that period. (She died the following year, in 2003). As a result of my mother’s illness, my father often played the double, “two parents in one body” role. To help me process his passing, I started what I called a “grief workbook”, a small blank book in which I wrote memories, feelings about his death, poetry, and into which I also pasted published proverbs, poems, etc. related to grief and parental death. Having that little book helped me immensely, and I often referred back to it to measure my progress in adapting to the loss of my father. Last Friday, April 5 th , I went back to my little book and was amazed at how deep the grief was, how hard it was for me to envision a world without my father, and h...

Dear Lord, Now that it is done... give me a strong grip, to tear from my heart anything that doesn't honor You, give me a faithful heart to wait while You fill the empty spaces, give me a trusting soul to allow Your choices to rule, give me a bold spirit to speak clearly of what You have done, give me a determined mind to seek Your will everyday, in every place I am, give me a loving soul to share and express who You are to me. Amen. Poem (c)2013  Deborah Evans Graphic is from allenburris.blogspot.com

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing buy the blood of Jesus. Oh, precious is the flow that makes me clean, I know. (sometimes sung as "white I know.") No other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus! -- Robert Lowry (1876---now in public domain) Am I looking for some other way to "fix my problems" and move forward in  life? There is nothing but the blood of Jesus that re-starts my experience, removes guilt in life and fear of death, that focuses my gifts on something worthwhile and worthy, that frees me to forgive myself and others, that empowers me to life gracefully and honestly even when surrounded by those who are not graceful nor honest. How can this be true? How does the death of the God-Man Jesus Christ make me whole? His death and suffering reconnect me to God. Through the blood of Jesus, I am no longer under guilt for the bad things I have done and the failed/...