let us be
people
of
wells
not walls;
bridges
not trenches;
tables
not fences;
toward
not from;
with
not against;
together
not separate
of
people
let us be.
Acts 20:25-38 – Second at Six - August 25, 2013 In our passage for tonight, we drop into Luke’s recollection of an important speech given by Paul to the leaders of the church in Ephesus. The church in Ephesus was a church Paul had a hand in establishing and nurturing. He had spent three years with these people teaching, preaching, and living in their community. This was the longest that Paul had spent in any place on his missionary journeys. Therefore, the people of Ephesus held a special place in Paul’s heart. Our text for tonight is a part of Paul’s speech to the leaders of the church he had gathered some 30 miles south of Ephesus in Miletus. This was not just any speech. This was his farewell address to the people of Ephesus with whom he had so much history and many important memories. Just prior to our text, Luke tells the hearer, now us, the reader, how Paul spoke of the nature and character of his ministry and time spent among them. ...
Hate is the danger. Not gender; Not orientation; Not identity; Not race; Not nationality; Not color; Not hue; Not language; Not migrants; Not immigration status; Not immigrants; Not refugees; Not the undocumented; Not disability; Not ability; Not neurodiversity; Not age; Not religion; Not creed; Not doctrine; Not the houseless; Not the hungry; Not the jobless; Not the poor; Not the wealthy. What puts us at risk is hatred; especially hatred masquerading as righteousness
Persistence "firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition." Persistence is her name. She stands when it would be more convenient to sit. She sits when others wish she would move. She moves when action is demanded. She speaks because her voice shall not be silenced nor stolen yet again. Persistence is her name. She has birthed nations. She has ended wars. She has toppled empires. She has nursed change. Persistence is her name. Mercy is found in the milk of her breast. Empathy is seen in the tears on her cheek. Justice is felt in the sweat of her brow. Righteousness is coursing in the blood in her veins. Persistence is her name. Difficulty will not stop her. Obstacles will not stand. Opposition will not cause delay. Trouble will not linger. Persistence is her name. Nevertheless, she persisted; for Persistence IS her name. — bshivers
Comments
Post a Comment