September 2020 Blog Posts (11)

I am grieved over the reality of abortion in our midst. In America alone we have put to death nearly 60 million unborn babies since the Roe v. Wade supreme Court ruling in 1973. It is a little encouraging that the number of abortions each year has decreased significantly. I am sure that is largely because of protests of this insidious evil primarily by Christians. 

However,…

I haven’t been sleeping well lately. I wake up in the night and am unable to get back to sleep. I’m sure it is partly due to the physical, since I am facing major surgery in the next few days. I am also sure it is partly spiritual, since this was happening, to a lesser extent, long before the need for surgery. Sometimes, when I wake up, I do so with scripture on my mind. Often the scripture comes in the form of a song or hymn. I remember many years ago, confessing this rather unusual habit…

“Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

Our visit to Sychar was as amazing us as it was to the Samaritans. We had always been taught that they were unclean. And at least James and I had reason to fear them. I won't go into that now. But Jesus marched us…

People of THE CHURCH are attentive to God’s Direction, His Will and His Word, many, many times falling short in their efforts.  Organized religion is often about looking for stuff from God, asking Him to Change His Will and adjusting His Word to fit its needs.  The sad Truth is organized religion is the image of THE CHURCH in America.

It…

“Prayer begins where human capacity ends.”— Marian Anderson

Oh Lord!  If only the American people would realize they have reached their end.

Received this emessage from an international prayer champion:

"Thanking God for you and your leadership in prayer. I think it was at a prayer conference when you were leading a time of prayer and offhandedly mentioned how you prefer praying with others rather than alone. (I don't remember the exact wording!) God used that comment to expand my understanding of what it means to grow in…

Lord God, please forgive us...

1. You said:

I AM GOD, no one else is God.

But:

We turned away from You, our God.

Please forgive us.

2. You said:

Don't make idols.

But:

We create our own gods - as many as we want.

Please forgive us.

3. You said:

Honor My Holy Name.

But:

We say God and Jesus, but it is not You we are talking to. We even use Your…

I am an unpaid, non-pastoral layperson… and a sinner.  So why do I post on Phil’s blogs?

While I make no claim to prophecy, one of my life Bible verses is Ezekiel 2:1-3:11.  But having been an accountant for my entire career, I have a difficult time proceeding until I’ve been held Accountable.

This may be best…

Have you discovered the truth of this statement by Jesus in the Bible?

“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again.” 

Whatever you are living for will not satisfy or fulfill. You may think, if you just had a faster car, a  nicer house and…

I am an unpaid, non-pastoral layperson… and a sinner.  While I make no claim to prophecy, one of my life Bible verses is Ezekiel 2:1-3:11

I recently heard a sermon on waking up ourselves and the church (Rev. 3:1-6).  Coupling that with a sermon I heard the week before regarding tolerating Jezebel’s/Judas’ (a male version of the name) practices as acceptable within the Faith (Rev. 2:18-29), a prayer of…