O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you;
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Frank Reynolds
Pastor Frank completed 30 years as senior pastor of Manchester Christian Church, and preached his last sermon in that role today. Frank is a mentor and I admire him hugely. I managed to take in most of the 8:30 AM service there before travelling to my church. One of the texts he used was from 1 John chapter 4, and it is one of my very favorite passages of Scripture. If I could appropriate every promise, heed every warning and live out every word of this, I would be the person that God is transforming me into. I hope you will revel in these words of life, and savor every one:

I John 4:7-21 NRSV
7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

Carolyn Myatt - 3 wise sayings:
Veteran Nazarene missionary Carolyn Myatt spoke at Journey Church today. She was a delight. Here are three phrases she shared that her long life of adventures with God has taught her:
1) God promises a safe landing, not a smooth passage.
2) If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
3) You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.

Hezekiah Watts's song, 'I need You To Survive' was new to me last week, when I heard it sung at Palcon 2010. The words are so appropriate for the church (local and global) and indeed our world. Here they are:

I need you, you need me.
We're all a part of God's body.
Stand with me, agree with me.
We're all a part of God's body.

It is his will, that every need be supplied.
You are important to me, I need you to survive.
You are important to me, I need you to survive.

I pray for you, You pray for me.
I love you, I need you to survive.
I won't harm you with words from my mouth.
I love you, I need you to survive.

It is his will, that every need be supplied.
You are important to me, I need you to survive.

"There are so many feet to wash," I keep saying.
"No," I hear God's voice
resounding through the years,
"There are only my feet.
What you do for them
you do for me."
Macrina Wiederkehr

Sitting Down
One of my favorite songs from the 80's, and a great example of how non-Christians can write song lyrics that reflect prevenient grace:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew7Zkkucos8
"Hope that God exists, I hope and I pray"
"If I hadn't seen such riches, I could live with being poor"
"Those who feel the breath of sadness...their touched by madness...who find themselves ridiculous...sit down next to me"
Enjoy.

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Eph 3:20–21

Holiness Today
is the magazine of the Church of the Nazarene, It's aimed at regular believers (not just clergy or academics). It's articles are usually practical, real and reflect this extraordinary life of radically following Jesus Christ. I recommend it!
http://www.holinesstoday.org/nphweb/html/nph/subscription.jsp