THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT: You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14) What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we lead a chaste and decent life in what we say and do, and that husband and wife love and honor each other. (From Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, 1529) —————————————– Yesterday’s […]
3253) Love, Honor, and Cherish Read More »
By Patricia McGerr (1917-1985) (adapted from her short story published in the November 1965 Woman’s Day) (Just the story today– my thoughts on the story, and its application to faith and life, will be tomorrow.) —————————— My trip to Kiniwata Island in the Pacific was a memorable one. Although the island was beautiful
3252) An Eight-Cow Wife Read More »
This story can be found on the internet, and it is told in a variety of ways. It may or may not be true, but it contains a good lesson. Professor Smith teaches religion at a small Christian college. He is known for his elaborate and creative object lessons. One day, the students
3221) Throwing Darts Read More »
(…continued) When you want to get someone to do what you want them to do, you can try and find ways to get power over them. But that is not the only way. You can also use ‘authority.’ There is a difference between power and authority. Those words can be defined in different
3202) Love and Power in Holy Week (2/2) Read More »
Todd and Maggie had a big fight and broke up. Todd, as always, had not been treating her very well, and Maggie told him she wanted to call it quits. Todd wanted to get back together, but he wasn’t about to apologize, so he tried a different tactic. He asked out Ellen, Maggie’s
3201) Love and Power in Holy Week (1/2) Read More »
Above image: A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965), from the 1961 movie ————————- The 1959 Broadway play “A Raisin in the Sun” tells the story of a black family in Harlem. They never had much money and saw little chance of escaping their poverty. Then the father died and the
3146) “There is Always Something Left to Love” Read More »
Part three of a sermon by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.: (…continued) Abraham Lincoln tried such love, and left for all history, a magnificent drama of reconciliation. When he was campaigning for the presidency, one of his arch-enemies was a man named Edwin Stanton. Stanton hated Lincoln. He used every ounce of his energy
3130) Loving Your Enemies (3/3) Read More »
Part two of a sermon by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.: (…continued) The meaning of love is not to be confused with empty emotional outpouring. Love is something much deeper than cheap sentimentality. Perhaps the Greek language can clear our confusion at this point. In the Greek New Testament are three words for love.
3129) Loving Your Enemies (2/3) Read More »
Our nation has been deeply divided these past decades, and each year this division grows deeper and more hateful. Many people see those on the other side of our great political divide as their enemies. On this weekend that we honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) we would do well to pay attention
3128) Loving Your Enemies (1/3) Read More »
(continued…) When I was a child, it never would have occurred to me to be afraid of God. After all, every week at Sunday School in the old church basement we sang “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” But the more I have seen of the world and
3104) God’s Christmas Surprise for Us (2/2) Read More »
