~~~
Day’s Verse:
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
1 Cor 1:8
~~~

Today IT sent out the following message:

We are experiencing issues with our network and email systems due to a number of external and internal issues. We are working to resolve and appreciate your patience as we work through the issues.

This tells me that we’re having issues because of issues. Thank you, IT, for the extremely helpful clarification. (I’m going to let the other egregious proofreading error slide because you’re IT people and I expect a low level of English-language competency from you*.) Continue Reading >>

~~~
Day’s Verse:
I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
Romans 16:17
~~~

I go by lots of bus stops on my usual commute. On a normal day I see between 15 and 20 school buses, pass by two schools, and see lots of cold-looking students. More than seeing kids standing outside, huddled in their sweatshirts (being too cool to wear warm-but-dorky down jackets), I see cars idling on corners. Parents drive out to the bus stops and sit, car idling and heat on, with their kids until the bus comes. That way little Charlize and Jackson don’t have to spend even 10 minutes out feeling even slightly uncomfortable. Continue Reading >>

~~~
Day’s Verse:
I’ll not deny my integrity even if it costs me my life.
I’m holding fast to my integrity and not loosening my grip—
and, believe me, I’ll never regret it.
Job 27:5-6
~~~

1. Nonconsequtive

2. Surgicated

I have my hypotheses what these words, creatively invented by our coworkers, may mean, but I solicit your ideas.

~~~
Day’s Verse:
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17
~~~

Yesterday, a surprise appeared in our mailbox amidst the Comcast ads and magazines for local community college night classes.

Inside the envelope, I found only this:

The inner package was sealed with red wax, impressed with the words WORLD’S SMALLEST LETTER.

Closer examination of the inner package revealed what looked like a tiny envelope (and some mysterious lumpy things) inside.
Continue Reading >>

~~~
Day’s Verse:
Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1
~~~

I saw a lady microwaving her macaroni and cheese a moment ago. Now all I can think of is:

I cannot stop drooling. Just the thought makes my 4-day-old chicken and biscuit leftovers seem a little dreary.

~~~
Day’s Verse:
It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—”Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation.
Romans 10:4-10 (approx)
~~~

I feel like a zombie today. My body keeps going, but my brain just isn’t engaged. Continue Reading >>

~~~
Day’s Verse:
I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Romans 8:38-39
~~~

It snowed yesterday. And by snowed, I mean unceasing snow from before we woke up through the afternoon, and then more snow overnight. Enough snow that we stayed home from church. Enough snow that when I walked between two parking lots with my bike, I was actually wading knee-deep through snow, half carrying, half dragging Artemis. Enough snow that I slipped and slid through car tracks, carefully picking my way to Route 20. Continue Reading >>