Paul Long's Ramblings

Pastor's notes for 28 April 2013 bulletin Quotes that caught my attention in my reading this week I thought I would share some of the quotes that caught my attention the last couple of weeks. Consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell. -             Quote attributed to William Booth (a Methodist minister who founded the Salvation Army(  made at the end of the 19th century.   I do not tire of telling everyone, especially young people who long for their people's liberation, that I admire their social and political sensitivity, but it saddens me when they waste it by going on ways that are false. Let us, too, all take notice that the great leader of our liberation is the Lord's Anointed One, who comes to announc...

Pastor's notes for the 21st April 2013 bulletin A note on Psalm 23:3a “He (God) restores my soul.” For those who follow the Revised Common Lectionary, this Sunday’s Psalm is Psalm 23. Psalm 23 is arguably the most well-known Psalm in the Bible and probably also the most beloved. For me personally, not only have I read it numerous times, I have also preached on it a number of times. So in reading it again this week, I wondered if it were possible for me to do so with fresh eyes. I am thankful that the answer was a resounding YES. God’s Word is indeed amazing. The phrase this time that caught my eye was verse 3a “He (God) restores my soul .” I suspect it was because at the moment of reading, my soul (nepes) was feeling tired. ( “Nepes” basically means “breath, the inner being with its thoughts and emotions”). The question that came to my mind was: “How Lord? How do you restore my soul?” I was reminded afresh via a word study that word translated “restore” ( sub ) ba...

For the 14 April 2013 bulletin The importance of prayer for a victorious spiritual life Jesus is recorded to have spent a lot of time in prayer.  In the NIV, the word “prayer” comes out 51 times in the Gospels, where the context is Jesus praying and / or teaching on prayer. Prayer for Jesus was an essential part of his life. He habitually took time off to pray and taught his disciples to do likewise. It was one of his “open secrets” to his victorious life. When Jesus taught on the challenges related to the end of the world, prayer was stated as crucial:  “ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”   (Luke 21:36) Just before his arrest, Jesus went to the Mt. of Olives to pray because the temptation to walk away from the horror of crucifixion was so heavy. We read that:  “ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Fa...

Pastor's notes for the 7 April 2013 bulletin I was doing early preparation for my Mothers Day sermon this week and came across this devotion. Thought it too good to wait till Mothers Day to share as once again during this week's prayer meeting, some of us were reminded with thankful hearts of the many at KCC who serve behind the scenes.   Three Women by Jim L  Wilson   Fresh Start Devotionals . (2009) Every Easter I think about a sermon I heard my Dad preach when I was just a boy based upon the resurrection narrative in the gospel of Mark. In the sermon, he emphasized that the extraordinary events of life are usually enjoyed by those who are willing to give themselves to the ordinary tasks of devotion. The three ladies, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Salome came to Jesus’ tomb early on Sunday morning to anoint Jesus’ remains with spices. Jewish law prohibited them from performing these tasks immediately after his death, because of the prohibition against workin...