Energion.com - Religion, Philosophy, and Politics

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It Is Who You Know

I know you've heard someone start a sentence with: "It's not who you know..." This is usually when the conversation is about attaining some goal or position in life. We may want that phrase to be true if we are the one on the outside, trying for instance to get a new job. However we might welcome the thought of, "it is who you know", if we are already fishing buddies with our potential new boss.
Read more »  [Read more at Greg's Watering Hole]

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The Way

[reprinted from February 8, 2010]

19Now then, brethren, we have boldness to go into the holiest place through the blood of Jesus, 20which he placed as a living way through the curtain, not previously available, which is his flesh. 21Jesus is also a great priest over the household of God. 22So let’s come with true hearts and full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from bad conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.               Hebrews 10:19-22 (my translation)  [Read more at Jody's Devotionals]

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It's a Small World -- After All!

I love Disneyland, but getting stuck on the Small World ride isn't my cup of tea!  I've been on the ride enough to know that it's not may favorite, but it does have a message that is pertinent for today.  
We live in a global society.  We can try to hide, but we fail.  Gas prices in the United States are influenced by global oil prices.  Gas prices are relatively high right now, even though there's plenty of gas supplies.  The Stock Market has fallen in recent days,  [Read more at Bob Cornwall]

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Are You Sure You Don’t Want More?

Ferod stood in shock in front of the shrine. He’d distinctly heard the words.

“Are you sure you don’t want more?”

He didn’t really believe in the old gods. Nobody even seemed to remember the names of whatever god or gods this shrine might be dedicated to. But he had run out of money to pay for seed grain, and if he had no seed grain there would be no planting, then, of course, no harvest, and therefore no seed grain for next year either. So he came to the shrine and asked the  [Read more at Jevlir Caravansary]

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“A New Plan”

This is the message that I presented at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, Brighton, TN on the Sixth Sunday of Easter, 4 May 1997. The Scriptures for this Sunday were Acts 10: 44 – 48, 1 John 5: 1 – 6, and John 15: 9 – 17.

I should note before I start that I have been told preachers should never preach about money. This sermon, though it may sound like it is about money, is not about money but rather, is about planning.

You have probably heard, read, or seen  [Read more at Thoughts from the Heart on the Left]

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Pulling Over Right Here

This past weekend I made a road trip. It took around two hours each way. On my way there and back I was drawn to the idea of stopping at the "Rest Areas" along the highway. I didn't stop at any of them. I was in a hurry going (to get there on time) and returning (I wanted to get home to do the next task at hand). Although the "idea" of a restful few minutes to relax, stretch, and drink a cup of coffee was appealing, I stayed on the gas as if someone was going to lock the gate to my  [Read more at Greg's Watering Hole]

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Obama, Gay Marriage, and Me

I've yet to post on President Obama's "coming out" on gay marriage.  I was at a conference when the announcement came, and I've been otherwise distracted since then.  But, I do want to say something.  I realize that this is a political season, and that everything done and said will be seen through that lens.  So, it's no surprise that the polls suggest that this is a political ploy, maybe to nail down the base.  Perhaps it is, perhaps not.  The reality is -- in practice,  [Read more at Bob Cornwall]

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Things Seem A Little Shaky

Last night, someone who will remain nameless, was driving home from a nearby city a little more than a hundred miles away. A few miles into the trip, I received a call from her telling me that the truck was shaking badly. Her description of the problem seemed to be that of a tire separating.
Read more »  [Read more at Greg's Watering Hole]

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Proverbs 31: The REAL Deal

What should I say, my son?
What, son of my womb?
What, son of my vows? …

Speak up for those who have no voice,
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.
Speak up, judge righteously,
and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.    Proverbs 31:2, 8-9 (HCSB)

Proverbs 31 is a usual source text for sermons on Mother’s Day. But I would be willing to make a non-money wager that these verses I’ve sited here are not the verses usually read.

Proverbs is a  [Read more at Jody's Devotionals]

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Reading Fiction and Good Fiction

I found the post Reading Fiction: Russell Moore by Scot McKnight to be interesting. So many Christians act as if reading fiction was a waste of time that could better be spent doing “useful” things. I think that misunderstands how our minds work.

Of course, in the comments we encounter the usual question of what is “good” fiction. That one’s harder to answer. Moore refers to a number of works that would be considered “good” or “great” by literature professors. I tend to be more  [Read more at Jevlir Caravansary]

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