Ascension of the Lord - A
Argile Smith
Charles D. Reeb
John S. Smylie
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Wayne's Deployment" by Argile Smith
"In The Event of Power Failure" by Charles D. Reeb
"Where's the Finish Line?" by John Smylie
What's Up This Week
What's Up This Week
"Wayne's Deployment" by Argile Smith
"In The Event of Power Failure" by Charles D. Reeb
"Where's the Finish Line?" by John Smylie
What's Up This Week
Frank Ramirez
According to Acts 1:9, as the disciples watched, Jesus “…was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. I’m not sure they saw the exact moment he disappeared, because the passage continues, “While he was going, and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them…” who proceeded to scold them for not following Jesus’ last words to return to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit.
It seems as if, when Jesus departed, the apostles struggled for words to describe his disappearance. If they spoke English instead of Aramaic, perhaps they might have said Jesus rose “into thin air.”
This got me to thinking about the phrase “into thin air.” It’s interesting that we call air thin, just because it isn’t really visible to us. We see right through air — though not always through the particles of pollution that nestle in our atmosphere and cause us to wheeze and cough.
It seems as if, when Jesus departed, the apostles struggled for words to describe his disappearance. If they spoke English instead of Aramaic, perhaps they might have said Jesus rose “into thin air.”
This got me to thinking about the phrase “into thin air.” It’s interesting that we call air thin, just because it isn’t really visible to us. We see right through air — though not always through the particles of pollution that nestle in our atmosphere and cause us to wheeze and cough.
Keith Hewitt
Peter Andrew Smith
Contents
“Left Behind” by Keith Hewitt
“Faith In the Spirit” by Peter Andrew Smith
Left Behind
by Keith Hewitt
Acts 1:1-11
It was the damnedest thing…
When I was eleven, my father went to Rome for business. I didn’t know why, exactly, I only knew that he was leaving a week before my birthday and that he would be gone for most of the summer. “I’m sorry, Matthew, but Father needs to do this,” he’d said when he broke the news to me. “There are some very important men that I have to see, in Rome, and I have to go as soon as it’s safe to sail. There’s a lot of money at stake, and it’s just the way it is.”
“Left Behind” by Keith Hewitt
“Faith In the Spirit” by Peter Andrew Smith
Left Behind
by Keith Hewitt
Acts 1:1-11
It was the damnedest thing…
When I was eleven, my father went to Rome for business. I didn’t know why, exactly, I only knew that he was leaving a week before my birthday and that he would be gone for most of the summer. “I’m sorry, Matthew, but Father needs to do this,” he’d said when he broke the news to me. “There are some very important men that I have to see, in Rome, and I have to go as soon as it’s safe to sail. There’s a lot of money at stake, and it’s just the way it is.”
C. David Mckirachan
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"The Outer Limits" by C. David McKirachan
"Better than Flying" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * *
The Outer Limits
by C. David McKirachan
Ephesians 1:15-23
When I was a kid, I had passed beyond any sort of cuteness and entered the age of gawk, I liked to feel the hair on my neck rise. Blood and gore never did it for me. But weird got me every time. There was a show that started with some announcer telling me that I had lost control of my television set, and I had no choice but to experience the Outer Limits. There under the control of the Outer Limits I dependably felt the hair rise. It brought me back to that time and that channel with a regularity that irritated my mother. She tolerated it by leaving the room.
"The Outer Limits" by C. David McKirachan
"Better than Flying" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * *
The Outer Limits
by C. David McKirachan
Ephesians 1:15-23
When I was a kid, I had passed beyond any sort of cuteness and entered the age of gawk, I liked to feel the hair on my neck rise. Blood and gore never did it for me. But weird got me every time. There was a show that started with some announcer telling me that I had lost control of my television set, and I had no choice but to experience the Outer Limits. There under the control of the Outer Limits I dependably felt the hair rise. It brought me back to that time and that channel with a regularity that irritated my mother. She tolerated it by leaving the room.
Keith Hewitt
Larry Winebrenner
Sandra Herrmann
Contents
"Ascension" by Keith Hewitt
"You Are Witnesses" by Larry Winebrenner
"The Praise Game" by Larry Winebrenner
"A Disciple Speaks" by Sandra Herrmann
* * * * * * * *
Ascension
by Keith Hewitt
Acts 1:1-11
North of the Hippodrome is the Temple, a brilliant alabaster jewel -- look at it, but let your steps take you south, instead. Walk down a street or two, turn right and follow the twisting way 'til it crosses another, narrower street, then turn left and follow it further south until you come to a place where three alleys come together -- they're hardly streets, anymore, in this warren. Close your eyes, turn around once, then point to one of the alleys without looking, and follow your finger along the shadowed path; it's as good a way as any to find the hole in the wall, and the chances of you finding it twice are legendarily small.
"Ascension" by Keith Hewitt
"You Are Witnesses" by Larry Winebrenner
"The Praise Game" by Larry Winebrenner
"A Disciple Speaks" by Sandra Herrmann
* * * * * * * *
Ascension
by Keith Hewitt
Acts 1:1-11
North of the Hippodrome is the Temple, a brilliant alabaster jewel -- look at it, but let your steps take you south, instead. Walk down a street or two, turn right and follow the twisting way 'til it crosses another, narrower street, then turn left and follow it further south until you come to a place where three alleys come together -- they're hardly streets, anymore, in this warren. Close your eyes, turn around once, then point to one of the alleys without looking, and follow your finger along the shadowed path; it's as good a way as any to find the hole in the wall, and the chances of you finding it twice are legendarily small.
Seventh Sunday of Easter - A
John E. Sumwalt
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"The God of All Grace" by John Sumwalt
"Keeping the Word" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * * *
The God of All Grace
by John Sumwalt
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
-- 1 Peter 5:10
"The God of All Grace" by John Sumwalt
"Keeping the Word" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * * *
The God of All Grace
by John Sumwalt
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
-- 1 Peter 5:10
Peter Andrew Smith
David frowned as he reread the passage of scripture. He read it slowly and carefully. He paused and read it one more time. Then he closed his Bible and sighed.
“Is there a problem?” Norma sat down beside him in the back row of the choir loft. “You are usually so calm and focused when you read scripture before choir practice. What’s up?”
“I read before choir in order to get my mind on God and leave behind the day I’ve had.” David held up the Bible in his hand. “I was reading the gospel passage for Sunday and honestly I can’t make sense of it. Jesus prays that we become one just as he and God are one. What does that mean?”
“I think Jesus prays for that a couple of times in the gospels actually.” Norma tapped her chin. “I always thought that it meant that we would work together to do the things that Jesus asks so that we can know God’s will and way.”
“Is there a problem?” Norma sat down beside him in the back row of the choir loft. “You are usually so calm and focused when you read scripture before choir practice. What’s up?”
“I read before choir in order to get my mind on God and leave behind the day I’ve had.” David held up the Bible in his hand. “I was reading the gospel passage for Sunday and honestly I can’t make sense of it. Jesus prays that we become one just as he and God are one. What does that mean?”
“I think Jesus prays for that a couple of times in the gospels actually.” Norma tapped her chin. “I always thought that it meant that we would work together to do the things that Jesus asks so that we can know God’s will and way.”
David O. Bales
Contents
“The Times or Periods” by David O. Bales
“Mark Twain’s The War Prayer” by David O. Bales
The Times or Periods
by David O. Bales
Acts 1:6-14
It didn’t matter which text the group was studying — Old Testament or New Testament — Wendell managed to bring attention to the end of the world drawing near. This morning, Howie responded to Wendell’s first foray into end times by repeating Pastor Drew’s habitual line, “But what does this text say?” — a remark which, until today, usually pulled the young men back to the day’s assignment. Yet Howie had let irritation seep out in his voice.
Wendell picked up on Howie’s tone. He was about to respond, when Pastor Drew also tried to drawattention away from the end of the world. He pointed to the open Bible on the table before him. “Let’s read the next chapter of Isaiah aloud.”
“The Times or Periods” by David O. Bales
“Mark Twain’s The War Prayer” by David O. Bales
The Times or Periods
by David O. Bales
Acts 1:6-14
It didn’t matter which text the group was studying — Old Testament or New Testament — Wendell managed to bring attention to the end of the world drawing near. This morning, Howie responded to Wendell’s first foray into end times by repeating Pastor Drew’s habitual line, “But what does this text say?” — a remark which, until today, usually pulled the young men back to the day’s assignment. Yet Howie had let irritation seep out in his voice.
Wendell picked up on Howie’s tone. He was about to respond, when Pastor Drew also tried to drawattention away from the end of the world. He pointed to the open Bible on the table before him. “Let’s read the next chapter of Isaiah aloud.”
C. David Mckirachan
Peter Andrew Smith
Contents
"Intimacy" by C. David McKirachan
"You've Got Connections" by C. David McKirachan
"Waiting in Faith" by Peter Andrew Smith
Intimacy
by C. David McKirachan
John 17:1-11
"Intimacy" by C. David McKirachan
"You've Got Connections" by C. David McKirachan
"Waiting in Faith" by Peter Andrew Smith
Intimacy
by C. David McKirachan
John 17:1-11
Peter Andrew Smith
John Fitzgerald
Contents
"Looking in Faith" by Peter Andrew Smith
"Glory to God" by John Fitzgerald
* * * * * * *
Looking in Faith
by Peter Andrew Smith
Acts 1:6-14
"How can you say that?" Charlotte stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. "You spend more time reading books about religion and going to visit churches than anyone I know."
"I'm not religious though." John stepped out of the way of a woman with a baby carriage. "I certainly find the books engage my mind and my visits to churches fill me with wonder at the artwork and history."
"I feel there is a 'but' you don't want to say."
"It isn't enough." John sighed. "It leaves me empty at the end of the day. All the talk is no different than any other talk and all the great religious art is no different than any other art."
"How can you say that?"
"Looking in Faith" by Peter Andrew Smith
"Glory to God" by John Fitzgerald
* * * * * * *
Looking in Faith
by Peter Andrew Smith
Acts 1:6-14
"How can you say that?" Charlotte stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. "You spend more time reading books about religion and going to visit churches than anyone I know."
"I'm not religious though." John stepped out of the way of a woman with a baby carriage. "I certainly find the books engage my mind and my visits to churches fill me with wonder at the artwork and history."
"I feel there is a 'but' you don't want to say."
"It isn't enough." John sighed. "It leaves me empty at the end of the day. All the talk is no different than any other talk and all the great religious art is no different than any other art."
"How can you say that?"
John S. Smylie
Argile Smith
Charles D. Reeb
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Wayne's Deployment" by Argile Smith
"In The Event of Power Failure" by Charles D. Reeb
"Where's the Finish Line?" by John Smylie
What's Up This Week
What's Up This Week
"Wayne's Deployment" by Argile Smith
"In The Event of Power Failure" by Charles D. Reeb
"Where's the Finish Line?" by John Smylie
What's Up This Week
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