Last week a word from 1 Thessalonians 3 caught my attention. You may remember it –the word “rapidly.” At this writing it’s a word from 1 Thessalonians 4. It is on the other end of the spectrum – quiet.

It’s easy to forget that Jesus grew up in family and they had their own ideas about Jesus just like we have our opinions about our own siblings. Jesus was the eldest in the family and while we do not have any recorded family conversations you can tell from two recorded encounters that it must have been difficult for Jesus. He obviously loved his family and took good care of his mother even as he was dying on the cross, but families are a different dynamic than friends, students and the general public.

In a culture where time and change move at warp speed we treasure slow times with family and nature. We sense that slowing is healthy. It brings clarity and direction.

Sermon from June 2, 2024 at Tyler Campus

The greatest in the kingdom of God are those who serve and give their lives for others, even unto death. Now who wants the job?

Seems too much water and not enough water do similar stuff to roots. Leaves and stems can’t get water through rotted roots. Nor can they get water when none is present.

Unless there’s been a change of heart. Some Divine rewiring. We mimic hummingbirds in staking out instead of sharing. In ignorantly believing we were due. Or earned. Or deserved. Ignorantly denying what God gave.