Men of the Morning Prayer Line

From the Gospel of John 13:35  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Also read: Acts 14:21-27  Revelation 21:1-5 Let’s settle in and lean into today’s readings with open hearts. In John’s Gospel, Jesus lays down the ultimate target: a new commandment to love one another as He loves us. It’s a bullseye that could fill every church to the rafters. So why aren’t the rooms full? Picture this: Star Trek, The Wrath of Khan. Captain Kirk, cool as ever, goads Khan, saying, You keep missing the target! Khan’s blasting away, but he can’t hit the mark. Sound familiar? Too often, we’re like Khan, firing shots at the Church-blaming it for empty pews, corruption, or hypocrisy. But, brothers, we’re missing the target! The Church preaches the Gospel, Christ’s love. The real mark? Flawed people-us, our neighbors, those caught in negativity or sin. Acts shows...

From the Gospel of John 10:27-30 Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” Alright, let’s settle in for a moment, just you brothers, me, and the Holy Spirit, finding a quiet moment to listen, to really hear God’s voice, like we’ve been talking about for years on the prayer line.  Picture this: you’re sitting somewhere peaceful, maybe a cozy corner of your house, or out in nature, where the world’s noise just fades away. The Bible, it’s got wisdom for us. Like what we just read in John 10:27-30, Jesus says He’s the Good Shepherd, and His sheep, us, we hear His voice, we follow, and He’s got us safe, promising eternal life.  That’s the Gospel, tying into Acts 13, where Paul and Barnabas are calling everyone to listen, and also ...

“Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from my mouth and you will give them warning from me.”   --- Ezekiel 33:7 The best world leaders and top CEOs often rely on a trusted inner circle for advice. They know when to ask for help and whom to trust. This same idea applies to our personal and professional lives. Whose advice do you trust when it comes to your marriage, your kids, or your business? Mentors, life coaches, consultants, and counselors are everywhere, but what about your spiritual life? Where do you go when your faith journey gets hard? God always speaks to us through His Word. However, God also places key people in our lives to encourage and support us along the way. Take the role of preacher. In the Bible, God told the prophet Ezekiel that preachers were to speak the Word of God, meaning the Bible, in order to teach, encourage, warn, and even correct. This can be a challenge, especially when i...