David Redford Luke 23:33-34 And when they came to the place which is called The Skull there they crucified him. And the criminals one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do.  Matt 27:3-4 When Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders saying ‘I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.  Reflection: Being human we all make mistakes on a regular basis—daily, weekly and monthly. Many are small mistakes [...]

Amy Kelley, Dir. of Outreach (Gethsemane) Esther 2:7-10; 8:15-17 Chapter 2 7 Mordecai had been a father to Hadassah (that is, Esther), though she was really his cousin, because she had neither father nor mother. The girl had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at. When her parents died, Mordecai had taken her to be his daughter. 8 When the king’s order and his new law became public, many young women were gathered into the fortified part of Susa under the care of Hegai. Esther was also taken to the palace to the care of Hegai, the [...]

Dr. Tom Pace 1 Corinthians 15:10a (NIV) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. Reflection: I call this the “Popeye the Sailor Man” verse, and it is one of my favorites. In the midst of the great depression, cartoonist E.C. Segar created a profoundly human character, who claimed his identity each and every episode with a catchy little ditty that has endured for almost a century. I’m Popeye the sailor man. I’m Popeye the sailor man. I yam what I yam and dat's all what I [...]

Rev. Cliff Ritter   Matthew 6:14-15 (New International Version)   14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.   Reflection: There is an extended passage of scripture that I want to memorize. I think I know it fairly well but memorizing chapters at a time comes with no small effort on my part. I think I need to find the motivation to step into this cause in this season of my [...]

Rev. Katie Montgomery Mears 5-7 Lot, who was traveling with Abram, was also rich in sheep and cattle and tents. But the land couldn’t support both of them; they had too many possessions. They couldn’t both live there—quarrels broke out between Abram’s shepherds and Lot’s shepherds. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living on the land at the time. 8-9 Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have fighting between us, between your shepherds and my shepherds. After all, we’re family. Look around. Isn’t there plenty of land out there? Let’s separate. If you go left, I’ll go right; if [...]

Rhonda Ward Philippians 4:15-20 (NIV) 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I [...]

Steve Carroll Philippians 4:4-7 (NRSV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Reflection: I don’t know about you, but I sometimes do not feel close to God. To be more honest, I often, do not feel close to God. There [...]

Martha Hill Jamison Philippians 3:12-4:1 (NIV) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a [...]

Cynthia Wier Philippians 3:lb-11 (NIV) Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: [...]