Dottie’s Dialogwhere faith, hope and love intersect!

…is one of my favorite sayings in the scripture.  Mainly because I can use it to care for other so often.  Like when we are praying at a hospital bed before surgery…peace that passes understanding…  Or when someone doesn’t know why they lost their job…peace that passes understanding…  Or when you get the news that your mama just passed on…peace that passes understanding.

I remind myself of this often too.  Mostly when I look at the news and see the words “Swine Flu Pandemic,” or “Schools Shut Down” or “Should We Gather in Public Spaces?”  Those things can bring us to a state of panic if we let them.  But we are the ones who follow the One who believed in “peace that passes understanding.”  So I encourage us all to keep the peace in our hearts, minds and in our families and communities.  Live the rule of love.  Keep close to God and to God’s world every day.  

And, in case you were wondering,…I’ll see you in church this Sunday!

Pastor Dottie

I’ve been reading out of a new Bible (New Testament) called “The Voice.”  Check it out!  It’s an amazing way to read the New Testament…written like a dialogue or a play…with great insightful notes in the middle of the text.

This morning I read about the followers of Jesus who wanted to know who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1-14).  I’m sure that just hearing the question made Jesus cringe…

Jesus responds by calling over a child and charging the disciples to become humble like a child, to befriend the friendless, to care for those who struggle in life…  And he said that while there was a child at his side…

I wondered what he/she thought…the child…hearing Jesus tell the grown-ups to become like her/him!  I wonder if she smiled sheepishly, or if he opened his eyes wide in surprise before squirming away to play.  Whatever the outward response, I’m thinking that the inward response of the child was one of total acceptance and deep love.  I’m thinking that child grew to a be a very secure adult, one who lived a humble life.  

Would be fun to talk with that grown-up child…  What do 

Pastor Dottie