By CARLO SOSA-ORTIZ In James K.A. Smith’s book, You Are What You Love, he tells us that humans are created by God to be lovers, not thinkers. All our hearts desire after something, whether we know it or not. Just as liturgies in our worship services – prayers, hymns, and sermons – can help us love God more fully, there
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By LESLIE STRADER Mashed potatoes and gravy. Fried chicken. Chocolate cake. There’s a reason it’s called “comfort food.” We turn to this nostalgic nourishment (those are some of mine anyway!) when we seek relief from pain or stress or sorrow. There is a kind of soul-ease that comes when our bellies are full of food that is familiar and satisfying.
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By LORETTA FULTON “Revenge is not justice…it never brings about justice because it never seeks reconciliation.” Those words are from a Lenten reflection written by Travis Frampton, one of 40 members of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church who contributed to a booklet titled, “A New Song: Lenten Reflections.” The collection of Lenten reflections was the brainchild of Nathan Adams, ministser of
Read moreMarch 14th By Travis Frampton A couple of years ago I was flipping through TV channels when something on C-Span caught my attention. Two lawyers were debating whether the Ten Commandments should be posted in federal and state court houses. The debate was lively. Both sides exchanged compelling arguments. But, as I sat there enthralled by their discussion, I thought
Read moreMarch 25th By Emily Meador I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. – Romans 1:11, 12 Broken. Shaken. Lost. 1983-84 was a year to be remembered. Not because of the joy, but because of the pain. At
Read moreMarch 15th By Carolyn Newman Memories of the 1998 Lenten season light the corners of my mind. While living a busy life, I received news that my precious mother was not going to live. As stated in the scripture, I needed for the Lord to hear my cry. Being involved with the sixteenth annual “I Love America” production at Dyess
Read moreMarch 30th By John Hunt The words had waited for the hunger in her to become the silence where they could form. – John O’Donohue “The Annunciation” from Connemara Blues Mary, the mother of Jesus, is typically a subject of the season of Advent and yet, in the scene of the Annunciation as it is imagined by Irish poet and theologian
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Editor’s Note: “A New Song” by Joshua Lain is one of the daily Lenten reflections written by members of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. It is reprinted here with permission. By JOSHUA LAIN I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry
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Spirit Of Abilene 