Jesus travels through towns teaching, healing, and proclaiming the kingdom. Moved by compassion for the crowds, He tells His disciples that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. He then appoints the twelve and sends them out with authority over unclean spirits and disease to freely proclaim the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus didn’t call the most respected person in town—He called Matthew, a tax collector. In Matthew 9:9-13, we discover a Savior who meets people where they are and extends mercy instead of condemnation. “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who abides with believers as the Spirit of truth, guiding and dwelling within those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Matthew 9:35-37…“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” vs. 36 Sometimes when we hear the stories of refugees and asylum seekers trying to enter our country we get angry. Some wonder why these people don’t just stay in their own countries. And we have even less patience for the homeless people squatting wherever they can in all of our major cities. Our primary concern seems to…
Romans 5:6-8…“But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” vs. 8 Some folks struggle with the meaning of the cross, especially as it relates to a satisfaction theory of the atonement. We can’t get our heads around the notion that the death of one person could atone for the sins of all humanity. And that’s okay! All those theories were developed by early Christians as they tried to make sense…
Romans 5:1-5…“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand;” vss. 1-2a Probably the biggest blessing of faith for a follower of Jesus is peace. Of course that doesn’t mean that we will never worry or be anxious! Even the most faithful folks will have plenty of concerns in the course of a lifetime. No one is perfectly calm…
I came for the Healing of Memories workshop for veterans, and I almost didn’t come because of the trauma I wrestle with, but your staff, the workshop leaders and the quiet and safe campus held me there and I’ve found a new sense of peace and healing.
A retreat for religious leaders who have experienced emotional, psychological and spiritual distress in their personal or professional lives — facilitated by the Institute for Healing of Memories — is coming June 3-6, 2024.