My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20 - North Carolina writer Derek Maul This morning's post could easily be a book. So, instead, I'm going to keep it short. I …
Continue reading If we learned to listen maybe we wouldn’t judge so quickly….
Teach the wise, and they will become wiser; inform the righteous, and their learning will increase. An understanding mind gains knowledge; the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. Proverbs 9:9, 18:15 Typically, I delete comments from people who troll this blog when there is obviously no interest in actual communication. One example is a frequent flyer in …
Continue reading There is a lot of noise in America, but very little actual communication
- Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Alexandria "Instead, when you receive an invitation, go and sit in the least important place. When your host approaches you, he will say, ‘Friend, move up here to a better seat.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. All who lift themselves up will …
Continue reading Jesus – always turning the tables on the power-hungry
Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.Psalm 12 Trust is like rebar, it holds the massive structure that is America together. - NC writer/theologian Derek Maul I have been thinking about faith and politics recently. Not because I …
Continue reading Jesus has no political affiliation, and I’m with him…
I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers.Ephesians 1:18 So Ukraine is in the news. It is a troubling scenario - chilling, with possibly 150,000 Russian troops massing on the border with …
Continue reading Some thoughts – and memories – about Ukraine
Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules?Colossians 2:20 - Rebekah and Derek Maul For me and Rebekah, one impact of COVID has been how often we visit restaurants. We have always had a modest eating out …
Continue reading Should preaching be political, or should it point people to Jesus?
- left-right: Katherine, Brett, Derek, John Sunday morning was a real joy. Rebekah preached an inspirational sermon on "Transformation to Doubt" and our song - Walk Down this Mountain (43-minute mark) - turned out to be the perfect "Amen" at the end of her message. I particularly enjoyed the way the two guitars worked together. …
Continue reading Walking down this mountain, Valentine’s Day, and my American Birthday
First, the "winners" of my "Shouldn't Groundhog Day have a Bernie-Meme?" question (because of course the world absolutely needs more silliness to counter the plague of people who take themselves too seriously). Charles and Michelle Fischer came up with the one on the left and George Dudley made the one on the right. I am …
Continue reading How to Change the World (plus a gratuitous Bernie Groundhog meme)
Servant leadership and the future of - well - everything
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. - Romans 13:8 - writer Derek Maul To be honest, I am a little concerned about my attention span. Or maybe I should say "our" attention span, collectively, because I know it's not just me. …
Derek Maul: Words, Photographs, and Food for the Journey 