The Narrow Gate: June 2009

The Narrow Gate

Welcome to the continuation of my blog, post-seminary. Ministry and evangelism have brought me back home to Chattanooga. I welcome your company on my journey.

The original blog, Down In Mississippi, shared stories from 2008 and 2009 of the hope and determination of people in the face of disaster wrought by the hurricanes Rita and Katrina in 2005, of work done primarily by volunteers from churches across America and with financial support of many aid agencies and private donations and the Church. My Mississippi posts really ended with the post of August 16, 2009. Much work, especially for the neediest, remained undone after the denominational church pulled out. Such is the nature of institutions. The world still needs your hands for a hand up. I commend to you my seven stories, Down in Mississippi I -VII, at the bottom of this page and the blog posts. They describe an experience of grace.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Day 438 – Black Thursday

Normally a critic of the church would say the actions of its members reflects upon the church. However, For its members, especially in our church wherein its members select its leaders, the actions of our leaders reflect upon each of us. We are called to stand against culture, not strive to participate in its seduction by being a part of it. The spiritual cost to suborn bad behavior with silence, rather than call it into question, is too great.

Peace and Grace

(note: A full text of this post can be obtained by contacting me.)

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Day 431 - Wandering here and there

I've been back in Chattanooga several weeks now, the shell shock of selling my home is past. The anticipation and challenges of Union Presbyterian Seminary, both financial and financial are growing larger.

The absence of all my friends down in Mississippi weighs heavy, but I know they are still there. It is frustrating that so much remains to be done, but it will get done.

About this blog; I plan to add entries to it from time to time as I have worthwhile things to add, so stay tuned.

I am starting a new blog with a slightly different focus, the name isn't clearly established, nor its full structure. Facebook leaves me a little wanting, it's a little too ad hoc which leaves something lacking but the interactive part is really important.

I have an idea about interactive conversations that I've played around with for several years in the technical domain. It actually began before Wikipedia and was almost the identical concept but my colleagues in my technical discipline couldn't envision such a thing taking off and I was prety busy with other matters...

As I say, stay tuned, my phone and e-mail work.

Henry
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Gates

The gate pervades the Good News. Peter entered the temple gate after the Jesus’ arrest to deny him. Poor Lazarus lay at the rich man's gate, longing for the crumb's from the table, while dogs licked his sores. The blind, lame and paralyzed lay at the Sheep Gate at the Jerusalem temple waiting at the pool with five porticoes for healing water. Jesus warned of the easy road and wide gate to material ease and spiritual destruction and calls us to the hard road and narrow gate to the waters of life.

necessary disclaimer

This blog is created solely to communicate to my brothers and sisters how one person sees adversity bringing out the greater character of humanity. It's early part relating connection to the volunteer relief effort in Mississippi after Katrina and later work with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program and the Presbyterian Church(USA) is solely through my participation in them; this blog does not carry any sponsorship from these fine organizations or purport to speak for them. All original content is that of the writer who holds the copyright to all original writings and art or other works (See Creative Commons License above). Every effort is made to identify content from other sources which have been obtained from open internet sources. It's more recent content contains sermons and lessons used in preaching and teaching. The url to scripture are obtained via http://bible.oremus.org unless otherwise indicated.

Texts quoted from oremus bible viewer are from "New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved." and "New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved."