GodReflection: Another year has flown by. Thank you for reading over my shoulder. I continue to affirm God grants me with greater understanding for my own growth…… Read more “An Early Close For 2023”
Category: *Reflections from Gary
TO READ POSTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS SCREEN.
It’s Christmas How About a Great Gift?
GodReflection: Once again, we are at the close of another year and find ourselves in the 2023 holiday season. It is the traditional season of gifts. Streets,…… Read more “It’s Christmas How About a Great Gift?”
Just How Right Must I Be?
God Reflection: My arrival onto planet earth was into a family DNA that distinguished right from wrong. As believers in God and followers of Jesus, good was…… Read more “Just How Right Must I Be?”
A Church Everyone Needs
God Reflection: Church is on my mind again this week. Even for the casual observer our current globe seems to be in an out-of-control spin. The truth…… Read more “A Church Everyone Needs”
A Reflection on A Grander View of Church
God Reflection: Events in my own life over the last several days cause me to marvel anew at God’s grand design of church. So often we human…… Read more “A Reflection on A Grander View of Church”
Perfect AND Dysfunctional
God Reflection: Church is a loving, dysfunctional family who do in fact love each other; but we can’t seem to get along. We are followers of Jesus. I…… Read more “Perfect AND Dysfunctional”
Jesus Yes! Church Yes!
God Reflection: Unfortunately, in my own North American culture of the USA the young and not so young chant, “Jesus yes! Church no!” Our 21st century North…… Read more “Jesus Yes! Church Yes!”
Life With Two Hearts
GodReflection: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God—For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Jesus Have you ever…… Read more “Life With Two Hearts”
Holy Space Within The Living Invisible
GodReflection: How can we better align our hearts to become more aware of the Holy Space that Creator God offers us through Life With The Living Invisible?…… Read more “Holy Space Within The Living Invisible”
Life With The Living Invisible
GodReflection: Share It Again A few weeks ago, I began the God Reflection post with the observation that at my age the reality of Holy Presence seems…… Read more “Life With The Living Invisible”
Let’s Call Evil by His Real Name—Satan the Devil
GodReflection: Share It Again . . . that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan who leads the whole world astray (Revelation 12:9) . . . the…… Read more “Let’s Call Evil by His Real Name—Satan the Devil”
Let’s Thirst For Authentic Faith
GodReflection: Think about it, how many times have you heard the word faith? For most of us, it is a word we have heard so often that…… Read more “Let’s Thirst For Authentic Faith”
Let’s Live Without Wax
GodReflection: But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:17).…… Read more “Let’s Live Without Wax”
The Foreigner Among Foreigners—Maybe I Should Be The Friend?
GodReflection: A global shift took place during my lifetime. The world is on the move. In my neighborhood reside multiple nations. There is a sense that the nations…… Read more “The Foreigner Among Foreigners—Maybe I Should Be The Friend?”
How About a Drink?
GodReflection: My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? – Psalms 42:2 It’s not fair. I have never been…… Read more “How About a Drink?”
To Live Now and Forever—Wow—What A Promise
GodReflection: I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.…… Read more “To Live Now and Forever—Wow—What A Promise”
Reflections on Life Within The Holy Presence
GodReflection: It must be my age. A concept that continues to surface in my mind is that of The Holy Presence. On the one hand I’ve put…… Read more “Reflections on Life Within The Holy Presence”
Where Do We Place Our Allegiance?
GodReflection: In the last post, A 21st Century Parable, my aim was to help us celebrate our rich traditions that honor God, AND to courageously let go…… Read more “Where Do We Place Our Allegiance?”
A 21st Century Parable
GodReflection: Like tradition, the old train bed is there. Even though I hadn’t noticed it before, it was always in sight. Tradition good or bad is similar…… Read more “A 21st Century Parable”
An Estate Plan—Two Burials Included
GodReflection: In a previous post I shared thoughts on heaven, earth, and the future. The reality we encounter when we read Jesus’ teachings bring us to face…… Read more “An Estate Plan—Two Burials Included”
Thoughts on Heaven and Earth and The Future
GodReflection: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 I cannot remember a time during my…… Read more “Thoughts on Heaven and Earth and The Future”
Can I Trust Within The Silence?
GodReflection: He asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. John 19:9 The best I can determine, I am a wired optimist. However, I like to believe…… Read more “Can I Trust Within The Silence?”
How About It—Let’s Get Together on The Important
GodReflection: Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; – Psalms 95:6 An erroneous conclusion took root in my soul…… Read more “How About It—Let’s Get Together on The Important”
How Is Your Soul in The Ups and Downs of Life?
GodReflection: “What are your plans for the day?” the lady asked me as sat in the chair for my monthly haircut. Quickly, I respond (not the whole…… Read more “How Is Your Soul in The Ups and Downs of Life?”
God Shares His Temple Address—Welcome Is on His Door
GodReflection: The Lord is in his Holy Temple; let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20). God is not homeless; He has a place of residence.…… Read more “God Shares His Temple Address—Welcome Is on His Door”
Can Silence Contribute to Peace?
GodReflection: Share It Again When stepping outside the first evening I heard it. It was startling. A sound I had not heard for some time. It was…… Read more “Can Silence Contribute to Peace?”
If I Listen, I Believe I Hear God Talk
GodReflection: I Believe. When I read Old Testament Scripture, I am struck with how infrequently God’s voice was audible. Intervals of thousands—sometimes only hundreds—of years passed without…… Read more “If I Listen, I Believe I Hear God Talk”
Let’s Cross the Finish Line Together
GodReflection: Share It Again Although, I can’t recall stubbornness on any virtue lists in my Bible, there may be one aspect of this shared trait that is…… Read more “Let’s Cross the Finish Line Together”
Can I Believe Through The Dark of Night?
GodReflection: I Believe. The word was out. All my fellow students warn me, “Don’t take Dr. Neil Lightfoot’s class on The Gospel of John unless you are…… Read more “Can I Believe Through The Dark of Night?”
The Earthquakes, An Angel Appears, Guards Shake, He is Risen
GodReflection: Share It Again The quake of all earthquakes shook both Jerusalem and history on Friday. Holy Jesus died to cover the sin of the human race…… Read more “The Earthquakes, An Angel Appears, Guards Shake, He is Risen”
God Breaks into the Dark
GodReflection: Share It Again My childhood desert town is on the map because of its proximity to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. As a family my parents…… Read more “God Breaks into the Dark”
Tenacious Trust or Stubbornness?
GodReflection: Share It Again I like to blame it on my family tree. That way I rationalize that my gift of stubbornness isn’t my fault. I suppose…… Read more “Tenacious Trust or Stubbornness?”
Not Sure Who Wrote It—But They Believed—and Me Too
GodReflection: I Believe. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…… Read more “Not Sure Who Wrote It—But They Believed—and Me Too”
From Jesus I Meet Two Bears
GodReflection: Share It Again From childhood I was introduced to the story of the Goldilocks and the Three Bears. As she wonders through the forest she comes…… Read more “From Jesus I Meet Two Bears”
It’s Hard to Believe but Jesus Signed for Me with Blood
GodReflection: Share It Again In my family I was among those who were among the first generation to be raised off the farm. My birthplace wasn’t exactly…… Read more “It’s Hard to Believe but Jesus Signed for Me with Blood”
To Believe Is to Live—I Want To Live
GodReflection: I Believe. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John…… Read more “To Believe Is to Live—I Want To Live”
Water that Lasts
GodReflection: Share It Again “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of…… Read more “Water that Lasts”
I Do Believe—Help Me Overcome my Unbelief
GodReflection: I Believe. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9: 20 I do not remember when I first heard the story of the helpless…… Read more “I Do Believe—Help Me Overcome my Unbelief”
Jesus Brings ‘Take Out’ to my Table
GodReflection: Share It Again God The Nurturer. So, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus…… Read more “Jesus Brings ‘Take Out’ to my Table”
Coffee with The Holy for Divine Sustenance
GodReflection: Share It Again God The Nurturer. Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who…… Read more “Coffee with The Holy for Divine Sustenance”
Thoughts on I Believe and My Creed
GodReflection: I Believe. In a previous post on I Believe, I looked at the concept of a creed, not from its “churchy” usage, but rather as a…… Read more “Thoughts on I Believe and My Creed”
Be a Channel of Access
GodReflection: Share It Again God The Nurturer. When I think of the word ‘channel’ immediately, I envision access. Deep channels allow watercraft passage across continents for distribution of…… Read more “Be a Channel of Access”
Credo—I Believe
GodReflection: I Believe. That Sunday morning worship was one I would never forget. A colleague and I were visitors among a small group of fewer than thirty…… Read more “Credo—I Believe”
Jesus and Jigsaw Puzzles
GodReflection: Share It Again Power Words I have neither the patience nor the visionary spatial skills to do jigsaw puzzles. Sure, as a little blond hair lad…… Read more “Jesus and Jigsaw Puzzles”
The More I Believe—The Less I Believe
GodReflection: I Believe. Back in college days as the lone member of my household I would go to the laundromat to wash cloths. A rather neat place…… Read more “The More I Believe—The Less I Believe”
God’s Time Zone
GodReflection: Share It Again Garden to Garden God’s time zone does not align with the one where I live. I have never understood “God Time.” I do…… Read more “God’s Time Zone”
What Do I Believe—For Real?
GodReflection: I Believe. I believed in Santa Claus. But not anymore. It was ok for a while. In fact, it was fun—my life filled with suspense, anticipation,…… Read more “What Do I Believe—For Real?”
Before the ‘I Believe’ Plunge
GodReflection: I Believe. Thank you again for reading over my shoulder during this eleventh year of our GodReflection Blog. Just as I was about to plunge into…… Read more “Before the ‘I Believe’ Plunge”
Let’s Begin 2023 With I Believe
GodReflection: I Believe. Here we are ready or not. Once again, we have a new year before us. I am not one who makes New Year Resolutions…… Read more “Let’s Begin 2023 With I Believe”
In Christ’s Advent—I Anticipate His Return—For Me!
GodReflection: The Ultimate IN Sider. In this final post of our current 2022 calendar, my desire is to stimulate each of us to raise our anticipation level…… Read more “In Christ’s Advent—I Anticipate His Return—For Me!”
God Reflection 