lifestyle-religion

In this week’s article I am continuing my invitation for you to resolve to come back to church this Sunday. In the past two articles I described how the early church gave us a prescription to live out our Christian lives today: “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

As Christians, revisiting the practices of the first-century church holds profound significance. Through these articles, last week and the next two, I hope you resolve to go back to church this Sunday. Allow me to make this your invitation: “I invite you to attend church this Sunday.”

I’d like to extend an invitation for you to join me on a journey back to church this year. There’s something special about the God-ordained gathering of Christ’s followers that offers unique spiritual practices and I want you to enjoy those experiences in 2024. Reflecting on the last day of 2023, I shared with my wife my resolution to kickstart my mornings: wake up early, exercise, pray, and study, allocating 20 minutes to each activity. I told my wife, “This is the year I get fit and get smart.” She said, “You better make it a three-year plan.” Yikes, I might have more ground to cover than I initially thought.

The beginning of a New Year is a time for reflection. I don’t know about you, but it has been several years since I have stayed up late at night to “watch the ball drop.” But as I remember it, in the wee hours of the first morning of the new year, with the strains of “Auld Lang Syne” echoing in the background, there seemed to always be a sense of melancholy reflection on the past as well as a bubbling enthusiasm filled with anticipation for the future.

Here’s a “poser” for you: Why are our ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th months named “Seven” (Sept-), “Eight, (Oct-)” “Nine” (Nov-) and “Ten” (Dec-)?

I woke up this morning early – much earlier than usual since I had to take our son to the bus station so he could catch a shuttle bus to the airport. He has been visiting us for a week and we have had a beautiful time together. On the way back from the shuttle pick-up station, I was returning home and enjoying very pleasant thoughts about his visit with us when I was suddenly crashed into from behind by a car that was obviously speeding much faster than I was.

Merchants National Bank (MNB) announced Thursday that Denise Fauber, current MNB chief operating officer, was added to MNB’s Board of Directors.

Every year at this time of the year, I attempt to meditate on the various Scripture passages that predict and demonstrate that the prophetic proclamations of a coming Messiah have been fulfilled. It has proven to be a very positive and uplifting study that has given me a new appreciation for the whole atmosphere and the real purpose of the season.

Some among us who call ourselves “Christian,” are stuck with a goofy, four-Sunday season called Advent. Well, it does give us the opportunity to light extra candles each week! This past Sunday was the Third in Advent: Gaudete, “Rejoicing” Sunday – and even the most Protestant of us have gone to lighting rose-colored (pink) candles.

Father John Patrick Mulcahy, the chaplain on M*A*S*H: To my sense the ideal military chaplain. In the movie and first couple of TV episodes, he was the typical Hollywood/Culver City buffoon of a religious figure. When William Christopher – a good Methodist – took over the part, he created a character of authenticity and substance.