“She listened to no voice; she accepted no discipline. She didn’t trust in the LORD, nor did she draw near to her God” (Zephaniah 3:2, CEB).

     I was introduced to a new word over the weekend: textlationship. A textlationship is a connection between people who text one another frequently but rarely interact with each other in person. People are spending more time connecting with one another on their digital platforms.

Read John 21:15-17

     As I was preparing for this Sunday’s message on forgiveness, an idea came to me upon which I have been musing. Jesus asked Peter three separate times, “Do you love me?” On the first occasion Jesus uses the word agape`. The second time around Jesus employs the term phileo. In plain terms, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me unconditionally?” Then, Jesus follows up by asking, “Will you be my friend?”

“…Those parts of the body that seem to be the weaker are really necessary. And the parts of the body we think are less deserving are the parts to which we give the most honor. We give special respect to the parts we want to hide”   (1 Corinthians 12:22-23, NCV).

     I met one of the most important employees of a local hospital yesterday. Not the CEO or the chief of staff or a nurse manager. Her name is Esperanza which, in Spanish, means hope.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all

making my prayer with joy” (Philippians 1:3, ESV)

     I bring you good news of great joy that shall be for all the people (or a least a few of you). McDonald’s is offering an adult-sized Happy Meal through October 30th . You have a choice of a Big Mac or a ten-piece order of Chicken McNuggets.

“The names of all the people of Israel were listed in their family histories and those family histories                          were put in the book of the kings of Israel” (1 Chronicles 9:1, ESV)

“You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15, ESV).

     Last Thursday, the security cameras at a toy shop in Tabatinga, Brazil recorded a dog wandering into the store. The footage revealed the dog latching onto a stuffed sheep, then attempting a fast get-away. To the dog’s chagrin, the toy animal became stuck in the doorway leaving the pup no choice but to drop its newly found prize. Life can be ruff when you’re a stray (oops, I mean rough).