Pastoral Scarcity: A Poem (c) Copyright 2016, by Matthew R. St. John For all the pastors everywhere For whom material sustenance is truly scarce I pray for you to be strong this day And rest well in God’s sustaining grace READ MORE
Prayer
My Statement to New Hope Church about the Yanez/Castile Tragedy
Here is the statement I made this weekend in our worship services at New Hope Church in Minneapolis: “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.” These are the words uttered in the ancient days by Samuel when he discerned that God was trying to get his attention. “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.” People will READ MORE
“Walk By the Spirit!”
As the Apostle Paul brings closure to his thoughts regarding love being supreme over and above the fleshly extremes of license and law, he raises a tension regarding how to ensure this love will prevail. Galatians 5:16 and following resolve this tension with profound clarity, and the resolution is the antithesis of self-effort. “Walk by READ MORE
Life in the Lowlands
Mountain-top experiences may be exhilarating, but most of life is lived in the lowlands. Certainly that is made clear in the historical accounting of a father and his demonized son, and the various people that are connected with their drama. Read through Mark 9:14 and following for the details: And when they came to the READ MORE
Moving Beyond Election Day
A number of folk from places far and wide are asking me about the election results. There are a handful of things that readily come to my mind that I would like to pass along. These are very important, I think, particularly as we disciples move forward from here. First, regardless of which “side” we READ MORE
Three Truths as I Stare at My Ballot
My mail-in ballot for the 2016 election is resting on the desk in front of me. It has been sitting there for about four days while I have fretted and prayed and prayed and fretted over what to do. Today I find my eyes misty, with grief over our national drama pushing the tears forward. READ MORE