Valerie Hess

On this Memorial Day, I like Karl Richter’s quote: “Tradition is handing on the flame, not praying over the ashes.”

May we, who have the gift of freedom in this country and even more so, freedom in Christ, seek to live handing on a flame, and not praying over the ashes of “how things used to be.”

Please register to vote if you have not already done so! It is important.
Valerie

In the Book of Common Prayer, page 137, “In the Morning,” there is a prayer that has this phrase: “direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose.” A thought to keep throughout the day could be, “Lord, what is the purpose for which you have given me this day? Help me to fulfill it.” In good events as well as hard ones, it could be a way of keeping perspective.

I am having a wonderful time teaching the Spiritual Disciplines online for Spring Arbor University. This week, we start the Disciplines of Confession and Worship. A great quote from E. Stanley Jones in his book “How to be a Transformed Person,” sets the stage well:

We are free to choose, but we are not free to choose
the consequences of our choices.

Wishing you a day of good choices!

“Spiritual Disciplines Devotional: A Year of Readings” has been picked up by one of your publishers to be translated and made available there in the months ahead! Blessings as you seek to bring the live the love of Jesus in a tough situation.

In January, the Iowa State Legislature invited Imam Muhammad Khan from the Islamic center in Des Moines to open the session in prayer. Mr. Khan asked for “victory over those who disbelieve” (translate: non-Muslims) and for “protection from the Great Satan” (translate: commom Islamic term for the USA). His prayer was basically cultural jihad!!!! And it is happening in lots of places around the western world. Does this make you nervous? It does me!