1 Thessalonians 5:11

     I was stumped by a question I read the other day.  “When was the last time you complimented your spouse?”  I couldn’t answer the question.  I am certain that I recently had offered Cathy an affirming word of some measure but I just couldn’t recall when that word was spoken.  The thought dawned on me that I have not been deliberate in my efforts to encourage my wife.  Paul counseled Christian to “encourage one another and build each other up”  (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV).  Paul offers a strong hint to encourage one another intentionally, as well as routinely.

Matthew 5:48, NIV

     One of the questions to which I responded when ordained as an elder within the United Methodist Church was this:  Are you going on to perfection?  One of the three theological strands that tied together the way of salvation for John Wesley is the idea of sanctification or holiness.  Wesley believed that through the work of the Holy Spirit, God is reforming the human spirit into the image of Christ, the author and perfecter of the Christian faith (see Hebrews 12:2).  C. S. Lewis once wrote:

Deuteronomy 6:4-7, CEV

     My wife Cathy is an amazing mother.  I marvel as to how easily she relates to our children and grandson.  A few years ago, I overheard Cathy reading the children’s book, The Cookie Store Cat, to our twenty-two-year-old daughter.  I wasn’t surprised.  Courtney is still a child at heart and Cathy relishes the role of storyteller.

     When our children were growing up, Cathy would read to each one prior to bedtime.  Sometimes Dr. Seuss took the stage but most often Cathy read a story from Veggie Tales.  Regardless of the genre, Cathy would conclude with a prayer.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

     I pray you weathered the storms that swept through the Greater Cincinnati area last evening. The wall of clouds left widespread damage across the tri-state area. Early reports claimed that 167,000 homes were without electricity. Our home was one such example.

     Strangely enough, as I surveyed the neighborhood in which my wife, Cathy, and I live, was spared from great harm. Suddenly, I felt a rush of gratitude well up in my soul. Though I had debris strewn about the yard, I thanked God that no one around me was injured.

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

     Some of Jesus’ parables make me uncomfortable. The Parable of the Wheat and Weeds is one such example. At the conclusion of Jesus’ message, I am left to ask, “Is he talking about me?”