In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Treat.”
Well Trick or Treat has come and gone. While I don’t celebrate Halloween I do have to say it’s never the wrong time for a treat!
A whole table of seasonal treats!
I am looking forward to the treat of Thanksgiving. It’s not just the food but the family and the quiet that settles on us after a good dinner.
Until then I imagine I will treat myself daily to my favorite treat of all…good coffee.
Pastor Wrinkles: A Road Through Romans 1:1:2
Today we continue our study, verse by verse, through the Book of Romans. If you missed yesterday’s edition you can find it on
Today we are working through the second phrase of Romans 1:1
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus.”
The first bit of identification Paul gives his readers among the Romans is that he is a “servant”. The Greek word is Dulos and its connotation is a little different from the modern definition of “servant”.
Here is what Paul really means when he says he is a servant-
” I Paul am …a slave, a bondman, a man of servile condition.
I Paul am…one who gives himself up to Christ… whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men.
I Paul am…devoted to Christ to the disregard of my own interests.
You see, Christianity is not an episode of Downton Abbey. Paul’s not talking about polishing Jesus’ silver or shining Jesus’ sandals.
Christianity is about falling so desperately in love with the Lover of our souls that we will do anything to live for Him even if that means dying.
Jim Elliot a Christian missionary and martyr wrote these fateful words shortly before his death at the hands of the very people he was ministering to. “He is no fool who gives up those things which he cannot keep to gain those things which he cannot lose.”
That in a nutshell is being a servant of Christ.
Sure it’s a lot scarier.This is the Christianity which has drawn billions to the throne of God. Come and join Paul. Be a servant of Christ. The cost is never higher than the return.
“I assure you that when the world is made newi and the Son of Manj sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. “
Matthew 19:28-30
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One Word Photo Challenge: Summer
This week I am joining in on Jennifer’s One Word Photo Challenge. Check out her blog when you are done here to see other bloggers who met her challenge.
This week our challenge word is SUMMER
Boston Harbor, Massachusetts
Walden Pond
Nothing says summer like snocones
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Pastor Wrinkles: A Road Through Romans 1:1:1
I have been toying with the idea of a verse by verse study for the last several weeks. My only hesitation has been that my schedule for the last several months has left me little time for blogging. I sense that is all changing now. I feel like I will have more time to give to the writing (which is a good thing because this art has been too long neglected to the detriment of my heart).
So today we begin a verse by verse devotional study through the Book of Romans. We are going to go slow and I am going to set up a page under the Pastor Wrinkles Heading so people can catch up if they fall behind.
So Here we go:
“Paul…” Romans 1:1:1
I told you we were going to go slow. Before we go any further we have to look at the first word of this letter. It is a name. It is the author’s name. We know a lot about this man. His name alone has the power to draw us closer to God.
We know he was a servant of Christ (more on that tomorrow).
We know he was an apostle (more on that on Thursday).
We know he was a Jew.
We know he was a Pharisee (one of the bad guys sort of).
We know by his own admission he started out as a persecutor of the church.
We know he considered himself one of the worst sinners in history because of that.
We know his name really wasn’t Paul. You see God changed his name from Saul to Paul. When this man met God his whole identity was changed. He went from persecutor to pastor. He went from enemy of the faith to apostle of the faith. He went from sinner to saint.
THAT’S HOW IT SHOULD BE FOR US!
In another letter Paul wrote, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Cor. 5:17
This is what it means to be born again. Maybe we won’t get a new name like Paul did but we will get a new identity in Christ. Anything less is less than Christianity.
Have you met the new you? If not ask Jesus to introduce you. He knows the new you very well.
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Pastor Wrinkles Sunday Quips & Quotes 11-1-15
Hey there folks! Here is a new challenge for all my Sunday readers. Every Sunday I will post one quip or quote that struck me during the week. You can join along in the quipping and quoting. Here is what to do.
Publish a post of your own using one quip or quote that grabbed you during the week. You can add a picture to it if you like or even photograph the quote from it’s source.
Link back to my post
You can include the Pastor Wrinkle’s Q& Q photo in your post if you think my mug worthy of your blog.
My quote for this week came from a portion of my devotional reading…
“…We regard falling from God’s friendship as the only thing dreadful and we consider becoming God’s friend the only thing worthy of honor and desire.” Gregory of Nyssa
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Friday Fictioneers: Leviathan Lives!
PHOTO PROMPT – 
Dale Rogerson
It is time once again for Friday Fictioneers. 100-ish writers gather from all over the globe to write 100 words on a photo prompt supplied by our hostess Rochelle. You can find the other 100-ish of us by clicking on the underlined link which will tak you to Rochelle’s blog. From there follow the little blue frog.
My piece this week is a bit conceptual. I looked at the prompt without my glasses and saw a snake. From that point on this idea was stuck in my head.
Leviathan Lives
by JE Lillie
This was Eden. That stupid girl, that foolish boy ruined everything. Yet, I am the one left slithering on my belly in the muck.
Even “He Who Shall Not Be Named” was against me that day. He saw my glory and demanded it be taken away. As He did in Heaven so He has done on Earth.
“Thy will be done!” they pray!
“Enough!” I say!
He has had His way for far too long. It is time for me to crawl from these tidal waters. It is time for the sons of Adam to behold the beast that restores the world.
.
.
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Share Your World 2015 Week #43
I am late getting out of the gate this week. I’ve been at Minister’s Retreat since Monday and posting was not given as an option in my time allotments.
So today is a catch-up day in the office. I have unloaded all the musical equipment I took to lead worship from the van. I have caught up on some of my reading and even a few e-mails. I have a catch-up meeting with my lead pastor, an office to clean and worship rehearsal to prep for but I thought I would take a few moments to answer the questions from Cee’s Share Your World Post before I got started.
Here are the questions:
If you were on a debate team, what general subject would you relish debating?
I would love to debate theology.
What’s your strongest sense?
I think hearing is my strongest sense though as I age I do notice that changing. Then again, all my other senses are changing too so I guess it would still be hearing.
What would you name the autobiography of your life?
The Quiet Life Of a Country Pastor: A Divine Comedy
List your favorite flavors or types of tea.
I love fruit teas especially peach, lemon and orange.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
I am grateful my lead pastor is back in the office after a month away on family leave. I am looking forward to November being a normal month where I am just normally not insanely busy.
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Festival of Leaves Week 8
Pastor Wrinkles Quips & Quotes 10-25-15
Hey there folks! Here is a new challenge for all my Sunday readers. Every Sunday I will post one quip or quote that struck me during the week. You can join along in the quipping and quoting. Here is what to do.
Publish a post of your own using one quip or quote that grabbed you during the week. You can add a picture to it if you like or even photograph the quote from it’s source.
Link back to my post
You can include the Pastor Wrinkle’s Q& Q photo in your post if you think my mug worthy of your blog.
Here is my quip for the week. This was shared in our staff devotional on Tuesday.
“Spiritual maturity is never and end in itself. Maturity is for ministry. We grow to give out….Impression without expression leads to depression.” Rick Warren
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Friday Fictioneers: Leaving the Slow Lane
It’s time for another episode of Friday Fictioneers. Our hostess Rochelle is celebrating three years of fictioneering. To join in the celebration pop on over to her site by clicking HERE
Here is the weekly photo prompt and my story
Photo Prompt by Ron Pruitt
Leaving the Slow Lane
by JE Lillie
The bus had stopped just outside her bowling alley for years. Jessica had never minded. It seemed almost like free advertising. After all few things drew a crowd in Jefferson like the bus out-of-town.
Today was different though. She stood at the glass door and cursed the bus outside. She cursed the big man in the brown Stetson.
He was going to make his fortune, he said.
He was leaving her behind is what he meant.
He turned one last time to wave good-bye. He blew her a kiss. She caught it and nestled it to her heart. The tears fell and she turned away.
