We have enough. We are enough.

Put on the whole armor of God.

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

What does this mean for us? We are to fear and love God so that we do not betray, slander, or lie about our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain his actions in the kindest way.

“Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else's skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.”

And does anybody really need more stuff?

They drove away, the individual connection broken, but for my niece the faces of those men will forever linger in her mind’s eye, her memory, as connected to saving her home, a salvation of sorts, one person to another, freely given, no strings attached, a price paid without expectation of return. How could anything be more of a connection in Christ than that?

If we refuse to hold them in the hopes of living without doubt, despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love.

My work is loving the world.

We easily become entangled in moral ambiguities and rationalizations, but Luther suggests that we not even go there. Let your words and conduct be pure and honorable. Love and respect each other.

The SJC Trio live from the garden.

Not only should we not hurt others – we should help them.

If we take a moment to consider the above definitions, it’s amazing how the physical construction of the connector serves to illustrate and symbolize the deeper spiritual connections we humans seek.

Connected in Christ are words we often use to describe this faith community called St. John’s.

If parents followed their mandate and children theirs, both would inherit the promise that comes with this commandment in scripture – “that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”

The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives.

Now, whenever I feel a little lost in our crazy world, I am not scared. Because I still feel the nearness of God, and of Dad. Both of my fathers, “who art in heaven.”

We are all connected

The retreats were intended to help families facing similar difficult circumstances form connections.

“what did the word connect mean to you this week?”