Curt's Ponderings From The Bioshelter

  It All Begins with God-Who-Is-Love So God created all humankind in God's image in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us--and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 1 John 3:16 Twenty-odd years ago I taught an adult Sunday School class based on the book Faith that Hurts, Faith that Heals: Understanding the Fine Line between Healthy Faith and Spiritual Abuse ( Stephen Arterburn and Jack Felton: Thomas Nelson Press, 1993).  Even though the class was comprised solely of church attenders, nearly everyone had a story to tell, and many were still caught up in grieving the wounds real spiritual abuse had left behind.  Nearly everyone, it seems, has a story to tell about feeling misled or abused by others in the name of religion. Yet, spiritual abuse can also happen without ever invoking religion.  Wh...

The Posture of Hope University Community Presbyterian Church, Fairbanks, AK 12 02 18 Jeremiah 33:14-16— a righteous branch of David—named the Lord is our Righteous . 33:14 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 33:15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 33:16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness." Psalm 25:1-10 25:1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 25:2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. 25:3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 25:4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. 25:5 Lead...