Doulos

Who is this King of Glory?  With the image of Jesus on the cross, recall Isaiah 53:3:He was despised and rejected by men;    a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;and as one from whom men hide their faces    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.Fr. Timothy Lowe looks to the Gospel of Matthew as the climax to the biblical story in the people's search for a leader.  The Son of Man is presented as an anti-king, securing no power in an army, palace, or wealth.  As one who submits to the will of His Father, the Son of Man will come in glory to judge on that very basis, separating those who serve the will of the Father from those who do not.  This is our hope, even as we are made to tremble.

King Josiah led his people in a magnificent building campaign to beautify their temple. But it all came to a screeching halt when the Book of the Law, neglected for generations by the Kings of Israel, was discovered and its words read aloud. King Josiah realized the Lord's judgment was at hand, and so he led his people in repentance. "There was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might." Still, the Lord declares to remove Judah and Israel from His sight, and casts off His chosen city. Fr. Timothy Lowe, in reflecting on the "despair of the Lord," the very meaning of Josiah's name, reminds us there may be a time when repentance is no longer an option. 

We had hoped the young King Solomon, in his request to the Lord for wisdom, would avoid the typical temptations that come with power and prestige. But the frailty of the human ego shows itself again in the wayward path Solomon takes in seeking not the Lord, but wealth and  security in other gods and earthly alliances. In this line of biblical kings, is there any hope that one would lead according to the commandments of the Lord, and walk in His ways? 

If you had only one wish, what would it be?The young King Solomon asked not for long life, nor riches, nor victory over his enemies. We learn from the story in I Kings that the Lord was pleased that Solomon instead asked for a "listening heart," to govern and discern what is right. Fr. Timothy Lowe reminds us that the right beginning, the initial baptism and the right confession of faith doesn't necessarily secure God's favor. It's in the doing and walking in faithful obedience, ever mindful of the condition, "If you keep my commandments, then I will lengthen your days."  

If we claim to live as a servant of God, a doulos tou theou, we must reckon with the daily choice: Do I serve and protect my own interests and my own life? Or serve the will of God, even at the cost of my own comfort and life?Fr. Chris Salamy compares the story of the man, Adam, in the Garden of Eden with the story of the man, Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane. He reminds us that serving our own wills surely ends in death, while serving the will of our Heavenly Father opens unto life. Fr. Chris Salamy is the author of The Way of the Warrior Saint: How to Live a Crucifixional Life. Learn more at https://www.warriorsaints.org/book/

Who is the real David? On the one hand, a humble shepherd boy who courageously obeys the Lord and is anointed king of Israel. On the other hand, adulterer and murderer in his dealings with Bathsheba and Uriah. On the first hand, sorrowfully repentant, and Psalmist. On the other hand, abandons his duty in providing justice for his daughter, Tamar, who is raped by David's firstborn. On the first hand, commissions his successor, Solomon, to keep the commandments of the Lord and to walk in faithfulness. On the other hand, in his final dying words, entrusts his personal vendettas to Solomon to carry out vengeance against those who humiliated him. Fr. Timothy reminds us, "It's not how we begin life, but how we end it. No one is good, but God alone. Do not imagine otherwise. It is the only corrective to our egos."

Not long after the Lord establishes his shepherd, David, over his people Israel, does King David turn to devour his own flock. Bored and distracted at home while his armies fight the king's battles, David takes another man's wife. To cover up his adultery, he betrays and murders his loyal and faithful servant, Uriah the Hittite. We are reminded again through this story that, "No one is good but God alone," and "Whoever would be greatest must be servant of all." Fr. Timothy Lowe suggests, "If you say these things and repeat them, trust me, it will finally sink in and live there and be the corrective to all temptations."

Safe from his enemies and finally secure in his own palace, King David desires to build the Lord a house of cedar. The Lord reminds David through His prophet Nathan that the ark of the Lord moves and dwells in a tent. The Lord has no need for a house. Furthermore, it is the Lord who establishes David and his house, and not the other way around.  Taking him from the pasture, the Lord has established David as shepherd over His flock. The warning for His doulos is to attend to the business of caring for the people and not to be distracted with the business of buildings. The story allows us to pause and ask, Who builds? Whose house? Whose glory?

Constantly searching for impressive candidates - from elected officials, to job postings, to new recruits on parish councils - we hope to find leaders in whom we can trust. Yet every leader who comes from the seed of Adam falls short. Fr. Timothy Lowe looks to the story of God's regret that He had made Saul king over Israel, a similar regret we hear in Genesis after God had created man.  From this harsh reality emerges our only hope in submitting to the Lord as King and His mercy through His anointed One. 

Good leaders manage expectations. Good leaders provide clarity and a path forward to eliminate surprise and disappointment.  Since the beginning, the Lord makes it clear that all will be well for those who do His will.  As Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel, he reiterates His Father's expectation.  The crowds who follow Him are impressed with His prophesies, healings, and mighty works, yet they are nevertheless filled with false expectations about entering the Kingdom. Jesus addresses their self-deception, "Not every one who says to me, 'Lord,Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who dos the will of my Father who is in heaven." So why are the crowds astonished at his teaching? 

What's the connection between functioning as a servant of God and hoping in the inheritance as a son of God?  Fr. Paul Hodge remembers the aphorism of Fr. Thomas Hopko of blessed memory, "Beware of consolation before the crucifixion." Like a child who wants dessert before dinner, we may want all of the glory of God's promises now.  Looking to Romans 8, we are reminded of the order and the responsibility to receiving God's gift.  Sharing in the inheritance as sons comes after suffering with Christ, and not before. 

What do you wish for in this new year? Imagine if your every wish stirred an impulse to serve your neighbor with the very thing you first desire from them? Fr. Timothy Lowe turns to Matthew 7 which challenges our presumptions and turns the worldly order upside-down.  The easy path leads to destruction while the narrow gate leads to life. Those who look like sheep may be ravenous wolves, so you must know them by their fruits. And those who fall prey to false teaching may need to check their very wishes and desires against the fruit of Christ's teaching.  

In what ways do we

A new year offers a chance to reflect and reset priorities.  What kinds of new year resolutions are set by the servants of the Lord?  Fr. Timothy Lowe suggests we resolve to pray, out loud and often, the very words provided by Jesus in Matthew's Gospel.  Our daily bread is closely linked to the daily practice of forgiveness, suggesting that as often as we eat, we must seek the Lord's daily bread through His Word and extend His mercy to one another. Taking note of its priorities, its communal emphasis, and even its own powerful simplicity in what the prayer leaves out, the Lord's Prayer sets the ultimate goal and direction for those who pray, "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done." 

In what ways is prayer used to gain the favor of men, to bargain for position, or even to gossip and control others?  Fr. Timothy Lowe submits to the critique of Matthew's Gospel which warns about heaping up empty words and praying in order to be seen by men.  A Father provides for His children, and Our Father in Heaven knows what you need before you even ask. We can't keep secrets from Him anyway.  As Matthew instructs, "When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Fr. Timothy reminds us, like Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, it is in the acceptance of the simple prayer, "Thy will be done."

Does your parish have a dedicated outreach or missions and evangelism team?  Fr. Evan Armatas boldly suggests that the Great Commission cannot be sequestered to committee; it must be at the heart of parish life.  Reflecting on Hebrews 13 where the Apostle Paul summarizes, "Do not neglect to good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God," Fr. Evan demonstrates how there's always room for one more at the table.  He affirms the degree of diversity within the parish directly correlates to the degree of parish health.  Fr. Evan shares how the Great Commission is inextricably linked to parish health in his new book, Reclaiming the Great Commission: A Roadmap to Parish Health.  The book is written as a practical guide for parish leaders to digest and implement in order to reclaim the Great Commission toward parish health.  

Reactions to Black Friday and Giving Tuesday range from enthusiasm to disgust. Many just feel conflicted with the commercialization of the holidays which is intended as a time for thanksgiving, spending time with loved ones, and extending acts of mercy and generosity as the Lord graciously offers His Son for the salvation of all. How do business and nonprofit leaders who strive to serve the Lord respond to the pressure of these events?  How do consumers and patrons respond in light of their baptism in Christ?  Fr. Timothy Lowe turns to Matthew's Gospel which critiques our motivations surrounding Black Friday and Giving Tuesday in light of Christ's Sermon on the Mount.

How can the Apostle Paul call himself a "blasphemer" and the "chief of sinners" and then go on to lay out expectations for the bishops and the deacons to live above reproach? In this episode, Andrea Bakas provides an in-depth word study which unveils powerful imagery stemming from episkopos and diakonos. We look to First Timothy to understand what is expected of bishops and deacons, functional leaders of the church who are reminded to manage their households well.

What motivates our questions? Do we seek security, favor, and position when we ask that which we already know? Or do we seek  clarity and common reference in the Scripture so that we can get on with the business of doing?  The story of the Good Samaritan and the inverted question Jesus asks, "Who was neighbor to that man?" clarifies the question asked by the lawyer to tempt Jesus. The one who showed mercy clarified the work for the innkeeper to further extend mercy, and mercy abounds! "Do this and you will live," is the clear answer. Any questions? 

What does judgment have to do with servant leadership?  On the one hand, absolutely nothing. If judgment is the Lord's, the doulos, the servant or slave in the Lord's household, cannot stand in the place of judge. The Lord alone is Judge. On the other hand, our daily activities and responsibilities require us to exercise fairness and a certain level of judgment, right?  "We are called to do the Lord's will; no less and no more," says Richard Benton, PhD, author of Hosea: A Commentary and of Loving Language: Learning to Hear Your Neighbor.  The temptation is to overstep with paybacks, applying strictness or neglect, as we see in the Book of Joel. The Lord used the other nations as an instrument of judgment against Israel, but they have overstepped. Incapable of payback, the Lord will requite their deeds upon their own heads. And that's how we know it's fair, when everyone in every nation stands under the same judgment and mercy of One Lord.  

Jesus calls his followers to be exceptional. It's easy to feel exceptional when the whole room of people who look like you and behave like you express their love for you.  But Jesus isn't impressed by loving those who love you and saluting only your brethren.  That's just basic human behavior. Jesus sets a higher bar in Matthew's Gospel with instruction to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."  How is this possible? How are we to respond with the call to "be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect?" 

We hear early in Genesis that man is made in the image and likeness of God and given dominion over the earth. On the surface, this text might appeal to the baser side of the human ego that lusts for power and prestige. But a deeper look will acknowledge that dominion over anything, large or small, carries an important burden of responsibility. Blaise Webster, co-host of Tell Me the Story podcast, examines the original Hebrew for "image and likeness" and its serious implications for exercising dominion over the earth.  Rather than asserting possession over what God rightly owns, man is appointed like a manager entrusted with the company keys.  

We all like a fresh start. New beginnings are filled with hope and promise.  A new mission, a new ministry, a new ordination, a new role of service, a new life.  How is it that we become derailed so quickly?  The stories told in 1 Samuel hearken of hopeful beginnings in the priestly line, the prophetic line, and the kingly line, but it doesn't take long for each to go awry when motivations for a dynastic line supplant the Lord's command.  Driven by base appetites, the sons of Eli abused their priestly office and treated the offering of the Lord with contempt. We have only to read the biblical stories that provide a warning against the contempt and corruption that seep in against the Lord's righteous establishment. And we must not lose hope when we see the Lord intervening with a new beginning. 

Servant leaders make good on their promises. The story of Hannah in the opening of 1 Samuel demonstrates the gravity of remembrance, grace, and vows.  Hannah, barren and distressed, pours out her soul to the Lord and trusts in the blessing of promise from Eli, the priest.  The Lord remembers her, extending grace through the birth of a son. But the remembrance doesn't stop with the favor of the Lord. Hannah dedicates her young son, Samuel, to the Lord, in remembrance of her vow and the grace extended to her. Hannah exemplifies what we seek in our leaders - one who negotiates for the sake of all and makes good on her promises.      

In what ways do our presumptions and expectations cloud our vision?  Fr. Seraphim Solof opens Luke 24 for the story of Jesus who appears to his disciples on the road to Emmaus.  The disciples had just witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus; the very one they had expected to redeem Israel is now presumed dead. Unable at first to recognize the risen Jesus, their eyes were opened when the Scriptures were opened to them, culminating in the blessing and the breaking of bread. Fr. Seraphim describes, "The problem is, the God and the Jesus who we create and animate to do our bidding, whether that means instantly giving us everything we ask for in prayer, or perhaps smiting the people who don't see things the way we do, they are invariably a false god and a false messiah. They're idols of our own making, they're really just reflections of ourselves." Like the disciples, our only hope in recognizing the Lord is to open our eyes through the opening of Scripture which extends the invitation to table fellowship.  

What are our motivations for serving and leading? Upon what is hope founded? Do we strive for a prize? Or is there something greater than our own efforts and personal reward? After 40 years of leading God's people in the desert, it may seem harsh that Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. The final scene in Deuteronomy makes it clear that glory does not belong to the one who serves, but to the One who provides.  The Lord provides hope through His promise for the next generation that they would hear and be faithful to His Word which itself bears the fruit of promise.  

The shepherd and flock imagery used in Scripture create a rich paradigm to consider servant leadership.  Leadership isn't about gaining success on the backs of those you serve, but bending your back to serve those entrusted to your care.  Dn. Henok Elias, host of the Tewahido Bible Study podcast, opens Ezekiel 34 where leaders are criticized for growing wealthy, fat, and clothed, on the backs of those they are supposed to shepherd. 

What would our work loads look like if we put as much time actually doing the work as we do creating excuses for avoiding the work at hand? More importantly, what would our communities look like if we actually put as much time doing the Lord's work as we do creating excuses in sin? The calling of Moses provides insight into this common human inclination to argue, make excuses, and wrangle out of responsibility to the work the Lord provides.  When Moses provides a litany of excuses, the Lord provides the plan, the mouth, and the words, eliminating all excuses.  As Fr. Timothy Lowe suggests, the question is whether to submit, and the rest is details, trusting in the Lord's provision. 

When the Lord commissions Moses to bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt, Moses questions, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" We learn it's not about, "who am I?" but it's about the One who sends Moses. "I AM WHO I AM" is the God who acts as the Father to His people.  When faced with a difficult task, leaders may ask that question even today, "Who am I?"  Does the question come from a sense of fear? excuse and avoidance? false humility? perhaps genuine humility? The motives can be analyzed, but at the end of the day, it's not about "who am I." The servant of the Lord can avoid an ontological crisis by serving the Lord's instruction. 

Simon Peter, in obedience to the Master's instruction, cast his net into the deep.  One might think he'd won the lottery with so much fish that it broke the fishermen's nets and began to sink their boats!   Instead, Simon Peter acknowledges his own sinfulness and falls at the knees of Jesus.Fr. Timothy Lowe reminds us that only the mercy of the Lord, in light of our own sinfulness, lays the foundation for a good beginning.  Whatever education and expertise we think we bring to our life's calling, we are challenged by Simon Peter who was willing to leave everything - his boat, nets, and fish - to follow his Lord. But it's only a beginning. And a good beginning doesn't make a hero. After baptism, there's more to the story.

Whom do you seek to please? Whom do you fear? A powerful leader seeking to please himself, King Herod desired to kill John the Baptist for referring to God's law above Herod. Fearing the people, Herod at first refrained from killing John because the people considered him a prophet. Seeking to please his unlawful wife's daughter and his dinner guests, Herod finally ordered John's head on a platter. Herod's reference points were whimsical, multiple, and self-serving.Fr. Timothy Lowe shares the story of Herod and John the Baptist, reminding us that our reference points matter. We are called to refer to One Lord, serving and fearing only Him.

Leaders would rather lead change and preach repentance and mercy. But what happens when time has run out? Standing in the Lord's presence, the prophet Isaiah cries, "Woe is me! I am undone!"  and charged with a confounding message of coming judgment and destruction.  Fr. Timothy Lowe, in a study of Isaiah 6, suggests it's time to sober up in the midst of utter devastation.  Our only hope is in the seed of the Lord that might sprout from the burned and fallen stump. 

Leaders make sacrifices everyday, putting aside their interests for the sake of serving others.  Fr. Jeremy Davis, author of Welcoming Gifts: Sacrifice in the Bible and Christian Life suggests that the fullness of sacrifice isn't realized in loss and suffering, but in joy, hospitality, and faithful relationship.  Christ demonstrates how to move beyond mere symbolic gestures of sacrifice and embrace the sacrificial life in faithful obedience to God and love to humankind. 

We may think the Canaanite woman offers a leadership example of persistence and humility, content with the crumbs that fall from the Master's table.  But the lesson is far beyond successful negotiation. As an outsider, the Canaanite is like a dog compared to those who feast at the Master's table within the religious community. Jesus honors her great faith which stands in stark contrast against the disciples and religious leaders who reflect such little faith throughout Matthew's Gospel. The challenge presented even today is whether those who presume to feast at the Master's table are willing to offer even just a crumb to those in need. 

What motivates your leadership? The Apostle Peter understands the temptations of compulsion, greed, and domination, as he exhorts his fellow elders to shepherd the flock entrusted to their care.Fr. Ian Pac-Urar explores the example we find in the Apostle Peter. Even by identifying himself as a "fellow elder" in his first epistle, the Apostle Peter demonstrates what it means to serve the flock, not by lording over them, but by submitting to the example set by Christ.

What does it mean to guard the deposit of faith? If the deposit of faith is given free of charge, those who receive it are charged to invest in its practice and share it freely with others. Fr. Barnabas Powell of Faith Encouraged Ministries attends to the treasure entrusted in St. Paul's letter to Timothy. He challenges us to allow Christ's message to confront us - our mindset and behavior - so that we shift focus to that which is eternal over the temporary. What we truly value will be evident on the Last Day when we are called to account for this precious deposit of faith. 

"Has the Lord not taken the lead?" This is the challenging question Deborah the Judge poses to the commander of Israel's army in the Old Testament story in the book of Judges. It remains a critical question for today's leader who aspires to serve the Lord. Women like Deborah and Jael were not the expected leaders of a nation over 2000 years ago. People would rather put their trust in the strength of an army and its commander.  In this episode, Fr. Dustin Lyon shares how the army commanders from both sides were judged by the Lord who accomplished His will through the unexpected leaders of Deborah and Jael, a righteous judge and fierce warrior. 

How might we consider the rewards and punishments presented throughout the Scriptures without getting caught up in the heretical prosperity gospel where human self interest attempts to disguise itself in righteousness? Dr. Andy Geleris, author of Money and Salvation: An Invitation to the Good Way, discusses the contrasts in sowing abundantly and sowing sparingly. He explores St. Paul's appeal to the Corinthians to sow generously, offering what the Lord provides, so that material resources might be transformed into spiritual blessings.

In our parish councils and other teamwork, we strive to appreciate the diversity of ideas and opinions in the group and work toward consensus. But when it comes to the Gospel of Matthew, all voices are silenced by the one crying in the wilderness which culminates with Jesus crying out from the cross and yielding his spirit. What follows is the apocalyptic quaking of the earth, tearing of the temple curtain, opening of tombs, and the raising of saints who all witness to the same message proclaimed by the one voice. As we celebrate All Saints, Fr. Timothy Lowe suggests they witness to the message that must shake our own world, break our idols, and silence the noise that distracts us from the race we are called to run according to the Gospel. 

The Gospel is a disrupter, and this is the case even in our attitudes and behaviors around money and generosity. Fr. Evan Armatas shares ideas and practices surrounding stewardship from his forthcoming book, Reclaiming the Great Commission: A Roadmap to Parish Health. These include: Focusing on the WHY of generosity Positioning generosity as an opt-out decision Guarding against stagnation by focusing beyond the needs of the parish In this interview, Fr. Evan cites a study which suggests that while many people face the same disruptive force, only 5% of us will make a positive change because of the disruption. Fr. Evan urges us to "press on," as the Apostle Paul instructs in his letter to the Philippians, allowing the Gospel to do its disruptive work in us for the sake of meaningful change and salvation. 

Do you ever get the feeling that the more you own, the more it owns you?  Why are we so tempted by accumulation? What do our cupboards, closets,  garages, and storage units reveal about our trust in the Lord's provision? How do we faithfully steward what the Lord so generously provides?Professional organizer, Presvytera Stacey Dorrance, reflects on the teaching of Jesus who instructed, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume . .  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." (Matt 6:19-20)

We love leaders with vision and clarity, assuring us of the certain path ahead. The Gospel writers challenge the certainty of the religious leaders by offering a clear and simple vision of mercy - expressing gratitude for the mercy received and extending mercy to others.  Fr. Timothy Lowe shares the perspective of The Blind Man from the Gospel of John. Jesus extends mercy, bringing sight to the blind and revealing the blindness of those who presume to see through the certainty of self-righteousness. 

Like Samson, it's easy to be blinded by poor choices, bad habits, and neglect of the vocation to which the Lord calls us. And like Samson's story, the Lord's strength is revealed despite our unfaithfulness. Samson's sacred vocation is finally realized in bringing down the entire structure of disloyalty and idolatry, crashing down even upon his own head. Samson and Delilah's story, like many others in the Bible, provide a clear warning and an opportunity to reflect, repent, and realign priorities to the Lord's priorities. Fr. Dustin Lyon shares the Lord's hope for the next generation through the telling of this sacred vocation.

Making excuses comes almost as naturally as eating or sleeping, and it begins at a young age.  We are wired to cover our sins with self-justification and shifting blame. But for a doulos charged with service in the Lord's household, there is no room for excuses. Jesus offers wholeness and new life, demonstrated by the story in John's Gospel of the paralytic man who was healed despite the excuses and presumed accountability to the old way of life.  Fr. Timothy Lowe shares how with this new life comes freedom from excuses and new accountability to walk in the life-giving commandments and to "Go and sin no more." 

Is cheer and gladness a prerequisite to giving and tithing? Or might obedience to the Lord's instruction to give alms and tithe foster true cheer and gladness? In any case, Fr. Patrick O'Grady warns against any transactional approach to tithes and offerings.  Rather, in response to the philanthropy of God, the One who loves mankind, we are invited to act in kind. Fr. Patrick O'Grady, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Antiochian Church, opens the Wisdom of Sirach and shares the story of St. Philaret to encourage generous giving with cheer and gladness.  

Loyalty, faithfulness, and reliability is what every servant leader pledges, just as Peter assured Jesus, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!”  Yet that very night, after invoking a curse and anathema upon himself that Peter knew not the arrested Jesus, the words of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times," were made manifest. Fr. Timothy Lowe suggests that arrogance must run its full course so that our only hope is in the mercy of the Lord. 

We all want a champion for our cause.  But a naked man hanging dead from a cross doesn't look like a winner. Even the disciple Peter rebuked Jesus who foretold of his suffering in Jerusalem by the elders, chief priests, and scribes. Who among us doesn't pay good money to protect, preserve, and champion our beliefs, our way of life, our prestige? Perhaps Judas sought to protect religiosity or force the hand of Jesus against the Roman occupation or was simply captivated by his own greed when he betrayed Jesus. Regardless, the will of the Father was accomplished through Jesus Christ, the ultimate Champion on the cross.  Fr. Robert Holet, DMin, author of The First and Finest: Orthodox Christian Stewardship as Sacred Offering, discusses Judas's entanglement with money and his ultimate betrayal of an innocent man.

Psalm 51, a prayer of repentance so familiar to Orthodox Christians, teaches the double-edged wisdom of judgment and hope. Fr. Paul Lundberg suggests the psalm provides sobriety and a connection to the grace of humility, essential for anyone who wants to take leadership seriously, and to do it well. With "my sins ever against me" and acknowledging that "against Thee only have I sinned," does self-absorption run its course, realizing that our only hope is the hesed, the mercy of the Lord. If you want like to learn more about current Biblical Hebrew or Greek course offerings as this podcast mentions, please contact Fr. Timothy Lowe. 

From the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches private prayer and gives us the words to pray in "Our Father." A discipline of prayer, meditating on the words of Scripture, transforms a doulos who serves in the Lord's household, to seek and do His Father's will.  Prayer supports the transformational process of self-emptying, where we might truly pray, "Not my will, but Thine be done." Michelle Moujaes, Director of Faithtree Resources, shares The Encounter - a prayer book, app, and community initiative to support a discipline of transformational prayer.

Leaders feel exposed and vulnerable when they must forge ahead, so they surround themselves with people they can trust. But no one trusts a leader who derails the mission to the community in order to accomplish a personal mission of power and control. When loyalty is tested and allegiance demanded, only fear and jealousy of the leader is revealed just as we see in the story of King Saul. Andrea Bakas demonstrates how the Book of Samuel subtly reveals even our own lust for power as we find ourselves rooting for the young David and his rise to power against the suspicious and paranoid King Saul.  We quickly forget that the Lord warns his people about their rebellion against Him in seeking an earthly king who constantly abuses his power on the backs of those he rules. 

With plenty of grain in the barn or money in the bank, we may be tempted to relax, eat, drink and be merry.  But like the rich fool, when we stand before the judgment seat, what will we have to show in being rich toward God?  Dr. Andy Geleris, author of Money and Salvation - An Invitation to the Good Way, reflects on the parable of the rich fool from Luke's Gospel and the importance of being rich toward God.  We must live as though we believe we will die and stand before God's judgment.  Dr. Geleris also suggests that the Church has severely neglected the topic of money and the salvific practice of almsgiving as mercy-giving.  He urges tithing as a great first step in almsgiving and reminds us that the Lord's blessing is abundant through anonymous giving.