It was Easter Sunday, a pretty afternoon, but there were no children out in their yards hiding Easter eggs. In fact, Easter itself was in hiding. For the first time maybe ever, there were no Easter Services in churches. I was in the back yard; it was quiet and I was watching my birds when I saw them. They had been there all along, but I hadn’t paid attention. They were dogwood … [Read more...]
Be Still
I learned how to be still when I was 12-years old and set off in the hills of West Virginia to hunt squirrels, at first with no success. I stepped on twigs, I was in constant motion and anything but still. When it comes to being still – really still – squirrels are good teachers. If you turned your head when a squirrel was scratching in the leaves behind you - no squirrel. They scampered off. If … [Read more...]
Par for the Course of Life: Part III
(Part III of a sermon preached by the Rev. James A. Rhone on July 27, 1986.) Par for the course of life is a possible perfection: it is to love the way God loves. The kind of love God which is includes all, everyone. It is a love not measured or limited by the character of the objects of His love. It is uncalculating, never a strategy for serving His own ends. God does not … [Read more...]
Par for the Course of Life: Part II
(Part II of a sermon preached by the Rev. James A. Rhone on July 27, 1986.) The problem we face as disciples of Jesus are not unlike that of the golfer who needs to improve, to become better. We know that the trouble is not with the design of the course of life, it is not that the teachings of Jesus are unrealistic, they make perfect sense. The trouble is with us, the … [Read more...]
Par for the Course of Life
Rev. James A. Rhone On July 27, 1986, the Rev. James A. Rhone delivered this sermon at First Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville. Many consider it one of the finest sermons of all time in explaining the true meaning of faith and Christianity. We will print this in three parts. Save them all and reprint them as one and pass it on. It is a powerful piece. What … [Read more...]
In Layman’s Terms
A good many of us didn’t study Greek and therefore can’t read and understand much from the original writings of the New Testament. We’re not any better with the Aramaic dialect, nor did we attend divinity school. We’re just plain old laymen, “laic” as opposed to the clergy, or of “the cloth”. But laymen or not, we have to deal with the day-to-day struggles of life and try to make some … [Read more...]