Nathan R. Hale

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  • Christians, prayer for the world is an essential aspect of our vocation

    Christian brothers and sisters, Prayer for the world is an essential aspect of our vocation.

    We must stand firm in prayer always, and especially in this terrible moment for our human family that is unfolding in Ukraine.

    Let us pray:

    Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but
    the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength
    of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples
    may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace; to
    whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

    Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace
    proceed: Kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all people the true love
    of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those
    who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquility
    your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the
    knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    O God, the Creator of all, whose Son commanded us to love
    our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver
    them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good
    time enable us all to stand reconciled before you in Jesus Christ;
    in whose Name we pray. Amen.

    Prayers from BCP2019 p. 654-655

  • Learning about Ephrem of Syria today. Really looking forward to reading him and other Syriac Fathers more.

  • I usually preach from a Word doc on my aging Galaxy Tab A 10″.

    I also do the first part of my prep there in the Logos app.

    I create a clippings doc of my highlights, notes, etc from commentaries on the passage I am preaching from.

    Then, to the laptop for more organization, and writing the sermon in Word.

    Everything syncs flawlessly.

  • Battle station ready for my Monday morning sermon prep focus session (reading/research)

  • I am pretty excited to preach about God’s heart for the nations tomorrow morning–not least because I see how that heart is being manifest in our local church. What a joy!

  • I need these prayers

  • Goals for today: finish some key tasks for Desert Mission Anglican Church, play some games with the kids (they’re still home on break), read some George MacDonald while smoking a pipe

  • You are God’s Delight

    It’s the Third Day of Christmas. We remember St. John the Theologian.

    He wrote:

    “…the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, ESV)

    This is an indispensable part of the Good News: God delights in humanity! Why else would he become one?

    God doesn’t become something he doesn’t love.

    And—get this—God delights in you!

    We are told in the Scriptures that—by the Spirit—the Word of God dwells in all who will receive him, which is our guarantee of eternal life.

    God doesn’t dwell where he doesn’t want to be.

    “Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light; that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

    Promise & presence. Light & life. This is Christmas.

    Photo: www.blessedmart.com/shop/hand…

  • She preaches with passion

    Over and against rulers with delusions of divine favor and power, Mary proclaims in her Spirit-inspired song that divinity is not found in those that think they already have it in and of themselves.

    She preaches with passion: God is born by those that humbly, yet hungrily desire to receive him.

    This isn’t heard as good news by the proud, the powerful, and the prosperous.

    Yet those that have eyes to look for the Lord of Creation in places of humility, weakness, poverty, and profound humanity will find grace upon grace.

    As the lowly are lifted and the high and mighty brought down, we see with clarity that all are in need and that all our needs are met Christ.

    When this happens in the church, things begin to be as they should be.

    They begin to be just.

    God’s justice begins to be made manifest when, in the church, we find ourselves:

    confessing one Lord,
    living one faith,
    sharing one baptism,
    all at one-and-the-same Table,
    all saying together,

    “Lord I am not worthy to gather the crumbs from under your table!
    Say the word and I shall be healed!”

    We find God coming again to us, his church, as we bear his Spirit in our bodies and yield to his work: to nourish, to teach, to heal, to renew.