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A Neighbor Within

June 7, 2019 A Neighbor Within (Part 2)  Michael Jinkins   We all know the parable. While on a journey a man falls victim to robbers who beat him, take his money, and leave him for dead. As he lies beside the road, three other men come along, one after

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Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (Part 1)

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?  (Part 1) Michael Jinkins   Just recently there was a fascinating article on National Public Radio about a congregation in Raleigh, North Carolina, that had found a “Center” that holds in this highly divisive time: White Memorial Presbyterian Church, a congregation of about 4000 members.

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“Our Original Vocation”

“Our Original Vocation” Michael Jinkins   The first thing we learn in the Bible about God is that God is Creator. This seems to be God’s vocation. And one of the first things we learn about humanity is that we are gardeners. It seems that this may be our original

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When Justice Goes Mad

When Justice Goes Mad Michael Jinkins   “A time is coming when [people] will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, ‘You are mad, you are not like us.’”   St. Anthony of Egypt (c. 251-356)   There’s an interesting connection, in

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The Miracle in the Moment

“The Miracle in the Moment” Michael Jinkins   “To treat life as less than a miracle is to give up on it. “ – Wendell Berry   Perhaps the truest, purest form of thankfulness is simply not to take life for granted as we are living it. Just paying attention

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The Gift of Adversity

“The Gift of Adversity” Michael Jinkins    Several years ago a friend gave me a small marble plaque with a quote on it from Sir Winston Churchill: “When you’re going through hell, don’t stop!” While you could always count on Sir Winston to find just the right phrase to buck

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The Passion Never Ends

April 19, 2019 “The Passion Never Ends” Michael Jinkins   Today is Good Friday when we observe the crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus. Today is the hinge on which turns Holy Week. Together with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday provides that point in time and remembrance when betrayal leads to

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Risen Life

“Risen Life” Michael Jinkins   I hope I am not alone in wondering why T. S. Eliot described April as “the cruelest month.” It was not ironic. It was not allergy-related either. From what clever literary scholars tell me (far cleverer than I), April mocks us with its new life.

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Fallow Ground

April 5, 2019 “Fallow Ground” Michael Jinkins   Steam rises from a fallow field. You may have seen it, driving through the countryside early some morning at a change of the seasons.   I remember one early morning almost thirty years ago when Debbie, the kids and I drove out

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