Living life with steps of faith

What does Psalm 103 say about those who follow God? The soul of the believer shall bless the LORD. The believer is encouraged not to forget all the benefits she receives from the LORD. All iniquities are forgiven. All diseases are healed. Her life is redeemed from the Pit. She is crowned with steadfast love and mercy. She is satisfied with good all the days of her life. This good renews her youth. The oppressed is vindicated and justice is done on her behalf. Relates with a generous God who forgives sin and is merciful toward her. Steadfastly loved by God. Sins are distantly removed. Her days are like grass or flowers of the field who disappear with a wind. As she fears the LORD, the LORD bestows on her a steadfast love that is everlasting. As she keeps His covenant and obeys His commandments, He extends righteousness to her children and her children's children.

What we learn about the LORD from Psalm 103 Holy Name Forgives Iniquity Heals Diseases Redeems Life from the Pit Crowns Humans with Steadfast Love and Mercy Satisfies Humans with Good throughout their Lives Works Vindication and Justice for the Oppressed Reveals Himself to Moses and People of Israel Merciful Gracious Slow to Anger Abounding in Steadfast Love He will not Always Accuse He does not Keep His Anger Forever He does not deal with Humans as they Deserve Has Immense Steadfast Love for those who Fear Him Knows how Humans are Made from Dust His Righteousness Extends to Generations of the Obedient His Throne is Established in Heaven His Kingdom Rules Over All He has Angels Angels do his Bidding Angels are Obedient to His Spoken Word He has Hosts or Ministers that Do His Will

What would need to change in order to get the cost of a regular doctor's appointment to under $50? (This is the total cost, including the patient's, insurance company's, and government's contribution.)

Wow! In the final verses of Job, when the writer celebrates that Job has been blessed with restored friendships, a profitable agricultural business, children, and a long life, special attention is given to his daughters! His three daughters are named and it is mentioned that they were given an inheritance alongside their brothers! This is shocking because the book of Job seems to reference a time before the Mosaic law and the latest possible date of its being penned would have been during the post-exilic age of Israel. This means that one of our earliest monotheistic worshippers of God treated his daughters with the same respect or more than his sons. How is that for a biblical precedent?

"Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. And with thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for you." "When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God." (1 Cor. 2:1-5, NRSV) "Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me, Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me." (Daniel Iverson) "The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In...

"And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons." - Mark 1:39 This morning I called my good friend who happens to also be a rabbinical student. Like usual, we had a great conversation. We met last year during a summer chaplaincy training program and felt a nearly immediate bond. In some ways it was as if we were the same person, yet formed by different religious traditions. She is the identical twin I never had. In our conversation I realized an area in my life where I have in a way "compromised" my Christian faith. On several recent occasions when I've introduced myself to friends of friends or new neighbors I have only identified myself as a graduate student rather than as a seminary student. I mentioned this in passing during the morning call and my friend kindly called me out on it. I excused myself by saying that people don't expect a rabbi to proselytize while they expect a pastor to try to con...