Matthew 8:28-34 28 When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 Suddenly they shouted, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. 31 The demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” 32 And he said to them, “Go!” So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. 33 The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story a
I began this over Christmas and finished it early this AM. It was meant to speak to me but I hope it also might speak to you. Clay Fear Not Fear not the Angel says And I respond but you don’t know my life Fear not the Angel says And I say have you read the headlines Fear not the Angel says And I say have you met my boss Fear not the Angel says And I say did you see the results of my last physical Fear not the Angel says And I show that divine being my bank balance Fear not the Angel says And I say do you not see my tears Fear not the Angel says And I say do you not hear my cries Fear not the Angel says But the pain is real Fear not the Angel proclaims, and the trumpets sound out And I said I
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right
In some of my various readings I came across a poem that profoundly spoke to me. It is by the German theologian and martyr for the faith Rev. Dietrich Bonhoeffer. According to biographical information that I found, Bonhoeffer was a pastor, professor, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church. His writings on Christianity's role in the secular world have become widely influential, and his book The Cost of Discipleship has been described as a modern classic. Though his writings continue to be influential, the fact that he lived his writings in a very public manner—which eventually cost him his life—is what most people remember about him. Bonhoeffer was stalwart in h