Wind and Wineskins
The people of God have always inclined toward institutionalization and inflexibility. The reason is not mysterious: human nature inclines toward comfort and the minimizing of risk. Here's a thought for our time and place: To be truly "Spirit filled" means, among other things, to embrace risk for the sake of advancing the Kingdom of Christ.

May we reflect the joy like the angels of long ago,who rejoiced at the birth of Jesus.

I pray God would re-new His joy in us by causing us to rejoice.....(re-joy-us)

O God, re-joy-us again!

Dean Johnson

The Danger Zone

Where is the Danger Zone for the successful pastor? At what point does the growing size of his congregation and his increasing influence tempt him to feel that he no longer needs the counsel of his peers? At what point does the successful pastor begin to think of church attenders as asset's rather than as persons? Where is his Danger Zone? It's in a different place for every man, no doubt. I can't tell my brother where his Danger Zone is.

I can tell him where his Safety Zone is: that place of a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51.17). It's the only place where you're safe; it's the only place where I'm safe.