It's not about equal rights

After Philippians 2:1-11 

It’s not about equal rights

or position; it’s not about 

equality with God.

Self is demanding;

set it aside.

We have the example:

the One who stepped down,

who became a servant,

who set self aside,

who assumed the likeness

of man, who humbled

himself, who became

obedient even to death,

The emptying, the descent,

the obedience led

to exaltation, the giving

of the name above

all names.

 

Photograph by Katherine Conrad via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

When Ball Becomes Baal – Jim Elliff at Christian Communicators Worldwide.

 

“Ode on Solitude,” poem by Alexander Pope – Joseph Bottum at Poems Ancient and Modern.

 

“The Orange,” poem by Wendy Smith – Andrew Roycroft at New Grub Street.

 

John Wesley’s Life-Changing Conversion Experience – Jason Clark at This Is the Day.

The sources of joy

After Philippians 2:1-11 

The sources of joy

pool together, one

complementing another,

completing each other,

extending each other:

encouragement, comfort,

participation, affection,

sympathy, a swirling

of the Spirit, and more,

being of the same mind,

sharing the same love,

acting in full accord,

demonstrating one mind.

It’s not about you;

it’s about others, always,

seeing other as more

important, their interests

counting more, and each

of you sharing

the same mind.

 

Photograph by Ben White via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

Eternity – poem by Jonathan Chan at Kingdom Poets (D.S. Martin).

 

The Windows – poem by George Herbert at Rabbit Room Poetry.

 

I Don’t Know Where the Streams Are – Seth Lewis.

A model

After Philippians 2:1-11 

We have a model

for this humility thing.

He didn’t see himself

equal to God. Instead,

he poured himself out

to serve to the point

of death. Bow 

your knee; let

your tongue confess

who he is and what

he did. He’s the model,

the prototype, the one

to emulate, to embrace,

the one to follow and

do likewise.

 

Photograph by Jehyun Sung via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

A Sonnet Sent to Blackness – Elizabeth Melville at Kingdom Poets (D.S. Martin). 

 

Her Present Absence – Karen Harmening at Listening to Him on the loss of a child.

 

Sounds Like Paradise – poem by Roy Peterson at Society of Classical Poets.

 

Can We Tawk? – Paul Hughes at Poet and Priest.

 

A Lisbon Love Story – Tom Darin Liskey at Cultivating Oaks Pres.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Illustrated Edition -- Tweetspeak Poetry.

Complete my job

After Philippians 2:1-11 

If there is any truth

at all here, any comfort,

any affection or

sympathy, anything

at all, complete my job

by having the same,

the same love,

the same accord,

the same mind. It’s

not about me or you;

it’s about others.

Set ambitions aside,

abandon selfishness,

all who are gathered

here. Humble yourself

to count others

more significant than

you are.

 

Photograph by Toa Heftiba via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

These things – artwork by Sonja Benskin Mesher.

 

Single Men with Many Sons: How to Be a Spiritual Father – Scott Hubbard at Desiring God. 

 

Mountain Solitaire: Letter from America, Part 1 – Paul Kingsnorth at The Abbey of Misrule. 

 

On Armistice Sunday – Spitalfields Life.

 

London 11-11-2023 – poem by Susan Jarvis Bryant at Society of Classical Poets.