Archives For Christianity

Love Every Minute

smgianotti  —  January 9, 2015
                  Every minute we’re called to love.
                  Many hours we’re called to serve. 
                  Some days we’re called to lead. 
 
                  But we only truly lead
                      during the days that we’ve been serving 
                   And we only truly serve
                      during the hours that we’ve been loving   
 
                         –Adapted from conversations with Dr. Reg Grant, Dallas Theological Seminary  
 

2729 Love Photo courtesy of Reinhard Komanapalli via creationswap.com

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A Good Day to Indulge the Senses

smgianotti  —  January 5, 2015

The sun seeped through my jeans, warming my legs, as I lounged on the sofa and waited for my espresso to brew. One of Mom’s holiday shortbread cookies–edible gold and made from a recipe passed down by my Scottish ancestors (or so I like to think)–waited patiently on a napkin.

 

Yesterday was a good day for relaxing, and for indulging the senses. Hearing espresso bubble its way up through the Moka Express. Pinching up remnant crumbs from the napkin and breathing the rich steam of roasted beans. Savoring the espresso’s complexity and the shortbread’s sweetness. Watching sunbeams fall into my apartment (and remembering me how badly I need to dust).

 

22940 Coffee Cup on a Window SillPhoto courtesy of Kelly Sikkima via creationswap.com

Life bursts with sensory experiences–gratuitous, copious, and lavish moments that speckle each day.

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Christmas: God is on the Move

smgianotti  —  December 21, 2014

Yesterday, two police men were assassinated in New York due to racial tension, ISIS continued to bleed its violence across Syria, and nearly 21 million people lived trafficked as sex slaves.

 

Right about now, I need to be reminded that God hasn’t forgotten Revelation 21:4—his promise to remove death and sadness and pain. I need proof that God is on the move, which means that I need Christmas.

 

HOPE

Photo courtesy of Chris Vasquez via creationswap.com

 

About 2,000 years ago, two pregnant women embraced—a virgin teenager named Mary and her post-menopausal relative, Elizabeth. Two miraculous pregnancies. One God in utero. 

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A Long Time Coming

smgianotti  —  December 18, 2014

Rsz 1rsz 27342 shiny presentPhoto courtesy of Jason Watson via creationswap.com

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son…” Luke 1:13 

The smell of yeast met Zechariah at the door. Elizabeth’s back was still turned, her wrinkled hands kneading and stretching the dough. As she stopped to push a strand of gray hair behind her ear, Zechariah’s heart skipped a beat.

God had heard all those years of prayer—the nights when Zechariah had begged God for a child and Elizabeth had wept herself to sleep, the nights they had prayed together while he had stroked her dark hair. When the townspeople began to say that God was punishing them, Zechariah and Elizabeth had kept praying. They prayed for years. Then, when her flow stopped, so did their prayers.

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Foot Problems, Paperwork, and Prayer

smgianotti  —  December 16, 2014

Paperwork e1418702769496

 

September 2014

 

I locked the office door and turned toward my car. The movie theater, with its sea of windshields glittering under the lamp light, greeted me. I crumpled into the driver’s seat and massaged my neck, trying to release the lead ball suspended between my shoulders.

 

Ten minutes later, the smell of fries—hot from the wire basket—filled the car.

 

“Why does it take me three hours to do paperwork?” I mumbled, cramming a fry into my mouth.

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Exodus: Gods and Kings…Worth $11.50?

smgianotti  —  December 14, 2014
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Photo by Paul Burger via creationswap.com

After going to the movies last night to see Exodus: Gods and Kings (and recalling the strain that Noah put on church-theater relations earlier this year), I decided to create a quick guide to help movie-goers decide whether they should risk $11.50 on Hollywood’s latest foray into the Pentateuch. Here it is:

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