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Dear friends:
Resolutions are so yesterday, now replaced by the slippery notion of "intention." I suppose diluting nomenclature is one way to fend off guilt, but I can’t shake echoes of my grandmother’s voice warning me — because I often needed it — “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” The issue, really, is follow-through, endurance, perseverance, all words characterizing the staying power required to continue down our "intended" course.
By now, most of us are probably wobbling on our New Year’s “intentions,” some of which may have spiritual implications. I doubt I’m the only one who set an intention to pray more and talk less, read more and scroll less, walk more and eat less in the coming year. And for the first week I mostly did it. But now…
The issue is hardly new, and we’ll explore it through the use of an unusual passage in which one of the Apostle Paul’s disciples wrote early Christians who were struggling to persevere in their walk of faith. It’s a reminder that we have tools (“weapons”, he actually calls them) to help us stay sufficiently spiritually nourished in an oft-depleting environment.
Katherine Kerr will preach on this passage in the 8:45 chapel service, where we’ll also celebrate a baptism. I’ll preach on this passage in the sanctuary services, where we’ll ordain and install our newest class of elders. It promises to be another strong Sunday at Covenant.
Come, and bring a friend.
Bob Henderson
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