19 Comments
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Ms Liz's avatar

Well said, Jake! Hope you've vanquished the virus. Take care.

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Jake Owensby's avatar

Thanks, Liz! Feeling much better. Heading out to Iowa Monday to lead the Clergy Conference.

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George Bond's avatar

Our rector is not doing a Lenten program so a couple of us who want one were talking and I mentioned your book. My suggestion was taken and I ordered a copy first to check out the discussion pages and get back to them.

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George Bond's avatar

Bishop another topic preceded me and in mid-March I send info on the book to my rector as she plans post Easter, I plan to read it and look at the questions, I am at St Michael the Archangel in DioLex

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Jake Owensby's avatar

Thanks George. Would love to hear how the discussion questions strike you

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Aussie Jo's avatar

We can't change the whole word, all we can do is offer help to change little things in our own part the world

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Jake Owensby's avatar

My faith is that God weaves together all that we do in Christ's name, all those small things that may look so insignificant, into the healing of the world.

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Reverend Madge McLain's avatar

Grateful to you for your sharing, Bishop. These are words to fill a soul when the tank is about empty. Thank you.

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Jake Owensby's avatar

You’re doing one heck of a ministry for somebody with a full tank! Grateful for you

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Mary W. Cox's avatar

Once again, your words are much needed for me. My husband is still in the hospital--it's been three weeks, and we're hopeful for no more setbacks, but I have felt that with all the needs there are, I've done *nothing*. I've had to say no to (or forgotten) ministries I'd normally have taken part in, and I haven't done the things I *could* do (calling my congressional representatives), being too distracted. This is all a huge example of a question that's been haunting me: Is old age a *reason* or an *excuse* for stepping back from so much "doing"? I am feeling lazy and selfish, and grateful for your reminder that we can always do *something*--I will look for that something today.

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Jake Owensby's avatar

Mary, you’ve been carrying a heavy emotional, spiritual, and physical load. Caring for a loved one, walking together through illness and setbacks, hoping together for a better day…. these are all “something” deeply significant. Every now and then I say that it’s precisely the people who tell me they worry about being lazy that I never worry about being lazy.

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Mary W. Cox's avatar

Thank you! I think I dumped the whole load in your direction this morning, and I am grateful for your response. And I hope you are feeling better--I didn't notice your voice being scratchy, but you mentioned that you had some kind of virus.

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Jake Owensby's avatar

Thanks Mary I’m feeling much better

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Ruth Leigh's avatar

Our tiny mustard seeds planted in good faith and consistently here and there when and wherever we can — have the potential, infused with God’s presence, to provide comfort, shelter, and food, both physical and spiritual, for many who we may never see or even know about.

The grandchildren and I were talking about this recently as we created together a parable of the mustard seed collage.

Thanks for your reaffirming message.

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Jake Owensby's avatar

What a wonderful project with you grandchildren! It makes this grandfather's heart glad

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Ruth Leigh's avatar

🙏😊

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Nancy Shaw's avatar

Often when I am listening to you in the quiet of the early morning as I drink my coffee with the cat on my lap and the birds singing outside, I hear a phrase in a new way. Today it was "God removes spiritual burdens." Something else for me to ponder...

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Jake Owensby's avatar

I believe I should also add that God let’s us keep them, struggle with them, and grow from them as well.

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Nancy Shaw's avatar

True!

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