Reflections
Since the beginning of the coronavirus my mind has returned time and again the ancient, often-repeated insight and promise found in II Chronicles 7:14:
… 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
This Scripture, understood in the full context of God’s word, provides not only a promise of healing but guidance for our prayer.
Seven days; thirty-four dead, sixty-five injured and a nation once more traumatized. What should Christians do?
A draining cycle of conflict now grips the United Methodist Church. This past February that conflict was exposed in all its raw pain at the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference. As time distances us from the emotion of St. Louis perhaps we can see something more than accusations, recrimination, and claims of harm Read More…
Not long after leaving worship this past Sunday we began receiving reports of the mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. We now know that twenty-six people died and ten others were wounded. Violence once again shocked us and our world. My heart was broken as I heard the initial news and Read More…
Many believe we live in a time of increased incivility both in society and in the church. A plethora of evidence lies only a tweet, Facebook post, or op-ed news cast away. I am inclined to believe that human beings are neither more nor less capable of incivility now than we ever were. Rather, more Read More…
Our time together began as a pleasant time for our son, Geoff, to join his grandmother and parents for a sumptuous Christmas luncheon at a fashionable restaurant in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Our time concluded with a poignant and graphic reminder of the fragile and temporary nature of our very lives. Our four-top table was situated Read More…
Welcome to gregorystover.com and Reflections from Coveside Cottage. For years I claimed that I would write more. In recent years, I have pondered a blog again and again. Ideas would come. Then sermons to write, classes to teach, people to care for, leadership to offer in the local church, as well as other reading and Read More…