Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 8, Year B (track one)
First Reading 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 (omitted verses in italics) After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 7, Year B (track one)
First Reading 1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 (Optional verses in italics, omitted verses indented) Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 6, Year B (track one)
First Reading 1 Samuel 15:34–16:13 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. The LORD said to […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 5, Year B (track one)
First Reading 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) (optional verses shown in parentheses and italics) Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us […]
Chapter Seven – Staying On the Rails
Healing Ministry can be difficult and/or messy because Holy Spirit empowered ministries are often difficult and/or messy. Paul struggled with the congregation in Corinth because they were too enamored of their spiritual gifts and the church has had difficulties with its Spirit-led members ever since. We will not create problems for the leaders of our […]
Chapter Six – What Do We Do With Failure?
Not everyone we pray for will be immediately, miraculously healed. Not even half of them. I don’t keep count of my own success/failure ratio, but as I said in an earlier chapter, I don’t think my batting average would get me into the major leagues. Randy Clark, the most important of my mentors/teachers in healing […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Proper 4, Year B (track one)
First Reading 1 Samuel 3:1–10 (11-20) Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Trinity Sunday, Year B
First Reading Isaiah 6:1–8 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and […]
The Feast of Pentecost – Year B
First Reading Acts 2:1–21 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of […]
Chapter Five – The Five Step Method
In the preceding chapters I have tried to lay out the kind of foundation for healing prayer that I wish I’d had when I first came to this ministry. It is a bit of this and a bit of that from different ministries with which I’ve been affiliated to one degree or another over my […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year B
First Reading Acts 1:15–17, 21-26 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Feast of the Ascension, All Years
First Reading Acts 1:1–11 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year B
First Reading Acts 10:44–48 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year B
First Reading Acts 8:26–40 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, […]
Chapter Four – Things That Help and Things That Hinder
Faith It is beyond question that Faith plays a role in bringing healing to a person, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Jesus is very clear that having faith for healing brought it about for some people. While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B
First Reading Acts 4:5–12 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name […]
