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For many years, Tony Campolo spent much of his time traveling around the world as an inspirational Christian speaker. His wife, Peggy, on the other hand, chose to be a stay at home mom. Occasionally, when Peggy traveled with her husband, she would find herself engaged in conversations with some pretty impressive and influential people.

After one such trip, Peggy told Tony that sometimes as she visits with these powerful people… she finds herself feeling intimidated and sometimes even questioning her own self-worth. Tony said to her: “Well, honey, why don’t you come up with something you could say when you meet people that will let them know that you strongly value what you do and you feel that it crucially important.

Not long after that, they were at a party where a woman said to Peggy in a rather condescending tone, “Well, my dear, what do you do?” Tony heard his wife say:

“I am nurturing two Homo Sapiens into the dominant values of the Judaeo-Christian tradition in order that they might become instruments for the transformation of the social order into the kind of eschatological utopia God envisioned from the beginning of time.”

And the other woman said: “O, my, I’m just a lawyer.”

Of course, not all moms – or dads can do that! But today, let us give thanks to God for all parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches and mentors who sacrifice in ways large and small for the good of children, and for all who have helped plant seeds of faith.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”

Let us pray: We thank you for those who made a difference in our lives when we were children. And today help us to be a bright light for others — to shine a little love, hope, and grace through our words, though our generosity and through our actions. May we be a sign of your Kingdom; though Christ our Lord. Amen.

Got Hope? Tell us why? Visit us on our website or Facebook for details.

Famous anthropologist Margaret Meed was once asked about the earliest sign of civilization in any given culture. Surprisingly, the answer was not a clay pot or a fish hook or even a grinding stone. Instead she said it was “a healed femur.” The femur, of course, is the leg bone below the knee.

Mead explained that no healed femurs are found where a survival of the fittest mentality reigns. A healed femur shows that someone cared. Someone had to do that injured person’s hunting and gathering until the leg healed. The evidence of compassion, she said, is the first sign of civilization.

While we have come along way in terms of civilization, when we look at the world around us, we realize that still have a long way to go in terms of compassion.

French geologist, philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teihard de Chardin once wrote, “Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”

Let us pray: We want to harness the energies of love for you, O God. In our own lives, we pray for healing and wholeness. Meet us at the deepest point of our need today. And then even as we are being healed, help us to be compassionate, merciful and loving to others; for we remember that it is in giving that we receive. Amen.

“Today’s message was written by my friend, Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.” -Joe

Friend of Dial Hope, how are you dealing with worry? Worry is a major contributor to physical illness. But we must not confuse worry with concern. We should be concerned about the conditions of the world, the plight of the poor, the diseased, the abuse of children. We should be concerned about our health. Sometimes worry is destructive. God’s resources are at our own disposal, and God is anxious to help, for worry cannot live in an atmosphere saturated with God’s unconditional love. Remember these words of scripture, the Bible, which I call the Manufacturer’s Handbook:

Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your own requests be made to God (Philippians 4:6).

I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:15).

Cast all your anxiety on God … because God cares for you (l Peter 5:7).

My grace is sufficient for you (Il Corinthians 12:9).

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God (Romans 8:28).

The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid (Hebrews 13:6).

Friend of Dial Hope, when you and God are working together, you can live without worry!

Let us pray: God of gentle dreams and awesome space, cultivate in our hearts a faith that is tall and sure. Create in us a spirit that overcomes hopelessness. No mind is without doubt or worry and we would not ask for that. May we believe enough in your Spirit of Grace to risk the hurt of love in order to find the joy of love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Got Hope? Tell us why? Visit us on our website or Facebook for details.

In her book, Traveling Mercies, Anne LaMott shares a story from her pastor about a time when her best friend got lost as a little girl. “The little girl ran up and down the streets of the big town where they lived, but she couldn’t find a single landmark. She was very frightened. Finally a policeman stopped to help her. He put her in the passenger seat of his car, and they drove around until she finally saw her church. She pointed it out to the policeman, and then she told him firmly, ‘You could let me out now. This is my church, and I can always find my way home from here.’”

LaMott picks up on the metaphor and says, “That’s why I have stayed so close to mine – because no matter how bad I am feeling, how lost or lonely or frightened, when I see the faces of the people at my church, and hear their tawny voices, I can always find my way home.”

We all need people in our lives who help us feel at home with ourselves and the world around us. We all need people who will comfort us and encourage us and even challenge us to live better.

Some of us have returned to church after an extended period of social distancing. Others of us, have not yet been able to return. Whatever the case is for you, I pray today that you would find ways to stay connected to your faith community. Even if you can’t be with them in person, make the effort – so that when you are lost or scared, or confused, or hurting, you always can find your way home.

Let us pray: God of Hope, we long for deep meaningful relationships. We long for people who know us and accept us for who we are. We long for others with whom we can share life’s joys and burdens. In these difficult times, so full of health concerns, help us find creative ways of staying in touch. As we offer our time, our love, our acceptance, our listening ears and caring hearts, fill us again with your grace and hope. We ask in Jesus name. Amen.

Got Hope? Tell us why? Visit us on our website or Facebook for details.

I heard about an African American in the 1960’s who tried to attend a church that was known for its wealth and prestige. Sadly, the church wouldn’t even let him attend a service. He went to talk to the pastor about it. The pastor said to him, “You just need to pray about it, and the Lord’s going to give you the reason.” About three weeks later the pastor saw him and asked, “Did you talk to the Lord about it?” The Man said, “Yes I did. And Jesus said, ‘Don’t take it personally. I’ve been trying to get in that church for 20 years and I still can’t get in!’”

We’ve come a long way in our country since the 1960’s. Thanks be to God! But obviously, we also still have a long way to go. The book of Revelation reminds us that in the kingdom of heaven, there will be people speaking every language. There will be people from every nation and race. How beautiful is that!

Today, let us pray for healing among any and all lines that divide us.

Let us pray: Loving God, we realize that you must love diversity, for you have created us in a variety of shapes and sizes, with various hues of skin and hair, with varying degrees of gifts and interests. We thank you that we are not all the same, and we praise you for your sense of beauty. Today, we do pray for healing between people of different races and nationalities. We pray for the healing of old wounds and prejudices. We long for the day when we will all sit with you in the kingdom of heaven and eat together as one. Touch us once again with your grace and unconditional love. Help us to accept that love and to share it. Amen.