'Abba' is an ancient Aramaic word that is used of an intimate, personal, affectionate relationship between a child and his father. We might use the word, Papa. It’s the word that Jesus used in prayer when he spoke to God, and it’s the word that Jesus gives to us in our prayers. The astonishing truth is that we are now also God’s children, and we speak to God the Father with the very same word that Jesus used. We call him Papa.

Yes, I seek to be what Paul called ‘a diligent workman, accurately handling the word’ – there’s no substitute for reading, study, reflection, research, wordsmithing, and careful consideration of applications. And yet, even with all of that labor expertly done, there must be prayer on behalf of the workman. Preaching, after all, is a supernatural activity.

Envy of another's gift & contempt for another's need are both enemies of the fabric of community in the Church. We can say neither "I'm not needed" nor "I don't need you" to others in Christ's Body.

My friends, we can’t give up on the Church for the simple reason that Jesus gave up his life to redeem her. If the Church was worth his blood and is the object of his eternal affection, then surely the Church is worthy of our commitment and our service.