Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.
by Kathi
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Luke 6: 37-49
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
He also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, firtst take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
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Remembering those suffering in war-torn Syria.
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you from the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.
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Feel free to join the discussion.
You can share your church struggles and concerns.
Let’s also use it as a time to encourage one another spiritually.
What have you found spiritually encouraging lately?
Do you have any special Bible verses to share, any YouTube songs that you have found uplifting?
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photo credit: Brian – The Enchantments – Washington
Spiritual Sounding Board 
Thank you Kathi for putting together another wonderful Sunday Gathering of Scripture verses and songs! You always do beautiful work and we all really appreciate what you do in helping Julie Anne with the blog!
Since we have recently been dealing with searing, painful cases of the sexual abuse of children in the church, betrayals of them and their families, and the heaping on of spiritual abuse by church leaders (pastors/elders) and church members, I wanted to give an encouraging song.
Here is American Bluesman Eric Bibb, originally from New York City but he now lives in Finland with his wife, singing “Don’t Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down”. This was filmed in Scotland for the BBC Television series Transatlantic Sessions and was co-produced by Jerry Douglas from the US.
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A beautiful Jazz version of “Walk With Me (Lord)” sung by Lizz Wright. Ms. Wright was born and raised in an little town in Georgia. She grew up singing Gospel in the church that her father pastored; her mother was the music director. Ms. Wright developed a love of Jazz and The Blues which she pursued in college.
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FC Barnes & The Barnes Family “Take Your Burdens To Jesus”
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^Sorry, the incorrect link posted.
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Thanks for the extra music, Velour! I admit this has been an exhausting week for me. I’ve seen too many stories of pastors arrested for child abuse or some other abuse and it feels like it will never end. Thank goodness for excellent music!
Stay safe out there tonight folks! With this blood moon and lunar eclipse, there may be trouble brewing! Most likely, though, it will just be a normal evening that almost everyone will sleep through.
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Welcome, Kathi! Yes, it has been an exhausting week – or is it a few or maybe even months – of tragic stories of abuse in the church. Jesus weeps. And so do the rest of us!
Hugs,
Velour
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American Bluesman Eric Bibb singing “In My Father’s House”.
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For those who want to listen to longer sessions of music…here is the link to the Transatlantic Sessions that were filmed in Scotland for the BBC with musicians from Europe and the US (and perhaps other countries, I haven’t watched all of the episodes yet).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00gtlnv/episodes/guide
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Full concert of American Bluesman Eric Bibb singing in Sydney, Australia.
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Full length concert of American Jazz singer Lizz Wright singing in Salzau, Germany.
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Thanks Dash for posting that song!
By the way, didn’t you post previously that you play the guitar? Have you ever thought of joining a band or some kind of informal gig? Just hangin’ out and playin’.
Seems like it might be good for your soul.
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Velour, thank you for the suggestion. As a matter of fact, I’m a full-time professional musician. Playing in groups definitely helps me keep my head above water.
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@Dash,
Oh that’s awesome! I wondered what you did since you said you came home to your cats.
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@Dash,
I listen to a wide genre of music, including Bluegrass. I have a great Bluegrass tribute to SRV called “Pickin’ on Stevie Ray Vaughan”.
I listen to SRV when I clean house! Too fun! Makes the chores go by much faster when you’re smiling, singin’, rockin’ out, and dancin’.
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I love the “Pickin On” series. I used to know David West, actually, one of the producers of that series and a brutal guitar player.
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Oh very cool, Dash!
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