Devotions

Welcome ​ Welcome to Above All Love. This is Simply Fellowship — the Good News, quietly told. ​This is a gentle space. No pressure, no performance. You don't need to have answers about buildings or belonging, or about where God is or isn't. You don't need to have a church to come back to, or feel the loss of one that has gone. ​You're welcome exactly as you are, wherever you are reading this — in a home, in a garden, on a phone in a waiting room, or anywhere else entirely. ​If you need to read slowly, or stop and come back — that's completely fine. There's no right way to be here. Just be here. ​Hymn ​ We begin with a hymn verse. Read it slowly. You might want to sit with each line before moving on. ​O thou not made with hands, Not throned above the skies, Nor walled with shining walls, Nor framed with stones of price, More bright than gold or gem, God's own Jerusalem. — F. T. Palgrave ​Prayer ​Living God, ​Thank you that you are not conf...

The "Security" Paradox: Why the Christian "Third Way" is Disappearing ​The debate over the West Bank often hits a wall of very real fear: the concern that a power vacuum would inevitably be filled by Hamas. This is a security challenge that no one—regardless of their politics—can ignore. ​But as we move through early 2026, there is a perspective from the ground that is missing from this high-level debate. For the Christian community in the Holy Land, the current definition of "security" has become a vice, squeezing the life out of one of the world's oldest faith communities. ​1. The Paradox of Presence ​The military presence in the West Bank is often framed as a shield against a Hamas takeover. However, for those living there, this presence is resulting in the very thing security is meant to prevent: the loss of innocent life and the destabilization of daily existence. ​When snipers are positioned on the roof of a Christian school or tear gas cani...

The "how" of war does not change the "what" of suffering. Regardless of the political lens through which one views the Middle East, a devastating reality has emerged in early 2026: we are witnessing the potential erasure of one of the world’s oldest Christian communities. ​From the besieged ruins of Gaza to the volatile streets of the West Bank and the rocket-strained Galilee, the word "safety" has become a relic of the past. ​Gaza: A Community on the Brink ​Before the current conflict, the Christian community in Gaza was already tiny—roughly 1,000 people . Today, that number is shrinking at a rate that signals an existential threat. ​ The Casualty Count: Nearly 5% of Gaza’s entire Christian population has been killed in just over two years. ​ Direct Military Action: Approximately 25–35 Christians have died due to airstrikes, shelling, or sniper fire. This includes the 18 people lost during the October 2023 strike on the St. Porphyrius Greek Orth...

The question that comes up almost every year:  Is Easter pagan? Yes, a little bit.  But before you either panic or gloat about that, sit down — because Easter is actually the least interesting part of this story. The word Easter almost certainly derives from Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. The eggs and the bunny were her symbols long before they were in any chocolate shop. The date floats around the spring equinox, tied to the first full moon after it — a calculation that would have felt very familiar to any ancient nature-worshipper. So yes, there's pagan DNA in Easter. A little bit. But here's the thing. If Easter's pagan borrowings bother you, you have a much bigger problem. Because the rabbit hole goes a great deal deeper than one spring holiday. The calendar on your wall is entirely pagan. Every day of the week is named after a pagan deity. Sunday honours the Sun. Monday the Moon. Tuesday is Tyr, the Norse god of war. Wednesday is Woden — the An...

The Context (1840) In 1840, a group of believers at Oberlin formed a society based on a radical interpretation of the Gospel. Their manifesto, the Declaration of Sentiments , argued that because Christ is the "Prince of Peace," His followers must totally abandon "carnal weapons." They believed that any government sustained by force, any military action (even defensive), and any legal retaliation (lawsuits) were "anti-Christian" and contrary to the spirit of Jesus. ​ The Scripture ​ "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other also." — Matthew 5:39 ​ The Devotional Reflection ​ 1. Trading Force for Forbearance The Oberlin Society’s constitution was built on the belief that a Christian’s work is not to control others by force, but to "win them to the obedience of the Gospel by love." They argued that the only way to overcome the enmity of the world is t...

For those from Reformed, Anabaptist, or Quaker backgrounds, the "Sign of the Cross" often feels like something belonging to "someone else’s" church. We are people of the Word, the Spirit, and the Inner Light. Yet, there is a deep, historical hunger to involve the body in our devotion—to find a "physical Amen" for our faith. ​Beyond its historical roots, the Sign of the Cross serves as a powerful form of non-verbal communication . In a faith that is often "word-heavy," these gestures offer a visible language that transcends literacy levels and provides a grounding, sensory experience for neurodivergent individuals (ASN) or those who find vocal prayer a challenge. ​1. The Small Cross: The Secret Sign of the Martyrs ​The absolute oldest layer of Christian ritual dates back to the 2nd century, long before there were cathedrals or complex liturgies. In the era of Roman persecution, Christians used their right thumb to trace a tiny cross on their f...