From the Pastor: Never Give Up!
Luke 11:5-13: A Friend at Night And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you
From the Pastor: How Great Is Your God?
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. - Psalm 89 Do you feel that whatever is going on in your life is just too great or too much for you to handle? When the ancient Hebrews faced a big problem, it was customary for them to look up into the night sky and to contemplate the immense size of the universe and the unimaginable power of
From the Pastor: God Feels Our Pain
“Jesus wept,” are some of the most powerful words that we find in Scripture. Jesus is weeping at the death of Lazarus, even though he knows he’s about to raise him from the dead. So why is he weeping when inexpressible joy and the most astonishing miracle in his ministry is about to occur? Jesus could well have said to Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, “Why are you grieving so much? I’m about to show you how little a thing death is.” But
From the Pastor: Love, Suffering, Grief, and Joy: The Last Four Days of Holy Week
If you were asked to associate one word each for the four days from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, what would those four words be? For me, they are as follows: Maundy Thursday – Love A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. –John 13:34 Jesus’ new commandment is intended for the disciples’ welfare, for them to enjoy lives of meaning and purpose. In his ministry, he gives us a model
Faith in Action: Becoming a True Musterbrecher!
by Will Powell, Guest Author What does the Bible tell us about putting what we believe, and what do we understand about God’s Guidance into action? Considering James 1:1-4, 19-27. James, the brother of Jesus, who obviously received a lot of respect in the early Church, was able to write his letter with authority “to the 12 tribes." Although he was not a disciple prior to Jesus crucifixion, Jesus appeared to him after his resurrection, and he became close to Peter so
About the Father’s Business: Fully Embracing and Engaging Jesus’ Mission and Vision for Your Life
By Philipp Meinecke Guest Author 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going
From the Pastor: A Friend of God
Are you a friend of God? Have you ever thought of what that might mean? Or, did you even know that all of us are supposed to be God’s friends? Abraham was called the friend of God. Jesus called his disciples his friends. The idea is thoroughly biblical and is very striking, since it isn’t a topic of daily conversation and is not found in other religions. The grounds for our friendship with God and Jesus are clear and profound: Abraham
Epiphany: Wise Men Still Seek Him
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them
2020: Nothing Will Separate Us from the Love of God
Well, that was 2019. And what a year it was! For Shirin, Sarah, Stephanie, and me, it was one of the most memorable on record, packed with surprises—the good and the bad. Do you remember reading Paul’s list of unexpected events in his life? Thankfully, ours was not close to that! Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was
From the Pastor: Trust in the Lord
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5–6 The above is one of my favorite passages. Life would be much easier and more positive if we could do what it says we should. The advice for us, as well as the promise, is clear enough: Have complete trust in God’s faithfulness, never depend upon our own perceptions and understanding
