Dust in the Wind—Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Perhaps you remember the old song, “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas. The point of it was that human beings are merely dust in the wind, nothing more—here today, gone tomorrow. And, when it’s all over, that’s about all there is to say: Same old song Just a drop of water in an endless sea All we do Crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see Dust in the wind All we are is dust in the wind It’s pretty depressing, but there is some stark
From the Pastor: Live Beyond Your Means
This might sound like reckless, insane advice during the worst global economic crisis many of us have ever witnessed. But I’m not talking here about disregarding your family budget, irrational spending, or overreaching in your personal finances. Instead, my challenge is to those who decide how much they can afford to give, and then plan their mission according to that allowance and never going beyond that. Like people, we have churches like this. These churches never take a risk. They never dream
Love One Another: A Human Impossibility Today?
The Bible is full of references to the subject of love in its connection with faith, so that we receive the correct impression that true love is in direct relation to its Author, God himself. Without God’s nearness true love is not possible, and the greater the distance from him the greater the level of distortion of that love. In the Chapter 13 of the Gospel of John, as well as in Chapter 13 of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church,
Call God: The 24/7 Direct Prayer Line
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies
From the Pastor: Grateful to God
Do we have plenty to complain about? Yes, absolutely. Any one of us could create a long list of things of what we want, but don’t have. Very easily, we can enumerate lengthy, detailed reasons why not to be thankful. In any given situation, we can find plenty to criticize and find fault with. But we need to concentrate on what God has given us and how blessed we truly are. An exercise in gratitude will help change our perspective on things and
From the Pastor: The Antidote to a Very Bad Day
We give Jesus our sins to bear and he credits us with his righteousness. So God looks upon us as he would his own Son. Believers get full credit for Jesus’ perfection even though they’re anything but perfect. But there’s more.
Where Two or Three Are Gathered…Or Not!
Technology! It’s everything today—more than we ever realized! And it’s redefining everything in life: how we relate to each other, parent our children, do our school work, and carry on our day-to-day business. Virtually everyone walking down the street is transfixed by the little screen in the palm of their hand. But when it comes to God, the fundamental fact dwarfing all other facts in the universe, everything seems upside down. To our fast-lane world, the careful study, contemplation, and enjoyment
From the Pastor: I Just Don’t Have the Time!
“I’m too busy, it’s overwhelming me.” “I just don’t have the time. No kidding.” “I know I promised to get back to you, but…” “There aren’t enough hours in the day to get things done.” As a pastor, I regularly hear that the busyness and demands of life today are just too overwhelming to live a happy, healthy life. Parents of young children are too busy helping with homework, parents of youth are preoccupied with their issues as well as ensuring their children are
From the Pastor: The Destructive Power of Negative Internal Dialogue
Hatred of self—of the way we look, the way others see us, the way we see ourselves—guarantees misery. Sometimes our own negative internal dialogue can be worse than anything anyone can say to, or about, us. In a Glamour (Shocking Body-Image News: 97% of Women Will Be Cruel to Their Bodies Today) magazine survey, it was reported that young women had about 13 negative body-shaming thoughts a day! Does this survey shock you? It’s not just women; you might be surprised
From the Pastor: How Do We Discern God’s Guidance in Adversity?
For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. -Psalm 48:14 In talking to friends here and back in the USA, through this time of lockdown, stressful situations, and restrictions, it appears many are seeking God’s guidance and help. So how do we discern God's guidance? What we learn from others is that God’s leading “was done in such a way that I couldn’t possibly have missed the point. The whole experience
