The Pursuit: Part 3 – Serve the World
The Art of Neighboring Luke 10:25-37 To say we live in interesting times is probably the biggest understatement. Life as we have known it up until six weeks ago, has changed quite drastically. I am sure you have been inundated with information overload – whether it is on social media, the news, the various email and WhatsApp groups you may be in, at work, at school, at the grocery store. Events are being cancelled; our way of life is being curtailed. From
Series: The Pursuit – Love God
By Philipp Meinecke, Guest Preacher Today is a special Sunday in many respects as there are several things coming together all at once. For one, according to the liturgical church calendar today is the first Sunday of Lent – a preparation time for Easter in about six weeks. It’s a season during which we give up certain things and replace them with a more intent focus on our relationship with God. If done right, its spiritual merits become visible not only
Revolutionize Our Lives: Consider Others Better
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. –Philippians 2:3–4 If we get the apostle Paul wrong here, we’ll miss a very important point and, unfortunately, end up in some off-the-wall teaching or heresy. The apostle wants us to avoid the very human (fallen human) tendency to put ourselves first and others second. By nature
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
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
An Advent Devotion: Finding Fearless Faith
By Chaplain Chris Linzey, Guest Author We’ve arrived at the second week of Advent, the time of year we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Messiah at Christmas. This week we’re talking about hope. But what is hope? To many people, hope seems to be nothing more than a pipe dream—a wish. “I hope that I get a raise.” “I hope Uncle Frank doesn’t say anything offensive at Christmas dinner this year.” “I hope….” It’s nothing more than an expression of a wish
Nothing Can Separate Us
This coming Sunday, we’ll be looking at two famous passages of Scripture: Psalm 139 and Romans 8. Both say essentially the same thing in different ways, and since Paul was so familiar with the Psalter, I can’t help but think that he had this particular Psalm in mind when he penned the last part of his chapter. David declares that that there is no place in the universe where God is absent so he is safe and secure because he is
God’s Love: The Best Christmas Gift
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! God is love. We hear this all the time whenever his name is mentioned. We are told in Scripture that his character is the very essence of love. Yet we make the mistake of defining his love in terms of what we habitually think it is, rather than first coming to an understanding what his love actually
Washed Clean
Alastair Hayward, Guest Author A few years ago, on the London Underground there was a sign that asked, ‘If History could be folded, where would you put the crease?’ I think that what the sign was getting at is where is the pivotal or most important point in History for us. That betrays what is most important to us. Is it an Economic view? In which case, you might put the crease during the industrial revolution during the 18th Century. Or,
