Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 52 – Anger and Patience
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all: he has compassion on all he has made. -Psalm 145:8-9 "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…" Not only a sweet sound, but, "What a relief! God could have been anything he wanted to be, but he is actually gracious and compassionate. In our Western or 'Christianized' world we're so used to hearing about 'amazing grace' that it doesn't seem so amazing anymore." "…Whatever pain
Your 100 Day Prayer: Day 30 – As Far As the East Is from the West
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"—and you forgave the guilt of my sin. -Psalm 32:5 It's not easy to acknowledge our sins and discuss our faults and weaknesses with God. So why must we do it? "Why is it so necessary to our spiritual health?" His answer is simple: "It's because without confession there is no forgiveness—and God's grace and forgiveness are the foundation of
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
Ash Wednesday: Mercy and Grace
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. -Daniel 9:9 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? -Romans 2:4 There’s no other place except in God’s character where both perfect justice and perfect mercy are balanced. We can’t try to measure his grace and mercy, or any other part of his personality, by our standards or experience—there is no other example
From the Pastor: In 2020—Plan for Joy
We plan for everything in our lives: education, career, children, school, marriage, babies, taxes, and even death. The Westminster Catechism asks us: What is the chief end of man? The answer, of course, is: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. So do you plan for joy and enjoying God in your life? The article, Laughter is the Best Medicine: The Health Benefits of Humor and Laughter, points out the benefits of being joyful: Humor is
The Church of Irresistible Influence – Part 2
By Philipp Meinecke Jesus used many compelling and vivid metaphors to describe the Church and its intended influence and function in the world: A city set on a hill. Visible event to the untrained eye. A lamp bringing light even into the darkest of rooms. A beautiful bride made ready for her husband. A house, in which those far and near find a home. Salt to season and preserve. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the early Church presented such a
