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
Martin Wiles’ Lessons for Children: Jesus Wants Me to Love and Help Others
Martin Wiles’ Lessons for Youth and Children Scripture Reference: The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” -Mark 12:31 Related Scripture Reference: Luke 16:19-31 19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover,
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
Make Love Your Aim: Today, Tomorrow, and Always!
Love is patient, kind, never jealous, boastful, arrogant, or rude. It never insists on its own way, is not irritable, pouty, or peevish. Love is never resentful, and so much more (Read the entire 1 Corinthians 13). But what if things don't go our way? What then? Think about it: at first the call to love appears simple. But usually by the time we get to the end of the catalogue of what love implies it becomes pretty obvious that whatever we
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
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
An Advent Devotion: What’s Love Got to Do With It?
By Guest Author, Chaplain Chris Linzey Let's face it, we live in a love-saturated culture. Everywhere you turn you see television shows, movies, magazines, books, and other products all designed to get us to buy/watch/read by appealing to our desire to tap into love. It's especially bad in our music. While I don't have the exact number, the great majority of songs on the radio have to do with some aspect of love. Can you identify these famous love songs from
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
