When Jesus saw his first disciples, he said, “Come follow me, and I’ll make you fishers of men.” Little did they know it would take three short years of apprenticeship before they fully understood the vision he had for their lives. He invited them, and then he showed them what reaching others really felt like. […]
Read More »But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. A few years ago, I returned to the church on a Sunday afternoon and saw one of my friends in the parking lot leaving with a stuffed duck. I assumed the toy was for his 3 year old. He confessed, “Our son left the […]
Read More »Deep calls to deep. Someone suffering from depression know the waves of despair the Psalmist describes. She can remember a time when going to God’s house was delightful. She sang the songs with a smile on her face and read scripture in worship. She’s been lying in bed all night long remembering those days. She’s […]
Read More »But the Lord was with Joseph. The path to success in the Christian life is downward. While the rest of society seeks to climb higher, preserving what little control they have on their family and future, believers are willing to descend to the depths. Consider Joseph, while on the upward path of power through the […]
Read More »For the grace of God has appeared. The word “appeared” in Titus 2:11 means “an epiphany.” Normally we would say, “I had an epiphany,” or “I suddenly realized something I had missed all along.” Pastor Titus says, “God’s grace has an epiphany for you. It helps you realize something that you’d missed all along. God’s […]
Read More »First be reconciled to your brother or sister. People treat religion the way that most teenagers treat parental boundaries. They follow the rules while asking, “How much can I do without getting grounded for life?” Jesus saw our faith and the people in our world as an ongoing love relationship with him. Righteousness for believers […]
Read More »Thank you for a tremendous morning of service at Helping Hands last Saturday. I’m so grateful for our property and maintenance committee, our maintenance staff, as well as John Rice and Hannah Watt for putting together a great day to clean the buildings and grounds. November is a month to remember why we have so […]
Read More »If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit A child came into my office last week to talk about his decision to become a Christian. He asked me a great question, “How did sin start?” Paul tells us how. Sin is anything that causes my life to be focused […]
Read More »Suffering produces endurance. God doesn’t cause suffering; but some forms of suffering can train us, give us endurance, and produce character and hope in us. Consider the kind of suffering an athlete or a student has in a difficult sport or class. A person doesn’t learn because he wins every race or passes every course. […]
Read More »I keep the Lord always before me. In Jewish literature, the ancient rabbis describe God’s presence as “The Place.” Echoing Psalm 16, God’s presence is a location where we find hope, strength, and protection. When we are in God’s presence, we are in his place. Christians believe that our bodies are God’s temple, and we […]
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