Pastor’s Blog

Daily Devotion June 21, 2023

Posted on Jun 21, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6, NIV)

My wedding gift to Cathy was Annabelle. Annabelle was a timid but loving Lhasa Apso. Annabelle also had a need of frequent grooming. Being a young, poor seminary family, I offered to trim Annabelle’s mane. Cathy was hesitant. I reassured my wife that cutting a dog’s hair is just like trimming bushes. Sadly, I recognized too late that unlike bushes, dogs tend to wiggle when running a pair of shears over their skin. Poor Annabelle came away from the experience looking like she’d been in a fight with Edward Scissorhands.

Daily Devotion June 20, 2023

Posted on Jun 20, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“So, Jacob slept with Rachel, too, and he loved her more than Leah, and stayed and worked the additional seven years.” (Genesis 29:30, TLB)

An agreement was reached. Jacob consented to marry Leah and her sister. But things were just about to get really complicated. The Scripture claims that Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah. Remember, Rachel is a supermodel. Rachel was Jacob’s fantasy come to life. Leah, however, did not live up to Jacob’s fantastical expectations. This is the point at which Jacob’s marriage to Leah (his first wife) began to jump the tracks.

Daily Devotion June 16, 2023

Posted on Jun 16, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete” (Matthew 5:48, NIV).

One of the questions to which I responded when ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church was this: Are you going on to perfection? Sanctification or holiness is one of the three theological strands that tied together what John Wesley called the “way of salvation.” Wesley believed that through the work of the Holy Spirit, God is reforming the human spirit into the image of Christ, the author and perfecter of the Christian faith (see Hebrews 12:2).

Daily Devotion June 15, 2023

Posted on Jun 15, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“…whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.” (John 5:19, CEB)

Narcissus is a Greek mythological character who was physically handsome and unmatched in human beauty. Narcissus was led to a pool of calm water. Like a mirror, when Narcissus stared into the water, he saw his stunning reflection. He couldn’t turn away from looking at himself. Some sources claim that Narcissus eventually died from loneliness because he couldn’t see anyone beyond himself.

Daily Devotion June 14, 2023

Posted on Jun 14, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“Jesus [himself] is the kindness of God.” (Titus 3:4)

Pastor Stuart Briscoe tells the story of his experience in Chicago. As he approached the Windy City in a rental car, he noted that the tank was getting low on gas. However, the gauge was a little off because suddenly the car came to an abrupt halt. The timing couldn’t have been worse. Stuart Briscoe found himself stuck in the fast lane on the freeway in the middle of rush hour. And it was raining sideways.

So, as Dr. Briscoe climbed out of his car, he was greeted by a chorus of horns all expressing their displeasure. People were yelling out of their windows with expletives just to fill him in on the details. Then suddenly, an old, dilapidated car pulled alongside Stuart’s vehicle. The driver rolled down his window and said a few words in broken English.

Daily Devotion June 13, 2023

Posted on Jun 13, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, NKJV)

Recently, four Indigenous children from the Huitoto people were rescued in the Amazon jungle in Columbia. The youngsters ranged from eleven months to thirteen years of age. The foursome survived a plane crash that took the lives of three adults, including the children’s mother.