Pastor’s Blog

Daily Devotion Dec. 19, 2023

Posted on Dec 19, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“At just the right time when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6, NIV).

Sometimes we make life harder than need be. I once met a young woman named Julie who struggled over her relationship with God. She hadn’t been to worship in several months. When I inquired as to her reasons she replied, “God would never accept me the way I am. I need to get my life together before I can approach Him.”

Daily Devotion Dec. 15, 2023

Posted on Dec 15, 2023 in HomePage, Pastor's Blog |

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

Forest Gump is one of my favorite movies. Gump is befriended by his former military commander, Lieutenant Dan Taylor. Forest rescues Lt. Dan from further injury in the midst of a fierce firefight.

Unfortunately, Lt. Dan’s legs are badly damaged and are subsequently amputated. Lt. Dan’s response toward Forest is not one of gratitude but hostility. The lieutenant is angry that Gump just didn’t leave his commander in the jungle to die in battle. Lt. Dan believed that dying gloriously in combat was his personal destiny and that Gump robbed him of such honor.

Daily Devotion Dec. 14, 2023

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

“The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20, NRSV).

Cathy and I have been watching this season’s episode of Survivor on CBS. The show places eighteen persons in a remote, exotic location in order to determine who will outwit, outplay, and outlast all the others. The participants typically use various means of deception and duplicity in
order to eliminate one another from the game.

Daily Devotion Dec.13, 2023

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

“And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, help us! Have compassion on us!” Jesus said to him, “If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:20-24, NRSV).

Mark’s gospel tells the story of a father who found himself in a state of futility. The father’s young son was possessed by a demon that was making the boy’s life miserable. The only thing the father knew to do was to bring his son to Jesus.

Daily Devotion Dec. 12, 2023

Posted on Dec 12, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).

From the first moments of birth, we are encouraged to live independently. A newborn baby must learn to breath on her own once the umbilical cord is cut. Walking is also a rite of passage toward autotomy. A toddler’s first steps open new opportunities to explore God’s creation. Time passes quickly as the child crosses the graduation stage and prepares to leave home.

Daily Devotion Dec 8, 2023

Posted on Dec 8, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:6-7, NIV).

The human body is a marvel of God’s handiwork. The blood vessels in just one person could circumnavigate the earth two and a-half times if they were placed end to end. The human nose can detect up to one trillion types of smells. My father used to claim that my mother had the ears of an elephant. She could hear my brother and me getting into trouble from a mile away.