Pastor’s Blog

Daily Devotional June 9, 2023

Posted on Jun 9, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6, MSG)

I once worked as a chemical dependency counselor for a private counseling agency. Warren (not his real name) was the first client with whom I worked. Warren was fifty years old and had been drinking since the age of twelve.

Daily Devotional June 8, 2023

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

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20, NRSV)

The story of Joseph is an example of a sibling rivalry gone toxic. Joseph was a teenager whose brothers faked his death and sold him into slavery. That traumatic turn of events would institutionalize many people.

For the next thirteen years, life for Joseph didn’t get much better. He was wrongly convicted of a crime he never committed. A friend failed to keep a promise, which wound up keeping Joseph in jail even longer.

Daily Devotional June 7, 2023

Posted on Jun 7, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So, God granted him what he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:10, NKJV)

Following the publication of his book, The Prayer of Jabez, in 2000, Bruce Wilkinson noted a concern. Many who read the book misunderstood the intentions of Jabez’ prayer because of three words: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and ENLARGE MY TERRITORY…” (1 Chronicles 4:10, NKJV). Enlarge my territory became understood as, “Grant me more wealth” or “Expand my power” or “Make me a success.” Sadly, Jabez’ prayer became the mantra for those who espouse a “Prosperity Theology.”

Daily Devotional June 6, 2023

Posted on Jun 6, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“But these have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through your faith in him you may have life.” (John 20:31, GNT).

A few weeks back, my daughter and son-in-law celebrated their first-year wedding anniversary by taking a trip to southern Florida. They had an uninterrupted stretch of rest and relaxation. Well, minus one exception.

Daily Devotional May 26, 2023

Posted on May 26, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was. Other boats followed along. Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped. But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow.” (Mark 4:36-38, CEB)

In 2004, I was traveling with a group of missionaries back to a local guesthouse in Haiti. As our bus was preparing to turn left onto a side street, a group of young Haitian men pulled alongside. Led by a police car with siren blaring, a caravan of shiny SUV’s laid on their horns. With smoke glass windows rolled half-way down, these thugs displayed their automatic weapons.

Daily Devotional May 25, 2023

Posted on May 25, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6, CEB)

In 2005, a German long jumper named Bianca Kappler competed at the European Indoor Championships. During the competition, Bianca created quite a stir within the sport of track and field. Initially, Bianca was awarded the gold medal for jumping a record 22 feet, 10 inches. The next closest competitor came in at only 21 feet, 11 inches. But Bianca Kappler stunned the sporting world when she refused the gold medal.