Pastor’s Blog

Daily Devotion October 10, 2023

Posted on Oct 10, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“ So encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, TLB).

I hesitate to talk about marriage in the midst of a message series on parenting. Many parents are divorced. Some are single by choice. Marital issues are not their present concern.

Yet for those who are married, the relationship spouses have with one another impacts their children.

Daily Devotion October 6, 2023

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

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Memorize his law and tell them to your children over and over again” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7, CEV).

My wife Cathy is an amazing mother. I marvel as to how easily she relates to our children and grandson. A few years ago, I overheard Cathy reading the children’s book, The Cookie Store Cat, to our twenty-two-year-old daughter. I wasn’t surprised. Courtney is still a child at heart and Cathy relishes the role of storyteller.

Daily Devotion October 5, 2023

Posted on Oct 5, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other” (John 15:16-17, NIV).

Years ago, a friend of mine participated in a mission trip to the Republic of Haiti. One day, Rick was sitting on a bench beneath a tree. A young Haitian boy took a seat next to Rick. Rick fascinated the boy. He had never met an American.

Daily Devotion October 4, 2023

Posted on Oct 4, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9, NIV).

I found the following confession from a subscriber known as bluej1375 on Ranker.Com:

Not a father but a story about mine. One day, I decided to pull a sick day at school and came downstairs

and saw that my dad was making a coffee, I asked him what he was doing and why he wasn’t at work,

and he said I could ask you the same question. We stood in silence for a moment, and he said I won’t tell your

mum if you won’t. We had a good laugh about it, and he let me have the day off.

Daily Devotion October 3, 2023

Posted on Oct 3, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven”

(Matthew 18:3, GNT).

In their book, The Parent You Want to Be, Les and Leslie Parrott tell the story of a four-year-old girl named Shia. Shia began asking her parents to leave her alone with the new baby. The parents worried, that like most toddlers, Shia might want to hit or shake the baby. So, they refused their little girl’s request. Yet Shia insisted. The parents eventually realized that she wasn’t showing any signs of jealousy, so they allowed Shia to have her private conversation with the baby.

Daily Devotion October 2, 2023

Posted on Oct 2, 2023 in Pastor's Blog |

“Fathers do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, NCV).

If you’ve attended a youth sporting event, you no doubt have met “that parent.” I’m talking about the mom or dad who continually berates their child for underperforming on the court or the field of play. The individual who steals the joy from everyone sitting in the stands. Their continuous critique reminds me of the old school manager who lives by the motto: The beatings will continue until morale and production improve.