One of my favorite Christmas carols is one we don’t often sing, “How Great Our Joy!” It’s an old German carol that’s fun to sing, especially a cappella. The song retells that part of the story of Christ’s birth that we read in Luke 2:8-11: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch … [Read more…]
Thank you! Thank you for your continued faithfulness in giving. Whether you give a traditional tithe of 10 percent of your income or more than that or less than that in cheerful offerings, your giving is evidence of faith. I am humbled and inspired by your generosity. While our monthly giving records show that we … [Read more…]
Disciples of Jesus must love the world. No, I’m not saying that we must love the things of the world, the sin of the world, the brokenness of the world. I’m saying Christians must love the people of the world – sinners, the lost, “those people.” It’s important to make this distinction because far too … [Read more…]
Immediately following his account of the start of the Church on the day of Pentecost, Luke wrote this description of the early church in Acts 2:44-47: All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet … [Read more…]
As I preach through Deuteronomy, I continually find myself amazed by how closely it resembles the story of the church today. The more I study and preach, the more I am convinced that God’s relationship with people has always been based upon God’s grace and not God’s law. When I began the series, I explained … [Read more…]
If you have ever had to monitor or even change what you eat or drink because of a dietary or medical concern, you are probably familiar with various imitations or alterations of your favorite foods and beverages, like diet sodas or low-sodium or low-fat versions of things you like to eat. You probably also know … [Read more…]
Persecution of the church is certainly a growing concern these days. While I personally believe the governmental restrictions of church gatherings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is not persecution, I also understand the concerns of many around me who believe that such closures could become abuses, if not outright persecution. What the Church is … [Read more…]
It’s spring – honest! Even though many of us have not been out and about as much as we would like or as much, perhaps, as we normally would this time of year, the days and weather are starting to line up better with the calendar. That means spring cleaning. While many of us who … [Read more…]
As I write this, Ohio’s “stay-at-home order” has been in effect for two days. While the official mandate to isolate ourselves from others in order to combat the new coronavirus and its sickness (COVID-19) is new, many have been trying to separate themselves from others for several weeks. Throughout this crisis, we have seen a … [Read more…]
Sometimes children just get it, while adults seem to miss the point. When kids play games, they just play. Ever play “Follow the Leader”? It’s very simple: you just do what the leader does. Don’t overthink it! So when we see Jesus call his first disciples – Peter, Andrew, James, John – saying to them, … [Read more…]