Online copies of the articles written by our preacher, Bruce Stoker, for our monthly newsletter, which is available on paper at the church or by email. You can contact the church office to receive the newsletter.
I’ve mentioned this before, but Easter has always been my favorite holiday. I remember the world celebrating Easter with much more commercial enthusiasm than I think we see today, but even as a kid I knew, just as with Christmas, that Jesus is the reason for the season. I chalk that up to being raised … [Read more…]
Recently, I’ve seen a number of articles and videos warning users of Amazon’s Kindle Books and E-readers about a dramatic change in the terms of service. You have probably experienced something similar. Credit card companies, banks, loan companies, internet and phone providers, and other businesses often send out email and letters to let us know … [Read more…]
It is a dangerous thing to approach God casually. Early in Israel’s history, the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant. What was meant to be approached only once each year by the High Priest to make atonement for the sins of the whole nation, the people tried to use the Ark as a “secret … [Read more…]
With the new year comes the perennial preacher problem: what should I focus on this year? I know quite a few preachers who resist developing an annual theme for their preaching, teaching, and writing, expecting to respond to the needs of their congregation as they arise or to follow the traditional seasons of the church … [Read more…]
‘Tis the season for belief. As we wander through the aisles of the big-box stores and specialty shops, we’ll see other shoppers wearing shirts or sweaters proclaiming, “I believe!” As we browse the internet looking for sales on the gifts we want to give to our friends and loved ones, we’ll find all kinds of … [Read more…]
As our Sunday evening Bible study group heads into the final chapter of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, we have already encountered one of the more difficult instructions to the church: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians … [Read more…]
Having finished our summer-long trip following Israel’s journey from Mt. Sinai to the Promised Land in the book of Numbers and beginning a new series examining Paul’s second letter to Timothy, we find a consistent theme: that God’s promise for new life is not restricted to one group of people of one era in one … [Read more…]
The story of Balaam is probably one of the most widely recognized accounts from the book of Numbers, especially that part when God enabled Balaam’s donkey to speak. Talking animals make a lot of money for filmmakers because they catch our attention, and that’s what God intended with Balaam. Balaam was a professional sign reader, … [Read more…]
Medieval mapmakers would often embellish the edges of their maps with illustrations of dragons or other mythical creatures, especially on maps that charted only regions that had been explored. On a few such maps there has been found the phrase “Here be dragons,” indicating that what lay beyond the edges of the map was unknown. … [Read more…]
We live in an ideal world; that is, we live in a world that revolves around ideals. Whatever it is that we find ourselves doing or pursuing, we have ideals that establish standards for our words and actions. Ideals are different from goals. Where goals establish steps for achievement, ideals define the perfect. When we … [Read more…]