I started reading my Bible regularly when I was high school (way back in 1991-1995). Man, does time fly! It has been a part of my daily routine ever since. Over the years, I have read a number of translations: NASB, NIV and ESV primarily. Well, this year, I decided to mix it up and read from The Message version.
Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin
Have you heard of crowdfunding or crowdsourcing? Companies like GoFundMe or KickStarter are raising hundreds of millions of dollars annually for personal needs and creative projects. A wide variety of needs are met with tools like these. Costs associated with mission trips, medical bills, or family emergencies have been met repeatedly through generous donations from people.
Our Christian duty is to care for the poor and needy. The Old and New Testament is full of instruction. For example, Jesus told us, “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.” — Luke 12:33
Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin
“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” — Ezekiel 37:3b
This is the prophet’s response to a question God had just asked him. The Lord had led the prophet Ezekiel to a valley filled with dry bones. After looking at the bones, God asked Ezekiel, “Can these bones become living people again?”
Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin
I recently read a book that talked about the miracle — that the very existence of life on Earth —really is. A few decades ago, scientists estimated that were a mere two factors necessary for a planet to support life. Now that list is up to 150 necessary factors!
Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin
We all know what Jesus’ final marching orders to His disciples were before He ascended; “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19,20) If we claim to be a follower of Jesus, those are our marching orders, too. Basically, do you love Jesus? Then go, make disciples!
Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin
The Book of Acts (Chapter 12), shows us how faithful and faithless people respond to the storms and trials of life. If you remember in Acts, the early church in Jerusalem was growing like a weed. About that same time, King Herod decided to persecute the church. First, he murdered James and then he arrested Peter. He most likely planned to kill Peter, too. I love Acts 12:5, “So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”
Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin
“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?” Matthew 9:1-4
Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin
“In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord.” 1 Kings 6:1
Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin
Early one morning, I was in my office reading, and my young son got out of bed and walked in. He informed me he needed to use the bathroom. I told him do it! I sat there reading for a few more minutes, and then I realized I never heard the toilet flush. So, I went upstairs to check on him, and he was quietly sitting on the toilet, waiting for me to help him “finish up” his business. I told him, “Son, you need to tell me these things, so I can help you.” He looked at me, deadly serious, and said, “Dad, no one knows the future but God.” I laughed and said, “You’re right.”
Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin
Recently, I read an informative and sad article about the persecution of Christians around the world. Here are some excerpts:
According to the International Society for Human Rights, a secular [group], 80 percent of all acts of religious discrimination in the world today are directed at Christians. Statistically speaking, that makes Christians by far the most persecuted religious body on the planet.
(more…)
Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin