The day began as Jesus withdrew to a deserted place to be alone. Later, in the afternoon sun, He ascends atop a mountain to pray. Again, Jesus seeks solitude, far from both crowds and followers. Earlier, our Lord told His disciples to take to the water in a boat—but this time, He lets them go […]
Isaiah 55:1-5: Delight in the Richest of Fare
August 13, 2020 by
A water vendor, a part of ordinary commerce in ages past. Most did not live next to a stream, and sometimes access to a well became problematic. So, in typical entrepreneurial fashion, someone recognized a need and found a way to profit. Thus, the merchant and customer both benefited. Still, is this not an unusual […]
Romans 8:28-39: Bad into Good
August 13, 2020 by
The verses before today’s Epistle reading speak of a collaboration between God and His Spirit. The Spirit intercedes for us, something we should find comforting. Now, since God understands the Spirit’s mind, what does this tell us? In all matters, God strives for what is best for those who love Him, as He purposes. In […]
Isaiah 55:10-13: Like Rain and Snow
July 12, 2020 by
To live in the ancient Promised Land required faith. Oh, its description as a place of milk and sweet honey rang true, for its country fed livestock, sheltered bees, and produced bountiful crops. Nevertheless, without rain, soon, the soil hardened and cracked into a shriveled and depleted landscape. Other places didn’t demand as much faith. […]
God May Not Be Like We Think
June 24, 2020 by
Frustrated, Jeremiah cries to heaven, “You enticed and deceived me, prevailing over me.” Earlier, God told him this, “I am making you into an iron pillar.” To be God’s prophet will require him to stand “against Judah’s kings, its princes, priests, and commoners” (1:18). No, God didn’t mislead Jeremiah but spoke the truth, instead. A […]
Getting Back to Normality Despite COVID, or at Least, Trying
June 23, 2020 by
A couple of weeks ago, a member of our congregation approached me. In short, she shared with me her assessment of our COVID-19 prevention practices. Well, I quipped back, “Yeah, coming to church is safer than grocery shopping.” To this, she agreed. Next, she said I should send out a message, so others in our […]
June 16, 2020 by
The Red Sea miracle through the “water like a wall on their right and on their left” (Exodus 14:29) brought a frightened and fleeing people through the drowning waters. A hymn of thanks soon rises from their lips (Exodus 15:1-21), celebrating the God who came to free them. In short order, they will find themselves […]
Matthew 28:16-20: The Holy Trinity
June 10, 2020 by
The Scripture begins by unveiling God, revealing who He is by how He operates. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” meaning God made everything. The word for God here is Elohim, a masculine plural, referring to a singular God. Ah, the divine mystery starts in Scripture’s first sentence. Next, the moving […]
Church Services Resume on May 10
May 6, 2020 by
After several weeks of quarantine, we will begin holding public worship services and Sunday School on May 10. Though, we still must observe social-distancing policies until we are told otherwise by health authorities. The specifics of how we’ve adapted our worship services will come to you in an e-mail. Also, the pastor will share with […]
Ezekiel 34: Who’s the Shepherd?
April 26, 2020 by
In Ezekiel 34, we find God’s people in a time of duress–a defeated nation in exile. But what made this worse was Israel’s leaders, their shepherds, failing in their callings. Unfaithful, they cared more about themselves than the flock God charged them to serve and lead. So, how did God respond? He said that He […]
