Teen culture and the “faith-disconnect”

In my observation working with youth, the biggest challenge that our young people are dealing with is the disconnect of their faith between Monday and Sunday. It seems that many of the teenagers in our congregations have a form of faith, or religious devotion, but to them the faith they embrace is more similar to the [...]

I will praise you in this storm

Yesterday was one of those days when our world was turned upside down with financial woes. Those of you with mortgages, car payments, credit card payments, student loan payments, hospital bills, etc., know what I am talking about.
Well, to make a long story short. This old heart of mine buckled. I drowned in the sea [...]

My first two years in ministry: What I learned (revised)

The last two years have been overwhelmingly positive and warm. I feel that I have gleaned a lot from our elders, and other ministry staff. I want to thank our elders and our congregation for taking a chance on my wife and I. I say taking a chance, because after they hired us, and we [...]

His Love Endures Forever

“…His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1)
A word from the Word: Read Psalm 136
“…His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:2)
Food for Thought: His Love Endures Forever…
Psalm 136 is a great psalm. Twenty-six times the phrase “His love endures forever” is repeated. Maybe just maybe the first readers, and surely all who came after the first audience struggled [...]

back from camp

I am back from camp. It was an awesome two weeks, and trying to get rested up.
 This week, our church is hosting our county's first annual work camp. It will be interesting.

A Case of The Uglies

The following devotionals are the morning Quiet Times for our first week of camp. 
Read: Luke 5:12-32"But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, [...]

Grace, who needs it?

Read: Romans 3:21-30 

 *The small house was simple but adequate. It consisted of one large room on a dusty street. Its red-tiled roof was one of many in this poor neighborhood on the outskirts of the Brazilian village. It was a comfortable home. Maria and her daughter, Christina, had done what they could to add color [...]

What is Grace?

Read 2 Samuel 9:1-13“…so Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons” (2 Samuel 9:11).

*An elderly woman walked into a large department store and approached a salesperson. She explained that she wanted to return an automobile tire she felt was unsuitable for her car. The salesperson discovered that she had been a [...]

Grace, It Really Is Amazing

Read Romans 3:10-26; Eph. 2:1-5; Titus 3:3-5
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24)
 
I want you to consider this morning the words of the familiar hymn*: Amazing grace! How sweet the sound! That saved a [...]

Thought for the day: Grace, trading places, and the cross

Read Luke 23
"But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will." — Luke 23:23-25

*A story is told [...]