Hold Up The Shield Of Love

I John 2:9 “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in darkness.”

During this political season we are experiencing a pandemic of epic proportions which has erupted within political sources and spread like wildfire throughout our nation. The concepts  of “Love thy Neighbor” and the “Golden Rule” have been challenged by a sense of self aggrandizement and desire for power. The will and  the needs of the majority have been superseded by the s

Remain In Me

John 15:4  “Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.”

Jesus has just explained that He is the vine and God is the gardener. He further states that God cuts off every branch that bears no fruit while He prunes every branch that does bear fruit so that it will be even more fruitful. Sometimes we tend to be overwhelmed by the beauty of the sanctuary. When I enter o

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

I John 3:18 “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and with truth.”

During World War II our nation came together to defeat our enemies on both sides of the world. While young men volunteered to serve on the front lines, their family members conserved and collected materials necessary to supply our military on both fronts. Scraps of aluminum, plastics, glass and used rubber tires were collected and recycled into equipment needed to supply our m

Stories from Cuba: A Washer for Cabo

Cabo Cruz is a small, remote fishing village along the coast of Cuba.  There are very few opportunities for businesses here. The ground is solid rock which makes it nearly impossible to farm fruits and vegetables. There is one store in town (about the size of a small Circle K) that is often closed because it is empty. There is one government-owned restaurant; however, it is rarely open due to limited food and lack of customers. There is one school in the community but the

One Special Cabinet

Yesterday in the 9AM service we dedicated a storage cabinet. Sounds kind of silly to dedicate a storage cabinet, but this one is extra special. Several months ago, Ginny Roebuck (on the left) mentioned to our head Trustee, Erwin Nesvacil, that she wanted to get a storage cabinet to hold supplies for Children's Church. Never one to do things half-way and knowing how flimsy store-bought cabinets can be, Erwin offered to build one for her. Unfortunately, before he could make

Our Bible Is Our Witness

Luke 24:48 “You are witnesses to these things.”

Beginning in vs.45, Jesus “opened their minds so they could understand Scriptures.” Jesus appeared to the disciples and told them of His coming crucifixion and resurrection and that meeting is recorded here for our benefit and for our future generations.

What We Should Know

Our Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. The pattern He established from Genesis to Revelation is set as our guide and we should follow it and lear

Body of Christ

I Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Paul has described the Body of Christ in likeness to the human body, made up of hands, ears feet, eyes, nose, etc. He emphasized the equality of need for each part for the body to function overall. Verse 25 says “there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.” 

What We Should Know

We are all equally important parts of the Body of Ch

It's All About God

Mark 8:33 “But when Jesus turned and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind Me Satan! He said. You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’”

We see it every day…..selfish acts for self gratification….deceit and bias judgements…..criticisms and on and on and on all for the purpose of self aggrandizement. Our so-called leaders have seemingly blinded themselves to the needs of the people they represent in lieu  of their own quest for

We Should Know Better

2 Timothy 2:17,18 “Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18. who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.”

Paul refers here to false teachers and the spiritual damage they cause. He points out two individuals and the lies they have spread and the faith they have destroyed in people who listened to them. We see the likenesses of these false teachers dai

Lonely No More: Understanding the Risks and Finding Connection

We have been exploring how our church and we, as individuals, can help combat the loneliness epidemic. But do we know who it affects? You might be surprised. Understanding the risk factors is crucial to combatting this widespread issue. Let's delve into some key points:

1. Life Transitions: Moving, retiring, divorce, or losing loved ones can disrupt social networks, leaving individuals feeling isolated and adrift. This is especially true for older adults whose support syste

They Will Turn Their Ears Away From the Truth

2 Timothy 4:3,4 “3. For the time will come when the people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own  desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

We are living that Scripture today in all of its stark reality. A major television network was found guilty of spreading outright lies to the public because that was w

Prioritizing Relationships: The Surgeon General's Call To Combat Loneliness

Loneliness - it's a feeling we've all likely experienced, but many of us don't realize its serious impact on our health and well-being. In a groundbreaking move, the U.S. Surgeon General recently issued a stark warning: loneliness is an epidemic, and we need to act. His six-pillar plan offers a roadmap to tackle this issue. Last week, we explored how churches can strengthen social infrastructure and we found that we have several programs and activities that address this pi

See The Light of the Gospel

2 Corinthians 4:4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

So, who is the god of our age? Whom or what do we revere above and beyond our creator? Some say it is the “almighty dollar.” Others say it our own selfishness. Maybe it is a charismatic person (ie. a political or religious figure). Whatever it may be, the god of this age is the one to whom w

Rumors Are Destructive

Mark 1:39 “So He travelled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.”

Jesus’ ministry was new. He was baptized, declared by God to be His Son, called His disciples and began preaching. He discovered the challenge of evil spirits in the first synagogue where He preached and hastily eliminated the threat. This verse tells us that, as He preached throughout the land, He encountered demons wherever He preached and cast them out. 

What We Should Kn

What Can Our Church Do To Combat Loneliness?

We’ve been exploring the public health crisis of loneliness the past couple of weeks. In the coming weeks, we’ll delve into the six pillars outlined by the Surgeon General’s report to see how we, as a church, can make a difference in fighting this issue that affects people of all ages. This week, we’ll look at Strengthening Social Infrastructures.

By strengthening social infrastructure, our church can foster meaningful connections, combat isolation, and build a more robust