I became a Christian in 1970. There was a lot of excitement back then, because a revival called the Jesus Movement had broken out. Historians agree that it was a genuine spiritual awakening.

There also was a lot of teaching about the last days. We thought Jesus was coming back at any moment. I remember even placing a bumper sticker on the frame of my bicycle that said “Jesus is coming!” But now some Christians are wondering why He hasn’t come back yet. Did He forget His promise to us?

The Bible tells us why Jesus hasn’t returned: “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT).

The Lord is waiting for the last person to believe. And when that day comes, when that person believes, we will meet Him in the air when he returns.

The passage continues, “Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. . . . And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight” (verses 11–12, 14 NLT).

How are we to live as we await the return of Christ? We should live holy and godly lives, making every effort to be spotless and blameless and at peace with Him. That is what we should be doing. And if we don’t understand this, then we’re missing the point.

People have an endless appetite for last days events. They want to hear about the Rapture, the Antichrist, the Tribulation, Armageddon, and all the rest. That is great. But as we study all these things, what we learn should have an impact on the way we live.

As we look forward to the return of Christ, we should be shining lights in a dark place. Jesus said, “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning” (Luke 12:35 NLT). In this statement, Jesus was referring to a first-century Jewish wedding.

These weddings were unique in that no one knew when the bridegroom would arrive. It might be at 3:00 in the morning or at 3:00 in the afternoon. But suddenly the announcement would go out that the bridegroom was on his way. Everyone would quickly take their places, and then the wedding would begin.

Jesus was saying this is what it will be like as we wait for His return. So, let’s be ready to go. Let’s be shining our light. As our culture gets darker, we need to shine brighter as Christians.

Let’s be known for what we are for rather than what we are against. Let’s look for opportunities to show the love of Jesus Christ in a tangible way, earning the right to share the gospel.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Good morning, church family & friends!

Being left out stinks. No matter how you spin it, it still stinks. I remember when my circle of friends in Junior High formed a new club and I was the only one not invited to join. In the long-range scheme of things, did it matter? No, not at all. But at the moment, it hurt. And evidently being left out left some kind of mark on me because I still remember it! It's not fun to be on the outside looking in.

Welcome to the world of the disciple Thomas. For reasons we do not know, he was not with the Twelve on the first Easter (John 20:24). Though hiding behind locked doors, “Jesus came and stood among them” (v. 19). I can’t even imagine the thrill, the excitement, along with some healthy fear, of that moment. Jesus spoke peace to calm them and showed his hands and side to convince them. Joy abounded!

For everyone but Thomas, who was left out of that incredible moment. Try as they might, the Disciples could not relay what they had experienced to Thomas in a way that removed his doubt. He declared, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hand and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it” (v. 25). For that one statement, he has forever been saddled with the moniker of “Doubting Thomas.”

I feel for Thomas! Earlier he was willing to accompany Jesus back to Bethany even if it meant dying with Jesus (Jn. 11:16). He had enough courage to ask Jesus how they could follow if they don’t know the way (Jn. 14:5). Besides, all Thomas asked for was what the Disciples had already experienced. Jesus had showed them his hands and side. Thomas desperately wanted that, to move from being left out to included in.

A week later, the Twelve gathered and Thomas was with them (v. 26). Jesus came and again stood among them. Turning to Thomas he said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side” (v. 27). There is no indication Thomas acted on Jesus' offer. He simply declared, “My Lord and my God” (v. 28)! How good it must have felt to have moved from being left out to being included in.

Being left out stinks; being let in rocks! Especially when being let in means your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life and you can live forever in Jesus’ presence. That’s the only “club” that really matters. He is risen! Hallelujah!

Blessings,
Pastor David

In 1995 David Burgess, who is an award winning violin maker, was transporting one of his newly finished violins. Somewhere during transport, the violin suffered a hairline crack. It was small, but it changed the sound of this expensive instrument. Burgess could either patch the crack or break the entire top off and rebuild it from the inside out. It was costly and it looked like he had destroyed the violin in the moment. However, once it was rebuilt, the violin actually sounded better than before. The breaking and rebuilding of it released a sound it had never had.

Less than a week before Jesus’ crucifixion, He was having dinner when a woman came in with an alabaster jar of perfume that was worth a year’s wages. Instead of taking the top off and using a little bit, she broke the jar open, and poured it all out on Jesus. People complained that the perfume was wasted and that they could have sold it to give money to the poor. However, Jesus had a different response to this sacrificial act of worship. After rebuking them, He said, “When she poured the fragrant oil over me, she was preparing my body in advance of my burial. She has done all that she could to honor me. I promise you that as this wonderful gospel spreads all over the world, the story of her lavish devotion to me will be mentioned in memory of her” (Mark 14:8-9 TPT).

Romans 12:1 says, “Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship” (TPT). A living sacrifice doesn’t offer only part of itself. It offers the whole thing. It opens itself up to be fully broken and poured out as a genuine expression of worship. That is our proper response to what Jesus did for us. Are there parts of your life that you’ve been holding back while only surrendering part to Jesus? This Easter, it’s time we truly open ourselves up and give ourselves to Him. It’s time to break the jars of the hidden places in our lives. It may feel like destruction in the moment, but it will produce a sacrificial life of worship.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Everybody loves a good comeback story. A story about an individual or a group of people, an organization, team, or business, who, when facing impossible adversity, somehow overcomes the odds and wins. History is full of them.

One of my favorites is the story of Bernie Marcus. Bernie was the son of a poor Russian cabinetmaker in Newark, New Jersey. In 1978, he was fired from a do-it-yourself retail store called HANDY DAN. What do you do when you’ve been fired from HANDY DAN? Well, Bernie teamed up with a guy named Arthur Blank, and they decided to start their own business. They opened their first store in Atlanta, Georgia. It was called THE HOME DEPOT. Today, they have stores all over the world, and their annual income is in the billions. That’s a great comeback story!

Or how about Wilma Rudolph, who was the 20th of 22   children? She was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful. When she was 4, she contracted double        pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with a paralyzed left leg. At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk   without it. At age 13, she’d developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she    decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last. For the next few years, every race she entered, she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running. One day she actually won a race. And then another. From then on, she won every race she entered. Eventually, this little girl who was told she would never walk again went on to win three Olympic gold medals.

Talk about comebacks, did you know General Douglas MacArthur was turned down when he applied for admission to West Point? Not just once, but twice. He came back a third time, was accepted and marched into the history books.

Or how about Albert Einstein, who developed the theory of relativity? Did you know he was expelled from school for being dumb? In a 6-month period, he taught himself calculus. In 1905, he published three papers that revolutionized man’s image of the physical universe and helped lay the foundation for the nuclear age. One of the papers offered an explanation of the photoelectric effect, which concerns the emission of electrons from metal surfaces exposed to light. Theoretically, this study represented a cornerstone of the quantum theory, and practically, it made possible many great inventions, including television and automation systems.

What about Thomas Edison, who was kicked out of school because they could do nothing with him? The teachers told his mother he was just too slow to learn. So, little Thomas was home schooled by his mother. And he made quite a comeback. At the age of 10 he’d already set up his first chemistry laboratory. He became our  nation’s most famous inventor with inventions such as the light bulb, the phonograph and the kinetoscope. When he synchronized these, he produced motion pictures. He gave us over 1300 inventions that have   radically improved our world.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was paralyzed by polio at the age of 39. Yet he went on to become one of the most beloved and influential leaders in American history, being elected President of the U.S. four times.

In the 1940s a young inventor named Chester Carlson took his idea to 20 corporations, including some of the biggest in the country. They all turned him down and he almost quit. In 1947, after seven long years of continuous rejection, he went back to a tiny company in Rochester, New York; the Haloid Company. They purchased the rights to his electrostatic paper-copying process. Haloid changed its name to Xerox Corporation, and Carlson’s invention changed all of our lives.

Those are all great comebacks. But none of them would qualify as THE WORLD’S GREATEST COMEBACK. Even in the Bible we find some phenomenal comebacks. Joseph who went from the pit to the palace, becoming the Prime Minister of Egypt. King David’s comeback after his fall. Job would certainly qualify as one of the greatest comebacks of all time. John Mark would qualify after failing on his first missionary journey. Peter would be at the top of the list, after denying knowing the Lord, yet God allowed him to come back and preach the very first sermon on the opening day of the church, the Day of Pentecost.

However, none of those would qualify for The World’s Greatest Comeback. In Matthew 28:1-10, we have the greatest event in all of human history: The RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST. Talk about a COMEBACK (vs. 6). The angel said, “Jesus told you He’d come back. And He did. He’s alive!” On April 5th a large portion of the world will celebrate the RESURRECTION of JESUS, and it is certainly one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the world. But what would you say if I told you the greatest comeback is yet to come?

That’s right. The world’s greatest comeback is still in the future. It’s going to be when Jesus returns for His own. (Read John 14:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.) If we believe in the risen Lord and have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, He’s coming back for us. If we don’t believe in the risen Lord and fail to give our lives to Him, we’ll be left  behind, forever.
Here’s the point: Jesus is coming back ... there’s no question about that. The question is ... is He coming back for you?

Blessings,
Pastor David

Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week that leads up to Easter. Mark 11 records that Jesus rode into town on a young donkey that had never been ridden. As He entered Jerusalem, the people began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” People were waving Palm branches and laying them in the streets for Him to ride over. The palm branches in that culture represented victory. The other thing the people did was recorded in verse 8. It says they laid their garments in the street for Him to ride over. It’s an interesting picture to me. Why place their garments on the ground?

In 2 Kings 9:1-13, Elisha had one of the prophet's sons go to Jehu with a private message. The kid was to tell him that he was now the king of Israel, to anoint him with oil and then to run away as fast as he could. When Jehu came back out, his friends asked what that was about. When he told them, they got excited. Verse 13 says, “Then they quickly spread out their cloaks on the bare steps and blew the ram’s horn, shouting, ‘Jehu is king!’” (NLT). It’s the only other time I can find where this happened for a king. It’s also something we read over and miss if we read it with a western lens.

In that culture, the bottom of your foot is significant. If you point the underside of your foot at someone, you’re signifying that they are beneath you like dust. For the people to take off their garments and put them under the feet of Jehu and the donkey of Jesus, they were submitting to their authority as king. The garments represent their concerns. Remember in Matthew 6 when Jesus said He clothes the fields and that we shouldn’t be concerned about what to wear? Each of us have concerns we wear like a heavy garment. It’s time that we submitted them to Jesus by placing them at His feet. We don’t need to carry them anymore. We need to submit to His authority and ability to provide for us as our king.

Blessings,
Pastor David

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.“
Ephesians 1:1-2

I want you to notice how Paul starts his letter to the Ephesian church. He greets them as “saints,” then quickly indicates a saint is one who lives faithfully in Christ Jesus. We must note this carefully: A mature Christian is not one who merely professes faith in Jesus. He or she strives to live faithfully. The faithful are “in Christ,” a common Pauline phrase used frequently throughout the letter.

“In Christ” implies we not only find our salvation in him, but also that Christ dwells within us. Faithful living takes place only when we are “in Christ.” We cannot miss the impact of this truth. Through our conversion, a marvelous thing has happened. We are not only saved and live in Christ, but Christ dwells in us. It is only when our souls are united with the Spirit of Jesus that we can live faithfully.

If we see Christ as one who is external to and outside of us, we will struggle in living the Christian life. We will remain as immature believers; redeemed with saving faith in Jesus but will be of little use in the Kingdom of God on earth. To serve God faithfully, Christ must be in us, and we must be in Christ and faithfully follow Him. Jesus’ presence within the human soul provides the motivation and power for us to live faithfully. A mature Christian is one who is in union with Jesus Christ and lives in the light of that truth.

This union with Christ is no peripheral matter. It is fundamental in our pressing on to maturity (cf. Phil. 3:13-14). This intimate spiritual union is what creates the wheat of true faith and destroys the weeds of hypocrisy within us. Paul wrote this to the Corinthians: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test” (2 Cor. 13:5). In asking them to examine themselves, Paul did not ask them to recite the fundamental doctrines of the faith or to confirm whether they were baptized correctly, as important as those matters are. Paul considered something else more fundamental.

Paul invited the Corinthians - and us – to take a look within our hearts. In that quiet reflection, is there the realization Jesus is there and dwelling within? Is it obvious he is directing our thoughts and behaviors? Paul does not explain the nature of this indwelling. While he calls this a “mystery” (Col. 1:27), mature Christians are certainly aware of His presence.

Each of us alone is aware of the content of our inner life. Amid all the richness of our thoughts, feelings, memories, hopes, and dreams, do we perceive Jesus there, too? As we live life aware of Christ’s indwelling presence, God is able to make us increasingly useful members of the kingdom of God. And we live up to what Paul has called us, “saints . . . the faithful in Christ Jesus.”

Blessings,
Pastor David

In May of 1940 during World War Two, there were over 300,000 Allied troops awaiting evacuation at Dunkirk when they became trapped by German forces. They were cut off from every direction and were pushed into a pocket on the French coast with no escape route. Churches held a national day of prayer to seek God’s help. Just then, when hope was lost, there was a shift in the weather which caused the normally rough waters of the English Channel to be calm allowing small boats to move back and forth to rescue the soldiers. When the Royal Navy realized they couldn’t get everyone, they put out a call for help. Over 800 civilian vessels joined the rescue mission. Not only that, a dense fog rolled in that grounded German aircraft from attacking. Every solder was rescued. It’s seen more as divine intervention than a military success.

In 2 Kings 7, the Aramean army had besieged Samaria. While they were running out of food, a famine hit the land too. Desperation set in as no help arrived. That’s when Elijah stepped up and told them the next day they would have sufficient food and supplies. The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!” (v. 19, NLT). That night, the Lord caused the Arameans to hear galloping horses and chariots. They fled in fear, leaving everything behind, thinking the Egyptians were coming to help. Four men found all the supplies, went back to tell the king. The people rushed out to get food. As they did, they trampled over the king's servant making true everything God had promised.

Matthew 19:26 says, “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’” If you’re facing an impossible situation today where there seems to be no possible way, I want to remind you that we serve the God of impossible things. I believe God can change any condition, any outcome or any diagnosis. Impossible is the starting point for God’s intervention. We’ve seen it all throughout the Bible and history. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. What He did back then, He can still do today. God often moves suddenly in situations where hope is lost. When we’ve done all we can, we need to pray, trust and believe. He doesn’t need time. He just needs a moment. Faith doesn’t look at the odds. It focuses on God who says everything is possible.

Blessings,
Pastor David

What do you pray for when you’re stressed or faced with difficult situations? Strength Relief? In times like these, most people share the deepest concerns of their hearts with God, which is exactly what Jesus did in John 17. As his death on the cross drew near, Jesus imparted important teachings to his disciples about the kingdom of God and tried to prepare them for his coming death. He also paused to pray. Join us each Sunday morning throughout March for our series, “The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus,” and together we’ll examine His moving prayer of intercession for his disciples and for us. His prayer will guide us through conversations on glory, unity, love, and purpose.

Discovering Jesus’ Heart

Jesus is fully human, just like us. In the Bible, when he prayed, he prayed about what was important to him, just like we do. The Bible records one of Jesus’ prayers for us in John 17. At this point in Jesus’ ministry, he knows his time on earth is coming to a close. His teachings are earnest, and he’s trying to prepare his disciples for his death. Jesus prayed this prayer before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, trial, and death on the cross. As Jesus shared the concerns of his heart with God, he prayed to be glorified. He’s praying for strength to go through what he knew was coming so that his actions would bring glory to God. Then he prayed for his disciples and all believers—including you and me. He prays for unity, for us to experience the same love the Father has for him, and for the world to know God through our lives. This is the prayer many Christians call Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.

What is a High Priest?

Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is commonly called his High Priestly Prayer because in it he offers prayers of intercession. He prays on behalf of his disciples. Then he prays on behalf of all believers. In the Old Testament, this was the role of the High Priest in God’s temple. Priests filled many roles and performed many functions in ancient Israel, but the High Priest served as an intermediary between God and his people.

As Jesus prayed, he acted as an intermediary between God and his people. Later in the New Testament, the apostle Paul also made this connection regarding the work Jesus continues to do at the right hand of God on our behalf in passages like Hebrews 5:1-10.

An Invitation

Jesus prayed his High Priestly Prayer to intercede for us, but his prayer is also an invitation to live the kind of life he desires for us: a life of unity and purpose that shares in his glory. I invite you to study Jesus’ prayer in John 17 and then join us the next several Sunday mornings for this exciting message series.

• March 1 - "The Glory of Christ" - John 17:1-5
• March 8 - "Confidence in Christ" - John 17:6-19
• March 15 - "Unity in Christ" - John 17:20-26

...and together we’ll learn about Jesus and take comfort in the great love and care he demonstrates for us. Then we’ll discuss together what it means to live in the reality of his prayer and how we too can reflect the transformative power of God’s love to others.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Mention the name JONAH and most people think of how he ran from the Lord. How he boarded a ship bound for a destination diametrically opposed to where God had told him to go. How he got on that ship and in the midst of a spectacular storm begged his shipmates to throw him overboard because he was the reason for the storm.

BUT THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY ... Jonah repented. God gave him a second chance, and he was responsible for a remarkable revival that consumed a city and included a king!

When most people think of PETER they think of a rough, weather-beaten fisherman with salty language and sunburned skin, who had an uncanny ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Even swearing on occasion. People remember how a big, old, tough fisherman flopped like a fish in the presence of a young maiden as he tried to warm himself by the fire and she tried to pin him down as one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter turned into a coward by the fire, while a rooster nearby crowed and crowed and crowed.

BUT THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY ... Peter repented and God relented. Forgiving Peter and giving him the privilege of preaching one of the most powerful sermons ever preached on the Day of Pentecost as the Church was launched.

Bring up the name DAVID and watch what happens. People immediately think of Israel’s greatest king. But they also remember Israel’s most notorious sinner. Sure, they think of a giant named Goliath and a sling and some stones. But who can forget that rooftop bathtub and a beautiful young woman ironically named Bathsheba? They also remember how David had her all to himself until her husband came home and the chickens came home to roost. An unplanned pregnancy. An unintended complication. A failed attempt at an alibi and a fatal attempt to get rid of his most faithful guy, Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah. Who can forget Nathan’s finger and forceful pronouncement, “You are the man”?

BUT THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY ... David confessed and God addressed his sin with grace and mercy and forgiveness. In fact, God guided his hand to write the majority of the Psalms, the longest and maybe strongest book in the Bible. In Psalm 119, the longest chapter, we get a glimpse of one of the most godly men who ever lived. God’s own testimony about David in 1 Kings 3:14 makes it clear David was a changed man.

What about THE SAMARITAN WOMAN in John 4? The woman at the well? People remember where she was sitting when Jesus asked her for a drink. They remember what she must have been thinking and how she must have been shrinking when Jesus pointed out she’d been married five times and was currently living with a man who was NOT her husband.

BUT THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY ... She gave up and gave in, confessing her sin and giving her life to the One Who had LIVING WATER. Now she would never thirst again. She went back to her city, facing her shame and sharing the Name of Jesus and what He’d done for her. The whole town followed her out into the fields to find Jesus for themselves, and she was responsible for so many being saved.

I love it when there’s MORE to the STORY, don’t you? The fact is people can and do change. Many times you and I don’t know about it or get to see it. But there’s more to the story and someone who used to live in sin now lives serving the Savior. Or someone who used to waste their life in selfish, sinful pursuits, makes every moment count for Christ now, in self-sacrificing service. It happens all the time, all over the world, where people aren’t content with the current content of their story. They turn their lives over to God, and He turns the page and writes a new chapter.

When JESUS gets involved in our lives, there’s ALWAYS MORE to the STORY! It doesn’t matter who we are or what we’ve done, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Our unchanging God will change us into the image of His Son, Jesus, if we’ll just give Him the pen and permission to re-write our story.

As we journey through this season of Lent leading up to Easter, fall in love with Jesus all over again and watch what God does. He’ll write a new chapter in your life.
... And it will be the best one yet!

Blessings,
Pastor David

I love the story of Peter in the Bible. One minute he's a pillar of faith (Matthew 14:25-33 and Matthew 16:13-16) and next minute he's in the basement of betrayal (Luke 22:54-62). Maybe that’s why it is so easy for you and I to identify with him. Because we've all blown it at one point in time with our relationship with God and others and restoration seems impossible.

That’s why I love the last chapter of John’s gospel that contains a breakfast conversation between Jesus and Peter.

The breakfast conversation in John 21 follows the darkest chapter in Peter’s life. He had just denied he knew Jesus three times. He is wishing he could start over...to take it all back...the guilt and shame was hanging over him.

It's in John 21, where we see the love of Jesus to not only restore Peter but to put him back on mission.

If you've blown it (P.S. we all have, so you're in good company) and you feel like things are hopeless, know that God's love for you is everlasting and he is eager to restore the relationship.

Blessings,
Pastor David

A lot of churches and organizations have assimilation classes. They might call it a membership class or new hire, but the goal is to assimilate that person into the larger group. I looked up the word "assimilation" in the Encyclopedia Britannica and it says that assimilation is "the process by which people from varying backgrounds and cultures are absorbed into the dominant culture." During the process the people take on the characteristics of the dominant culture. That’s interesting to me. Culture is pretty much what drives and defines a group of people whether they’re in a church, a company or country. The culture shapes ideas and actions of the people who are apart of it.

In Mark 3, Jesus was calling the 12 disciples who would follow Him throughout His ministry. Verse 17 says that when He spoke to brothers James and John, He referred to them as the “Sons of Thunder." I’ve always loved that name, but I’ve started thinking about why He would call them that. Thunder disrupts the peace. Thunder is loud and draws attention. Yet, after three years of being with Jesus, we don’t hear John ever referred to as a “Son of Thunder” anymore. He’s known as "The Beloved” or referred to as “the one Jesus loved." When thinking about him in the context of assimilation, being around the dominant culture of Jesus (Love), John was changed as a person and became known for his love for others, just as Jesus said we should be known for.

In 1 John 4:7-8, he writes, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (NASB).

How has God’s love changed who you are and how you treat other people? The closer you get to God, the more you experience His love. The more of His love you experience, the more you show that love to other people. We are to be assimilated into the culture of God’s kingdom as believers. His love should shape our ideas and our actions. This isn’t the emotional type of love that’s celebrated today. This is an agape love that seeks the betterment of others. It’s the highest form of love because it’s a choice we make to do something that is for the good of someone else even when it goes against our emotions. It’s the type of love that fundamentally changes the people who are exposed to it. Are you known by your love for others?

Blessings,
Pastor David

Good morning, church family and friends!

We live in an interesting time. For the first time in the history of the world, people value knowledge over wisdom. They are two very different things though. Knowledge is all about what you know. Wisdom is how you use knowledge. I enjoy the quote that says, “Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, not a vegetable. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.” Knowledge is gained through learning (or in today’s world, Googling), but wisdom is learned through making mistakes or learning from other’s mistakes. To value knowledge over wisdom is very dangerous, and I believe it will have serious repercussions on the future.

The book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon, who is considered the wisest person to ever live. He recognized early on after becoming king that knowledge would only take him so far as a ruler. He asked God for wisdom in how to lead his people and God opened the flood gates. His example is one you and I should follow. Knowledge is good, but we need godly wisdom in how we steward everything God has given us. God imparts wisdom to those who ask because He values wisdom and He has plenty to give us.

Proverbs 2:6-7 says, “For the LORD gives [skillful and godly] wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him]” (AMP). Just like parents on earth want to give their children the wisdom to make the best decisions in life, God wants to give wisdom to us as His children. All we have to do is go to Him in prayer and ask Him to help us make the best decisions in our relationships, our finances and in our choices. He has a storehouse full of it to give out once we seek it.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Good morning, church family and friends!

Have you ever noticed how we judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions? We give ourselves a lot more grace than we give someone else. Whenever I accidentally change lanes, but don’t see the car in that lane, I sheepishly duck my head, wave and mouth “sorry” hoping they understand. However, when someone does that to me, I see it as an attack of a negligent driver who is intentionally trying to kill me. I go from zero to angry in .5 seconds, honk my horn, shake my fist and scream at them. Now that I realize I’m judging them differently than I’m asking them to judge me, I’ve had to learn to give more grace in these situations. Chances are high, they simply made a mistake, like I do sometimes, and they’re not intentionally trying to run me off the road.

It’s scary how quickly I can go from singing along with the radio to straight up anger when that happens. The problem is, that’s not the only time or place I have a tendency to do that. We even do that when someone is talking to us. We judge ourselves by the intention of our meaning and others by their words and our interpretation. We can easily get angry without listening to everything they’re saying or the intent of their heart. Once anger comes into play, listening goes out the window and words usually come out of our mouth. Even when they try to explain, our anger has shut out reason and withdrawn any grace we had to give. These things happen to all of us, and if we can understand the hypocrisy of our own thinking, it can help us tone down how quickly we jump to anger.

Another way to slow down the anger train is to keep our mouth shut long enough to listen to their heart. James 1:19-20 says, “My dearest brothers and sisters, take this to heart: Be quick to listen, but slow to speak. And be slow to become angry, for human anger is never a legitimate tool to promote God’s righteous purpose” (TPT). That last sentence should give each of us pause. Anger is never a tool to promote God’s purposes. When we’re angry, we’re usually out of control and saying things to hurt the other person. Anger is a legitimate emotion God gave us, but He also told us not to sin while we’re angry (Ephesians 4:26). We’re either promoting or destroying God’s purpose with our lives. Anger has a tendency to destroy it. When we change how we judge others' actions and words, we can begin to control those flare ups.

Blessings,
Pastor David

I was frustrated! Angela and I went out for a nice dinner, but the service left a lot to be desired. Our server failed to get several things right, was slow in bringing items we requested, and seemed to ignore us when walking by our booth. I had already calculated in my mind what I was going to say and how this would affect her tip.

Then our server completely disappeared, and a different server took over. Shortly, the manager came by and offered his apology. We learned it was our server’s first night on her own and she was overwhelmed by the responsibilities. We overheard the waitstaff say she locked herself in the bathroom and was crying uncontrollably. My frustration melted into compassion as I recalled the hard first days on some of my jobs.

Paul wrote our conversation should “be always full of grace.” In this context, grace implies mercy and compassion be given, even though unearned and undeserved. It is acting toward another the way God in Christ has acted toward me. My rehearsed speech was full of criticism and judgment, but I suspect our server had already spoken that to herself. She needed words of grace and encouragement.

Paul added our conversation should be “seasoned with salt.” Salt was used in a variety of ways in the first century, to preserve, to flavor, as an antiseptic and even as a currency. So, I need to ask: Will my words preserve a relationship or destroy it? Will they leave a pleasant taste or bitter aftertaste? Will they bring healing or make the hurt worse? Are my words good as gold or as worthless as a counterfeit? Hard questions to consider!

Solomon wrote, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Pro. 18:21). Words are powerful things. We tend to treat them casually, but they can minister life or death. The adage “sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me” is patently false! The broken bones I’ve sustained have all healed but recalling hurtful nicknames still stings. No, I won’t tell you what they were!

Gordon McDonald writes, “What the Christian has to say must fit closely to the needs of those to whom he speaks … to sustain the one who is weary, to speak God’s word and tell of his righteousness, and bring God’s wisdom to bear … becoming the tongue of silver Solomon encouraged (Pro. 10:20).”

It will take a lifetime of learning the power of words “so that you may know how to answer everyone.” When our server returned to our table to offer her sincere apology, my calculated speech was replaced with words of encouragement. I am thankful my heart and my words softened, that my salty words became instead words “seasoned with salt.”

Solomon wrote, “a word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Pro. 25:11). Perhaps a word check is in order!

Blessings,
Pastor David

Good evening, church family and friends!

In junior high school English, we learned to diagram sentences. I may be alone in this, but I liked this part of English! I enjoyed making the diagrams, especially when you added things below the line, such as prepositional phrases. The more prepositional phrases in a sentence, the more things you had hanging down below. It was fun in my class of junior high students at Eisenhower Junior High School in Kansas City, KS during the early seventies.

It appears the author of Psalm 150 also enjoyed prepositions. This anonymous writer employed three of them throughout the Psalm, giving it its simple structure. These prepositions inform us where we can praise God, why we should praise God and what we can use in the praise of God.

The Psalmist indicated two places where we can praise God: “Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens” (v. 1). For the ancient Hebrew, the sanctuary was the place God chose to have his name remembered (Ex. 20:24). The mighty heavens were the place of God’s dwelling. We are to praise God wherever we are prompted to think of him here on earth or when we join the host of heaven and praise him there. Seems pretty all-encompassing!

The next preposition gives us two reasons why we should praise God: “Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness” (v. 2). We praise God for what he has done, including such things as our salvation and forgiveness. And we praise him for who he is – loving, merciful, and good. Praising God for what he has done seems to flow easily. Praising him for who he is takes more intentionality.

Finally, the third preposition details ways we can praise God. We can use the sounding of the trumpet, harp and lyre, tambourine and dance, strings and flute, the clashing, and resounding of cymbals (vv. 3-5). Brass and stringed instruments, percussion, and liturgical dance can all be employed in the praise of God. These elements make many of our worship services seem rather tame. Maybe we should learn something from Hebrew worship!

As a one verse summary to this Psalm, and the Psalter in general, the writer concludes, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord” (v. 6). It is interesting the Psalms begin with an invitation to employ the Torah of the Lord as a way of life and end with an invitation to praise the Lord as the best use of that life. We are to use the breath we are given to praise the One who alone is worthy of it.

I admit enjoying the diagramming of sentences. And I still think prepositions are good things. Even though they don’t have breath, they can be used to praise the Word who became flesh, who diagrammed and effected the plan of salvation for any heart still willing to receive him.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Good morning, church family and friends!

I love the Psalms. I return to them again and again. I had a college professor who taught us that you don’t go to the Psalms to shape your theology. You go to the Psalms to learn how to pray.

I spent time in Psalm 73 last week and found my journey intertwined with that of the Psalmist. It was written by Asaph, who authored eleven other Psalms. He was appointed by King David as one of the primary worship leaders in the temple (I Chron. 16:4-5). This was a man who knew the Lord and knew how to lead others into the presence of God.

Asaph started the psalm with a truth: “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart” (Ps. 73:1). It sounds as if he is setting up the psalm to be a celebration of the goodness God. And it will be. But he takes a circuitous route to get there!

From this foundational truth, Asaph revealed his struggle: “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I nearly lost my foothold” (v. 2). He then identified the source of his wrestling match. “I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (v. 3). What honesty! He struggled with why the wicked often seem to be in a better spot than the godly. Been there . . . done that!

And he wonders if it has all been worth it. “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence” (v. 13). Not sure how some of my Sunday School teachers would have responded to an admission like that! Asaph not only had the freedom to admit his struggle but under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, recorded it for us to read. Oh, to be that honest in prayer.

His journey continued: “When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny” (vv. 16-17). Rather than allowing the enemy to drive him into isolation, Asaph was driven to the sanctuary of God – the place of worship. In worship he received what he desperately needed – clarity of who God is and the revelation God’s goodness is not changed or determined by my circumstances.

Asaph returned to his original theme with these words: “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (vv. 23-26). I can only add my hearty “Amen!”

The Psalmist has taken us on quite a journey. From a truth (God is good) to a struggle (not so sure about that) to a clarification (God is worthy) to a powerful affirmation (God is enough). Guessing you have joined Asaph, and me, on that journey at least once. May the journey lead you closer to the heart of God and to a deeper prayer life. Hallelujah!

Blessings,
Pastor David

Hello, church family and friends!

Your house may be busy and full of people, or you may be having a quiet moment alone. For many, the past few weeks have been filled with noise and relentless demands.

Often, from the moment we wake up, we are bombarded with notifications, to-do lists, and the expectations of others. It’s easy to get swept up in the busyness and forget to carve out time for what matters most: our relationship with God. In the whirlwind of daily life, quiet moments of connection with our Creator can feel like a luxury we can’t afford.

Jesus himself modeled the importance of solitude. Despite the crowds that followed him and the immense weight of his mission, he intentionally sought out solitary places to pray. He understood that to pour into others, he first needed to be filled by his Father. If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to withdraw for quiet time with God, how much more do we? This isn't about legalistic rules or checking a box; it’s about nurturing the most important relationship we have.

Making time for solitude with God requires intentionality. It might mean waking up a little earlier, finding a quiet corner during your lunch break, or turning off the TV in the evening. In these moments, we can quiet our minds, pour out our hearts, and listen for His still, small voice. It’s in the quiet that we find clarity, receive strength, and are reminded of His deep love for us. Let's follow Jesus' example. Let's step away from the noise, find our solitary place, and connect with the One who longs to meet us there.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Hello, church family and friends!

My goal for New Year’s Eve has changed significantly over the years. As a child, I fought my parents for permission to stay up and watch the new year arrive. Later, I’d gather with friends to see the new year in together. Earlier in my pastoral career, we often had “watch night” services or church parties to ring in the new year. Those could be special times, starting the new year praying with other believers.

But all that has changed. I freely confess ringing in the new year is no longer a priority. Angela and I have a new goal for New Year’s Eve. We now make sure we are in bed fast asleep well before the new year begins. We believe we can greet the new year just as well at the breakfast table as by staying up much later than normal. Is this a function of age or wisdom? Guess you will have to make that call!

The Apostle Paul certainly celebrated the new. To the Corinthians he wrote, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come!” (II Cor. 5:17). To the Ephesians it was “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24). He congratulated the Colossians for having “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Col. 3:10). New is good!

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul detailed some of what this new life in Christ demands. He started with “forgetting what is behind” (Phil. 3:13b). Know this is not a denial of the shaping events of my life, nor a repressing of painful memories. Neither are healthy choices for our mental well-being. The best illustration of what this forgetting entails was given in an interview by an Olympic champion.

The gold medalist said he prepared for the next competition by forgetting. He said: “I have to forget every past victory because if I live there, it might lead to complacency, and I would lose my edge. I have to forget every past failure, because if I live there, it might lead to fear which could paralyze me. I forget what is past to focus on what is ahead.” He nailed Paul’s implication. The old can springboard us into the new.

Forgetting sets the stage for straining toward what is ahead (v. 13c). Paul uses the image of a runner, with muscles straining nearing the finish line. The singular focus is the finishing line, “the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (v. 14b). In Paul's words, how we need to "press on (v. 14a)!"

This begs the question: what is God calling you toward in 2026? Read the entire Bible or be more regular in worship attendance? Share your faith more regularly or give more generously? And what might you have to forget in order to pursue this goal? I encourage you to spend time seeking God for his call on you in this new year.

Yes, 2026 began while I was sound asleep. But I plan on being wide awake when the One who is “seated on the throne [says], ‘I am making everything new!’” (Rev. 21:5). That is one turn of the calendar you won’t want to miss. Hallelujah!

Blessings,

Pastor David

I confess. I gave up on New Year’s resolutions years ago. I long suspected what has now been verified: most resolutions have either been broken or discarded by the second weekend in January! But I went out on a high note, keeping my two last resolutions for the entire year. I resolved to eat more chocolate and to lose weight – and I did it! How, you may ask? The chocolate was Hershey’s and the weight loss catalyst was Ozempic, but it still counts.

The Apostle Paul also made a decision he resolutely kept. He wrote this to the Corinthians: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (I Corinthians 2:2). Let’s unpack that.

As a culture, the Corinthians prided themselves on their wisdom and their eloquent articulation of that wisdom. Paul rejected this as a means to proclaim the gospel (cf. I Cor. 2:1). He would simply declare the testimony of a loving, faithful and unchanging God. Paul spoke from a wisdom based on divine revelation and not human astuteness. He would express clearly if not eloquently one central truth – Jesus Christ and him crucified.

The truth of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection was the lens through which Paul viewed all of life. He made it the core of his message, even knowing it would make the gospel more difficult for people to embrace. “The message of the gospel is its most repelling aspect. Paul did not proclaim Jesus Christ as a great teacher, example, or leader; he proclaimed him as the one who had been crucified” (Fischer). It was, in Paul’s words, “a stumbling block” (I Cor. 1:21).

The adage says, “the more things change, the more things stay the same.” We see that clearly in people’s response to the gospel. The Jews in Paul’s audience stumbled over the shame of a cursed death on the cross (cf. Gal. 3:13). The Gentiles in his audience stumbled over the sheer folly of declaring crucifixion as the chosen method of salvation (I Cor. 1:23). The cross was and is a stumbling block. A loving God seems more acceptable than a crucified one.

Do we downplay the cross because it is objectionable to our audience? I think Paul would answer, “By no means!” (Rom. 6:2, 6:15, 7:13, 11:1). Instead, we embrace the stumbling block with the same resolve Paul evidenced. He resolved; he decided (note past tense) to have no other focal point to his message. It is not that he erased all else from his mind but would preach about the centrality of Jesus Christ.

My history with New Year’s resolutions was a checkered one. Perhaps that explains why I gave up on them. But I think I'm ready to make one again – to lift up Jesus to this generation. This resolve comes with a promise: “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). This resolution won’t reduce my waistline but will expand the kingdom of God. That's a benefit lasting forever!

Happy New Year,
Pastor David

There are at least two overlooked aspects of the story of Joseph and Mary. Yet knowing about these two dynamics to their life adds even more wonder to the Christmas story.

The first has to do with age. Mary would have been young, but Joseph was not. They had what we might call a “May-December romance.” And by our standards, very May and very December. He was probably in his 30s or 40s, and she may have been as young as 13. We can assume that because engagement for a woman usually took place immediately after entering puberty, which means Mary may have just entered her teens—13, 14 or at the oldest 15. Men would marry later, when they could be a financial provider and have their trade in hand. The earliest would be late teens or early 20s.

But signs point to Joseph being older than that. Since we don’t hear anything about Joseph once Jesus is an adult, it’s likely that sometime between the time when Jesus was 12 and 30 years old, Joseph died.

The last record of Joseph is from when Jesus was 12, when Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple. The next scene from the life of Jesus – in all four biographical accounts of His life in the Bible – was when Jesus was 30 and began His public ministry. In all four accounts of Jesus’ life, not a word is mentioned of Joseph during that time. When Jesus returns home, when Jesus interacts with Mary, when Jesus is interacting with members of His family… no Joseph. And on the cross, before His death, Jesus asks John to watch over Mary. This intimates that Jesus, as the eldest son, had carried that responsibility to that point, and was now asking another to help watch over His mother.

Which tells us that Mary was a widow and that sometime between the ages of 12 and 30 (probably in Jesus’ teen years) Joseph died.

Not many people realize that Jesus was raised, at least for a season, by a single-parent mom.

There’s an old tradition (not in the Bible, just an old tradition) that says that Joseph lived until he was 111 years old, dying when Jesus was 18. That he had been married with children before Mary, but his first wife had died. That would make him a very elderly man when he was betrothed to Mary—around 92 years of age.

But regardless of exactly when he died, or what filled his life before this marriage, his death explains why Jesus didn’t begin His public ministry until the age of 30. He was providing for the family, carrying on with His father’s trade that He had been taught by His father, which most hold to being carpentry.

And yes, carpentry would have been a part of his trade, but the Greek word that describes what Joseph’s trade was and that is often translated as “carpenter” really was more generic—it was “builder.” He was a builder, and he would have used whatever necessary building resources he had. And if you know anything about where this story took place, trees are few and far between. They would use lumber, but more often they would use what was readily available, which was stone. So if you really want to get into your head an idea of what Joseph’s craft was and what Jesus did, they were stone masons.

Which brings us to another aspect of their life: poverty. This could be assumed from Joseph’s line of work, but we know it for a fact because of what took place on the 40th day after the birth of Jesus, when Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem.

Following the birth of a son, a mother had to wait 40 days before going to the Temple to offer a sacrifice for the purpose of her purification. If she had a girl, that length of time was doubled. The purpose was to consecrate the baby to God. Back then, it was usually just the firstborn who was dedicated in this way because it was the firstborn who had all the rights of inheritance.

As part of that dedication, it was common to give a sacrifice or an offering to God. We are told that they offered a pair of doves or a pair of pigeons according to the law of Moses.

This is how we know they were poor.

The best and most common sacrifice was a lamb, and you were only allowed to bring something else if you didn’t have the money for a lamb. To give a lesser offering, you had to get special approval from Temple officials – a recognition that you were so poor that you couldn’t afford anything else – for a pair of doves or a pigeon to be accepted. So the poverty had to be extreme, and the poverty had to be proven. Theirs obviously was.

Why does this matter to the story of Christmas?

Because out of all the human beings on planet Earth, in all the situations those humans lived, Mary and Joseph were the two selected to be the parents for the coming of God in human form.

Fragile, poor, the death of the father imminent.

As Philip Yancey has written, the very birth of Jesus is about God wanting to be approachable. The God who could have roared, “who could order armies and empires about like pawns on a chessboard, this God emerged... as a baby who could not speak or eat solid food or control his bladder, [and] who depended on a [poor] teenage mother for shelter, food and love.”

This, among so many other things, gives depth to the meaning of the word used so often during the Christmas season: Emmanuel.

“God with us.”

Merry Christmas!,
Pastor David

Joseph, recognized as the earthly father of Jesus, plays a pivotal role in the Gospel narrative. Despite not being Jesus' biological father, Joseph's presence and actions significantly influenced Jesus' early life. His story, though less prominent in the Scriptures, offers profound insights into faith, obedience, and righteousness.

Joseph was a man of integrity and compassion. When he discovered that Mary was pregnant, he faced a heart-wrenching dilemma. According to Jewish law at the time, Mary could have faced severe punishment. Yet, Joseph chose not to expose her to public shame or harm. This decision reveals his deep compassion and understanding of God's justice—a justice that tempers law with mercy.

Throughout Joseph's narrative, we see a recurring theme of divine guidance. In a dream, an angel instructed Joseph not to fear taking Mary as his wife. In this moment, Joseph's response was critical. His obedience to God's message was immediate and unwavering. By accepting Mary and Jesus, Joseph entered the divine plan, even when it defied societal norms and his personal expectations.

Joseph's actions teach us about the nature of righteous living. His life exemplified the balance between adhering to the law and exercising mercy. His faith wasn't passive; it was active, requiring courage and trust in God's greater plan. In a world that often demands immediate judgment or reaction, Joseph's story encourages believers to pause, seek divine wisdom, and act in love.

Furthermore, Joseph's legacy is entwined with his humility. The Gospels do not record a single word spoken by Joseph, yet his actions speak volumes. He is a model of silent strength and devotion, showing us that our faithfulness is sometimes best expressed through quiet service and steadfastness rather than words.

Joseph's story also reminds us of the power of dreams and divine messages. In today's context, we might not experience angelic visitations in dreams, but God still speaks to us through various means—be it through Scripture, prayer, or the wise counsel of others. The key lesson here is the importance of listening to God's voice and acting upon it with faith and courage.

Joseph's life calls us to consider our own responses to God's calling. Are we prepared to act with compassion, like Joseph? Can we trust in God's plan, even when it disrupts our personal agendas? Joseph's example challenges us to live our faith with quiet strength, knowing that our role in God's story, no matter how small, is significant.

Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, offers us a rich example of faith in action. His story challenges us to listen for God's guidance, act with mercy, and live out our faith through obedience and humility.

Blessings,
Pastor David

In the familiar story of Jesus' birth, we often focus on the miracle and majesty of the events. Yet, nestled within this narrative is an intimate look at Mary, a young woman who faced a profound moment of confusion and uncertainty. Gabriel's message to Mary was not just a divine announcement but a life-altering revelation. Her initial reaction—a blend of confusion and wonder—is one that many of us can relate to when faced with unexpected turns in our own lives.

The angel's greeting begins with "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." This declaration might seem comforting, but for Mary, it stirred deep confusion. What did it mean to be "highly favored"? How was the Lord with her in this extraordinary way? Mary's response, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" reveals her deep confusion and the practical impossibility of the angel's message.

In this moment of bewilderment, Mary shows us a profound truth about faith—it does not require complete understanding. Instead, faith often begins in the midst of confusion, requiring us to trust in God's plan even when it seems beyond our grasp. Mary's story invites us to reflect on our own responses to God's calling. Like Mary, we might find ourselves questioning, "How can this be?" when faced with challenging situations or divine nudges that seem to make no sense within our human reasoning. Yet Mary's story encourages us to remain open to God's possibilities, trusting that His plans for us, though mysterious, are crafted with love and purpose.

It is through these moments of uncertainty that our faith has the opportunity to grow. Mary's story reassures us that it's okay to feel confused or overwhelmed. What's important is our willingness to trust in God's greater plan and to take that leap of faith, just as Mary did.
We are invited to walk in Mary's footsteps, stepping forward in faith amidst our confusion. In doing so, we align ourselves with God's divine purpose, allowing His will to unfold in our lives in ways we might never have anticipated.

Mary's youth didn't keep her from being a pillar of strength and grace. Despite the unknowns, she embraced her role as Jesus' mother with faith and courage. Her story is a testament to the power of unwavering belief and resilience, reminding us that God's strength can be found in every age.

Today, ponder areas in your life where you feel confusion or uncertainty. Ask yourself how you might invite God's presence into those spaces, trusting that He is at work even when the path ahead isn't clear. Remember, like Mary, you are highly favored, and the Lord is with you on this incredible journey.

May Mary's faith inspire us to trust in God's promises and take comfort in the knowledge that He is always with us, guiding our steps with love and grace.

We live around many young people who are desperate to get to know what is next in their lives. Chances are they won’t be visited by an angel, but they could be visited by you.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Hello First Church Family & Friends!

Take a moment and slowly read this powerful promise from God taken from Isaiah 60:1-2:

1 Arise, shine; for your Light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
2 For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.

One of my favorite names of Jesus is "Emmanuel," which in Hebrew means "God is with us." The Father loves His creation so much that He sent His Son to set aside his heavenly privileges and walk with us and to be the Light that casts out the darkness of our world. The promise in Isaiah reminds me that God had long ago planned to break into our world and deliver us from sin, hatred, and brokenness to restore us with righteousness, grace, and wholeness. What a privilege it is to have God with us!

As we journey towards our celebration of Christmas, let's all commit to not getting lost in the "craziness" of this season, but slowing down to see the God who walks with us and is our Light through the darkness.

Blessings,
Pastor David

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was filled with sorrow at the tragic death of his wife in a fire in 1861. The Civil War broke out the same year, and it felt like an additional punishment. Two years later, Longfellow was once again saddened to hear his son had been seriously wounded as a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac.

Sitting down at his desk one Christmas day, he heard the church bells ringing. It was in that setting he wrote the words to this famous Christmas carol:
I heard the bells on Christmas Day,
Their old familiar carols play.
And wild and sweet the words repeat,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said.
‘For hate is strong and mocks the song,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.’
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.’

A lot of people are having a hard time hearing the bells and singing Christmas carols this year because of what’s going on in their lives and all over the world. Like Longfellow, it’s hard for them to believe there will ever be peace on earth. If he were here today, he might write those lines again: “And in despair I bowed my head: ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said. ‘For hate is strong and mocks the song, Of peace on earth, good will to men.’”

But don’t stop there. Keep listening to the bells.

On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright finally succeeded in keeping their homemade airplane aloft for 59 seconds. They were ecstatic! As part of their excitement, they rushed a telegram to their sister in Dayton, Ohio. Their simple message was, “First sustained flight today of fifty-nine seconds. Hope to be home by Christmas.”

She was so enthralled with their success, she immediately took the telegram to the newspaper and gave it to the editor. The following morning the Wright brothers’ name was splashed across the front page. The headline read, “Popular Local Bicycle Merchants To Be Home For Holidays.”

He missed the whole point. And so do millions of people every December. They’re completely oblivious to the REASON for the season because they’re not listening to the bells.

As Longfellow continued to listen to those church bells, ringing on Christmas Day, he wrote: “Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men."

This Christmas, don’t turn away from the bells, turn to them. Even though you’ve got hurts that won’t seem to heal, problems that won’t go away, and burdens that tend to overwhelm and consume your soul. Don’t turn away from the Christmas carols, the Christmas programs or the Christmas services celebrating the birth of Christ.

Because there’s a magnificent message of hope ringing out to you and every person in the world. It’s “GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY THAT WILL BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE.” It’s the message that in CHRIST JESUS, the Messiah from Bethlehem’s manger, Conquering King of Calvary’s cross, and Resurrected Redeemer from earth’s empty tomb, we can find PEACE. Everlasting peace. Not only here on earth, but for all eternity.

The bells are ringing. Are you listening?

Merry Christmas,
Pastor David

The barracks where Corrie ten Boom and her sister, Betsy, were kept in the Nazi concentration camp Ravensbrück were terribly overcrowded and flea-infested.

Corrie and Betsy had been able to miraculously smuggle a Bible into the camp, and in that Bible they had read that in all things they were to give thanks and that God can use anything for good.

Betsy decided that this meant thanking God for the fleas.

This was too much for Corrie, who said she could do no such thing. Betsy insisted, so Corrie gave in and prayed to God, thanking Him even for the fleas.

Over the next several months a wonderful, but curious, thing happened: They found that the guards never entered their barracks.

This meant that the women were not assaulted.

It also meant that they were able to do the unthinkable, which was to hold open Bible studies and prayer meetings in the heart of a Nazi concentration camp.

Through this, countless numbers of women came to faith in Christ.

Only at the end did they discover why the guards had left them alone and would not enter their barracks:

It was because of the fleas.

This Thanksgiving, give thanks to God for every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), but also thank Him for how He will use all things for good in the lives of those who trust Him (Romans 8:28).

In a time of economic uncertainty, in a time when many are facing physical and emotional challenges, in a time when our country is so seemingly divided, there can be little doubt that such a trusting prayer of gratitude will be challenging to consider.

But when you feel that challenge, take a moment and remember the fleas of Ravensbrück.

And thank God anyway.
So very thankful for YOU,
Pastor David