Pastor’s Blog
-
Serve the Lord with Gladness
“Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing,”—Psalm 100:2 (NASB). Let’s be honest—it’s not always easy to “serve the Lord with gladness.” And we’ve all had days when we’ve been hard pressed to “come before His presence with singing.” So, what’s a believer to do? If your…
-
How to Recognize a Vegan
Have you ever observed the behavior of people in love? They have a lot in common with vegans! Allow me to explain by means of question and answer: Question: How do you know if a person is vegan? Answer: You don’t need to. They’ll tell you. The sure evidence that someone is…
-
People ARE THE Mission!
The Big Mac has been consumed over 550 million times in the US since it came to be in the late 1960’s. Why has it been so popular? Advertising – word of mouth, first-hand experience with the product combined with a catchy little jingle that everyone learned in the 70’s…”2 all beef patties, special sauce,…
-
Why Pray?
We’ve always believed that the beauty of the truths we hold dear, as Seventh-day Adventists will be enough to keep us tethered securely to our faith. But what if that it’s not enough? What if belief in the system was never meant to be the thing that held us fast? The Jewish nation…
-
An Eye to Our Souls
In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated the obvious, yet not so obvious. “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the sōma;…
-
Until Then…
There’s a song in the SDA Hymnal, “Until Then” number 632, that I would like to quote: “My heart can sing when I pause to remember, A heartache here is but a stepping stone. Along a trail, that’s winding always upward, This troubled world, is not my final home.” Refrain:…
-
This Little Light of Mine
I was walking my dog, Beau, the other night when I started to look, really look, at my neighborhood. I walked past a house where little kids had played the summer before while their mom sat on the front porch watching them. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen her or the children for…
-
I Hear You!
Jesus said, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:14 And, in 1John 5:14-15 it says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we…
-
If You Only Knew. . .
I’ve never had to walk through a desert in search of water. I’ve never felt the fear of knowing I would die from lack of water. I’ve never experienced the agony of watching my children struggle as a result of drinking contaminated water. I’ve never had my days, my life, consumed with the need to…
-
Making Christ Manifest
April 27, 2021. It was a joint decision on the part of Karen and I that we would make our Parkinson’s journey public as a means of strengthening the faith community. Part of our going public included the solicitation of prayers of friends. Among them are Jodi (at Meridian City Hall) and Max (better known…
-
Simple Faith
Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12 NKJV During my sermon prep this week, I was reminded of a special faith-building experience I had with my son. It happened shortly after we were baptized … many years ago! It was a…
-
He Isn’t Here
When life body slams us it’s not unusual to ask, Where are you, God? I’ve asked that question through the years: Sometimes in anger, sometimes in frustration, and sometimes from a place of deep sadness. I know I’m not alone in asking this question. Jesus knew how it felt to be alone. Though He…
-
HE IS RISEN!!
This is the Passion Week! The most important week in all of human history – past, present, and future! Without “His”-story, and this week where would we be? What hope would we have? This week must be remembered and shared – this truth MUST BE told because what happened during this week made the difference…
-
Watch and Pray
As Jesus led His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane for the last time His mind was burdened by the unseen battle waging around and within Him. While the disciples knew something troubled their Master, they were clueless regarding the severity of the conflict. Jesus had tried to tell them—to strengthen them for what was…
-
Your Faith: Certainty or Theory?
I recently watched a five-minute interview on cable TV in which Joy Reid spoke with well-known Evangelical pastor and best-selling author Timothy Keller. Over the years Keller has counseled innumerable men and women facing mortality. Either their own or that of a loved one. A few months ago Keller was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Reid had a rather direct…
-
Are You Hungry?
The Lord’s prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 is well known by most, if not all, Christians. We focus on different aspects of it depending on our life circumstances at the moment. This week, verse eleven jumped out at me, “Give us this day our daily bread.” NKJV or “Give us today the food we need,” NLT and in…
-
He Restores My Soul
What is your reason for getting up in the morning? Where do your first thoughts turn—even before you open your eyes? Depending on the season of life you’re in it might be anything from, I need to get the kids ready for school to, Oh, no! That project’s due…
-
A Little More Honey
So, no one likes to be told that they’re wrong all the time. To be honest, we hate it and we typically do our best to avoid those kinds of people. Yet have you noticed that Christians are sometimes the worst offenders? And then we wonder why so few respond to our invitation to…
-
Here Comes The Bride
February 15, 2021 It’s not exactly the wedding season but, it’s coming, according to the “Real Weddings Study” done by The Knot organization! Seventy-three percent of all weddings happen May to October with October the highest at 17% because of weather. But, all brides know that the season begins way before the actual day! The…
-
In Jesus’ Name
February 8, 2021 I often end my prayers with the words, “In Jesus’ name. Amen.” Perhaps you do too. But is that all there is to praying in Jesus’ name? Jesus told His disciples, “Truly, truly, I say to you if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you…