E-News Article (Page 12)
Of Candy and Toothaches
Every Halloween I have to stop and ask myself whether we should, as a church, be promoting, encouraging, and participating in this holiday. Let’s face it, when you think about Halloween the mind quickly goes to scary, witches, ghosts, and goblins. I know it’s fun and there are many other costumes that have nothing to do with scary themes. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all How COVID has affected us
Focus on the Team – Part 2
Who Is Our “Team”? I wrote last month about Aaron Judge and his New York Yankees. Aaron was laser-focused on his role on the team and their goal to win baseball games. (Update: The Yankees made the post-season playoffs and are currently leading their best-of-seven series against the Cleveland Guardians by 1 game to none.) The New York Yankees, aka Bronx Bombers, are arguably one of the most successful sports teams in the United States. They have won 40 American How COVID has affected us
Armrests
Do you have good armrests? You may be thinking…in my car? In a movie theater? On my recliner? I’m referring to some Moses armrests. In Exodus, Moses was dealing with some grumpy Israelites. They were thirsty. So he took them to find water, but while trying to get water they were attacked by the Amalekites. Moses sent Joshua to lead the Israelites into battle and remained on a hill with his staff in his hands, praying and crying out to How COVID has affected us
All it Needs is a Little Miracle-Gro!
We all know what Miracle-Gro is. You use it in your veggie garden, flower garden and even your lawn to get bigger and better plants. Miracle-Gro boasts that if you use it (as Directed) you can grow plants twice as big! Double the yield, that’s quite the improvement! Jesus and the New Testament uses a lot of agricultural analogies. Jesus describes those who believe in him, the gospel, and the kingdom of heaven in many ways. People who believe in him are How COVID has affected us
Focus on the Team – Part 1
On Monday, August 29, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees hit his 50th home run of the season. He leads the MLB in home runs this year as the Yankees pursue the World Series pennant. The post-game interview went like this, “It’s just another number,” said Judge, who was intentionally walked twice Monday before going deep. “It’s great, but I’m kind of upset we lost. It’s a close game we could’ve won.”“I’m not downplaying it. I just don’t like How COVID has affected us
They’re Baaaaack
Yes, the students are back in school. The teachers and admin folks are back in school (and that group has probably been back for a couple of weeks). And, yes, our discipleship programs are back and getting ready to kick off (have you signed up yet?). So, let’s look at a comeback story in the Bible. In the book of Exodus, chapter 2, we read that Moses was born, his mother hid him in a basket by the Nile river, How COVID has affected us
Loss to Life
Tears were shed. Suppressed sobs echoed throughout the room. The minister spoke words of comfort as family members and friends sat quietly ruminating on their loved one. A faithful father or mother, loving brother or sister, exiting this life into the next. The loss is palpable and long-lasting for those left behind. No amount of condolences nor homemade meals will take away the pain. It must be endured for months, even years to come. You may have endured the loss How COVID has affected us
Take a Second and Smile
Summer is almost over, school is getting ready to start, gas prices are high, grocery store prices are skyrocketing, and the housing marketing they say is cooling but try finding a place to buy or rent around here, we haven’t had enough rain, monkeypox is on the move, Covid is here and then gone and then here and then gone, summer colds are kicking us around, and what is up with my golf game? I can’t buy a birdie or How COVID has affected us
Judgy McJudgerson
The easiest way to lose my respect is to hear someone judging someone else. I will often become super defensive of the person being judged when this occurs. I’d like to pretend it’s because I’m a really good person but I know the truth. It’s because I fear judgment from God. Matthew 7:1-5 has always resonated with me. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with How COVID has affected us
I like Chocolate, and you?
In 1983, Christian singer, Steve Tayor, asked “Whatever happened to sin?” Seems people were doing whatever they wanted without any concern as to what God wanted. Not that this is anything new. Since the beginning of time, we have seen a steady erosion of the concept of sin. The word “sin” in today’s modern world has become a word either relegated to the church or used only as a joke. Sin is seen as old-fashioned and outdated. It’s not really relevant to How COVID has affected us