“Christian faith is not blind faith. It is the wakeful expectation of God, which touches all the senses. The early Christians prayed standing up, looking up, with arms outstretched and eyes wide open, ready to walk or to leap forward. Their prayer posture reflects tense expectation not quiet heart searching. “We do not watch just […]
God initiates worship. It is His action, His work. He invites us to join the continuous fellowship and outpouring of joy that is occurring all the time around us and in the Heavens. All creations is constantly adoring and constantly exalting in perfect unity the creative power and majesty of God (see Psalm 9). Who […]
“I don’t wonder anymore what I’ll tell God when I go to heaven when we sit in the chairs under the tree, outside the city……..I’ll tell these things to God, and he’ll laugh, I think and he’ll remind me of the parts I forgot, the parts that were his favorite. We’ll sit and remember my […]
In case you were one of those rare individuals that avoided or had not heard abut the storm we had two week ago, it was one for the record books. A storm blew threw our area on Friday evening June 29th and knocked out power to the whole area, the better part of West Virginia […]
The Great Story of God This is a transcript of the service used on December 24, 2011. It is a closer look at the characters, circumstances and context that combine to make each piece part of the Greater Story of Christmas. No one character had all the pieces of the puzzle at the time, but […]
God, What do you want to do through me this year with the life and gifts you’ve given me? Stewardship as a way of life has amazing implications for our relationships and our daily lives. It expands the horizons of our world and provides direction and focus to our busy lives. When we commit ourselves to […]
Every year about this time our church becomes a buzz of activity. People from all over converge like salmon to do their part in a ritual that goes back to before I was born. Walls that were once bare, cold and empty are virtually blossom with color, action and above all life. Of course I’m […]
For Them – Every Child deserves a chance to experience, explore and embrace God’s love in and among God’s people. When children see real life men and women living as disciples, they are encouraged to learn about God’s dream for their lives too. They deserve to have a place where people give generously of the time, talents and […]
What follows is a collection of quotes on the subject of Sin, Addiction, and God’s reaction through the work of Jesus Christ. These quote and ideas were used in a sermon Series “Breaking Free” presented at First United Methodist Church on July 10 & 17, 2011 and are currently available on line for listening and […]
The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way. (J. R. R. Tolkien) The Sacred Romance calls to us every moment of our lives. It […]
Are you a grateful person? Can you list the 10 things you will miss the most when you die? “Gratitude changes the way we start the day, spend the day, and look back at the day. It defines us as people who value our relationship with God and those He’s placed around us.” – Nancy Leigh […]
The crisis of hope that afflicts the church today is a crisis of imagination. Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft writes: Medieval imagery (which is almost totally biblical imagery) of light, jewels, stars, candles, trumpets, and angels no longer fits our ranch-style, supermarket world. Pathetic modern substitutes of fluffy clouds, sexless cherubs, harps and metal halos […]
We reach out to people and welcome them into the church We have a direct responsibility for people of the “world” around our church, the community in which we study, work, shop, play, and so forth. In this world are people with many hurts, doubts, and questions. There are some who are new in the […]
A thousand questions is a wonderful Journey to find the heart of God. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNBmNl88Pk] Related posts: Should Churches do Commercials? 7 Questions Every Church Must Answer Haiti Mission Society Video PandaMania 2011
CS Lewis’ writings have never stopped engaging my mind, challenging my faith, and opening new doors of Christian life and thought. For me the adventure really all began with Mere Christianity. Lewis’ clarity and ability to ask questions he know we all have and then provide the answers is like talking to an old friend […]
Commandment #5 — Honor Thy Spouses Past For the last several weeks I’ve been mulling over the relationship between the 10 commandments as given to Moses in Exodus 20 as a model for relationships. I see the experience between God and the Hebrews at Mt. Sinai as kind of a marriage covenant. If we then […]
Life is a story, not a task, not a script, not a competition, but a love story GOD God is the author of life’s story. The greatest commandment of all is to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. The best, most enduring joy is found in Him. He is our greatest […]
Lectio Divina Tuesday August 5, 2008 Read slowly Exodus 4:1-5 Exodus 4 (NIV) Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. The LORD said, “Throw […]