“The cure for an exclusive church is an extending church.”–Jonathan Bauer, pastor Divisions run deep. And there are all kinds of ways you might divide yourself from other categories of people. Unfortunately, this is even true of some churches. Some churches see a divide between themselves, the “religious” and “pious,” and others. Whether purposefully or […]

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from […]

“We have plenty of beliefs, but too few convictions.”–Mike Woodruff, pastor It’s easy to hold a belief when you like the results. It’s easy to believe the Cubs will win it all when they’re hitting the cover off the ball. It’s easy to believe Tom Holland is the best Spider-Man when he turns in a […]

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This […]

“Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.”–Martin Luther King, Jr. Greatness doesn’t always make the headlines. A mom rocks her baby to sleep, even though she can barely stay awake herself. A middle manager calmly diffuses a tense situation, even though the employee has gotten on his last nerve yet again. A lifelong friend […]

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, […]

“Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”– C.S. Lewis, author …And they lived happily ever after, the end! Fairy tales feature perfect princesses and knights in shining armor, blood-loving dragons and black-hearted villains—clear good and clear evil. We loved fairy tales as children, especially because the good guys always got […]

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.  “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows […]

“You find peace not by rearranging the circumstances of your life, but by realizing who you are at the deepest level.”–Eckhart Tolle, self-help author When your MacBook malfunctions, where do you take it to be fixed? Other things being equal, I’d skip the seedy repair shop for the Apple Genius Bar. I’d prefer to have […]

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no […]