“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 […]

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 […]

“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 […]

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 […]

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ “Anyone […]

A fish washed up on the beach moves her tail, but nothing happens. Try as she might, she can’t do what she was meant to do. But if you put her back in the water and she moves her tail, she feels like she’s soaring. When we search for the meaning of our life in […]

Why do people go to church? Or, more importantly, why might you go to church? Because it’s something to do, because it’s how you were raised? Jesus says that church is for people who are sick. People who are anxious. People who have guilt from their past. People who feel inadequate in some way. People who have […]

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were […]

Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved those who were his own in the world, he loved them to the end.By the time the supper took place, the Devil had already put the idea into the heart of […]