Message from the Pastors (Page 7)

As Shawn was preaching yesterday, I was struck by the accessibility of Jesus. The invitation is to ‘come and see’. Far from being a God who is distant and inaccessible, Jesus is close enough for us to ‘come and see’ Him and He desires that we do just that. As the weeks drag on and so much is inaccessible right now, Jesus remains just as accessible as ever. And nothing can cut off that access! The reality that ‘nothing can separate us from…

As I was preparing last week for the Easter service in my music room, I took a break to gaze out of one of my two windows. From my second story lofty view, way off in the distance, I could see the hills that I once was able to cycle in freely. It was at that moment that I felt, for the first time, an ache within me for how different things have become in a very short period. Staring…

There is no teacher more discriminating or transforming than loss. Sometimes I wonder how the disciples felt after Jesus went to heaven. Yes, he survived the grave. Yes, he conquered death. Yes, he ascended to heaven and now is with God. But the hard part, the sad part for them, was that he was physically gone! This time permanently. No longer would they walk and talk with him. His face-to-face teaching and praying and weeping was over. There must have…

It’s occurred to me that Noah and his family were the first to shelter in place.  With many women studying Genesis 1-11 this year, we see similarities between Noah and his family being shut in the ark while the waters prevailed and our being shut in our homes as the virus seems to prevail.  But God remembered Noah and God remembers us too.  He told Noah when to disembark and He’ll tell us when we can leave our homes and return to work,…

This Sunday we begin a new series in the Gospel of John. The title of this series will be “Come and See.” The entire Gospel of John is an invitation to all of us to “come and see” who this Jesus really is.  Come is the first word of command spoken by Jesus in John. He invites us to come, and in coming and encountering him, we will see (John 1:39). And, when we do, we will have – LIFE! Life abundant and life eternal!  That’s the ultimate invitation from Jesus…

Redefining the “Good”             The corona virus has stopped the world in its tracks like nothing else in our lifetime. Wherever we turn we are confronted with loss on an unprecedented scale—the loss of life, income, jobs, companionship, sports, concerts, recreation, travel…the list goes on. It can be so overwhelming, that I found it necessary to monitor how much news I listen to, lest I spiral into the dark hole despair. Never before have I seen the apostle’s command to be “transformed by…

Like Christmas, Easter is so big that a one day celebration seems inadequate.  Wouldn’t you agree?  After all, Christ has defeated death!  This is why the church throughout the centuries has celebrated “Eastertide” for fifty days, until Pentecost Sunday (May 31st this year).  The point of Eastertide is to allow the implications of Christ’s resurrection to sink in deeper.  Paul says that we have been raised with Christ which means we can begin living “resurrection power” now, as Joel preached…

This is a Holy weekend.  One that is full of reflection of what our Savior has done for his people and acknowledgement that His work is continuing through His Spirit. Most years as we approach this weekend I find myself rushing from Good Friday to Resurrection Sunday, often overlooking the Saturday between.  But in this different space we’ve been in, I have found myself reflecting on what this day would have been like for the disciples.  It had to have…

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

I usually remember to pray for things or events that I’m anticipating and then once they’re over, I try to remember to give thanks.  However, about eight years ago I was introduced to the Prayer of Examen, an ancient practice that helps me see God’s hand at work in my experiences.  Also called the Examination of Consciousness, this spiritual exercise has helped me learn to notice God ‘s presence in the rearview mirror.  Often before I go to sleep, I pray backwards through…

On Tuesday mornings a number of us have been working our way through one of the most beautiful poems in the Bible, Isaiah 40-55—the book of “comfort” to Israel’s exiles in Babylon. The Hebrew term “comfort” (nicham) is not merely receiving sympathy, but being consoled by a radical “change” of circumstances. God’s comfort “changes” things—“he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness an Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord” (51:3). We’ve found the prophet’s words…

As we begin the Passion week, the shadow of the cross begins to take shape over us.  We like to look ahead and focus on Easter, but the path to this great celebration goes through the cross and Good Friday.  The cross was a sign of utter repulsiveness in the Roman world, yet now, we wear it around our neck?  It makes sense that the first disciples did not understand.  Who would have?  I know I wouldn’t have. When Christ…