March 2nd – 31st When the apostle Paul was preaching about Jesus in the Greek city of Corinth in the first century he faced a great degree of persecution and threats. One night in a vision the Lord said to him, Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for
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The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27 The wisdom literature in the Bible is replete with references to the fear of the Lord. Here it is the fountain of life. In other passages it is the beginning of wisdom and
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Christmas reminds us that even before Jesus’ birth, his mission was clear. He would bring redemption to a lost world. Every aspect of Jesus’ life was built on this mission—from his birth, marked by the signs in the heavens, to his death and the darkened skies. Even at 12 years old he was about his
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One of the things the world is feeling is division. We feel the increasing pressure to divide by politics, by the pandemic and its protocals, and by a plethora of ideologies. In such a world the tension is palpable and emotionally exhausting. That’s the harsh reality in which we live. But the good news is
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With the onset of the pandemic, many businesses changed their business practices. What was once done in person now became acceptable, and often preferred, via zoom. It saved on travel, expense, and time. Churches followed suit, streaming their worship services over youtube or facebook. While most people would recognize there are lost elements to such
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Years ago we had a young woman in our church very gifted on the piano. At the time, we were in great need for musicians in worship and so I asked her if she would play. Most of the time I asked, however, she declined because of the stressful memories she had from performing on
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In my morning psalter I chanted these words, Nourish the Church at the banquet of your Word and Bread, strengthened by this food may she follow you in joy. Mundelein Psalter As much as I try to emphasize the importance of regular worship, this was nice to read. It helps as we reshape our view
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Someone recently asked me where in the Bible it tells us to have a daily quiet time. To the surprise of many, perhaps, it doesn’t. That’s important to know in a day that popular Christian culture deems it a must. A daily quiet time is not an ordinary means of grace. This is not to
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That is the question for many. Another question is also circulating: how should I treat the unvaccinated (or vaccinated, depending on your perspective)? That’s an easier question to answer. You love them. It’s not complicated. The parable of the good Samaritan shows us that we are to love those who very well might be viewed
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When we think of attending a worship service, “practical” isn’t what generally comes to mind. Perhaps “obligatory” (for those who attend out of a sense of duty) or “beautiful” (for those who enjoy the music and aesthetics), or “helpful” (for those who appreciate the teaching) are more familiar words to associate with worship. And yet,
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