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Hey Church Family, A few weeks ago Steve Noble reminded us in staff meeting that May 28 is Pentecost Sunday. That got us whirling around (“What should we do?”) And what’s more, our John passage for Sunday mentions the Holy Spirit. Listen to what Jesus said to his “on the run with him” disciples who…
Hey Church Family, This Sunday we’re reentering the gold mine that is the Gospel of John. There’s no richer book! Let’s meet and celebrate our treasure, Jesus, the architect and landlord of the cosmos. He owns us (we’re his treasure) — and every rock, tree, river and mountain. Who haven’t you seen in a while…
Happy Mother’s Day, The phrase “stop, look, and listen” is commonly associated with road safety and cautionary measures when crossing a street or railway. The overall purpose of the phrase is to instill a sense of caution and mindfulness. It serves as a reminder to be vigilant, particularly in situations where there is great risk.…
Last Tuesday I contracted a severe case of hiccups. Now before you laugh, I assure you this was no small thing. Hiccups result from a sudden and involuntary contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. It not only made life difficult on me, but also on anyone around me. It really was annoyingly loud and…
“Fight, fight, fight…” I can remember the chant from elementary school. It signaled that two kids were going to meet back near the juniper bushes after class. (This was back in the days when kids walked home after school.) Everybody would come running and form a circle of excited spectators. We didn’t care about the…
Dearly Beloved, How can a “fat chance” and a “slim chance” mean the same thing? Can you imagine someone coming to the US and trying to understand how they basically do mean the same thing? Most of us know that they are idiomatic expressions used to describe the probability or likelihood of something happening. A…
“Just keep your eyes closed”, Valorie whispered in my ear as I dozed in the back of the crowded taxi. We had been travelling to Northern Iraq for about 48 hours without any significant sleep. From the airport our host had told the taxi driver to “drive fast” for the two hour trip to get…
Dear Friends, What if it is true that Jesus died for sinners, that the tomb is empty, that the demand for justice was satisfied, and that He lives forever? What are the implications for you and the rest of humanity? It means that salvation is available to all people who believe in Christ as their…
Dear Christ Followers, Are you the “real deal?” This phrase is used frequently and can be applied to a variety of contexts, such as in sports, relationships, politics, and in business. When someone says that another person is the “real deal,” it means that they are genuinely authentic, true to themselves, their beliefs, and their…
Dearly Beloved, Whatever? What does the word “whatever” communicate? As you know it can vary depending on the context in which it is used and the tone of voice used when saying it. In some instances, “whatever” can be used as a dismissive response to indicate that the speaker is not interested in continuing the…