Devotionals
Please enjoy our weekly devotionals written by our pastors
He Gives More Grace
The depiction of the Devil having horns and a tail isn’t found in the Bible. It likely originates from literature dating to the first or second century where Jewish and Christian writers associated him with goat demons (Lev. 17:7). It is believed that the Evil One’s fall was rooted in pride. About him it says in Isaiah 14:13-14, “You said in your heart, ‘I will [...]
Half-Baked but Fully Prepared
Doubtless many will disagree with me, but I find cookie dough ice cream unappetizing. I’m aware that there are dozens of variations of flavors, but I find the gooey texture that simulates uncooked food to be unpleasant. While I’m sure some of you would sooner put chocolate syrup in my gas tank than be subjected to my cookie dough criticism, there is one thing [...]
Handling Haters
My wife and I were recently watching a western TV series that featured a gang of outlaws that rustled cattle, stole horses and cheated at cards. They were painted in a sympathetic light as men that had been given a raw deal in life. They had been raised in a rough environment, received little love and forced to fend for themselves most of their [...]
Which Five Are You?
My brother and I have participated together in a number of “adventure races” over the years. They are 8 to 12-hour events that include multiple activities. All of them involve mountain biking, and there is some combination of a water event (like kayaking) and a ropes event (like repelling) along with other physically challenging and “adventurous” tasks. The first one was my brother’s idea [...]
Worthy of Christ
In Matthew 10 Jesus sent the twelve apostles on a mission. “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons” (Mt. 10:5–8). In addition to the [...]
Will You or Won’t You?
Trust is an implicit reliance on others. Whether it’s a Special Operations force, an Olympic relay race or a high performing business team, trust is a fundamental ingredient. It is the starting point for any meaningful relationship. Whether physical or emotional, to demonstrate trust in another is to put oneself in a vulnerable position. One of the purest forms of trust is that of [...]