secretary Why the Cross? View in browser September 30, 2022 Why the Cross? Vicki Kemper Jesus said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” – Mark 8:34 (NRSV) One Sunday after worship I was talking with a busy young mother holding her … Read more
A Revelation Revisited View in browser September 29, 2022 A Revelation Revisited Marilyn Pagán-Banks I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. – Revelations 21:22 (NRSV) Whenever we sing “Welcome into This Place” and we get to the line, “Welcome into this broken vessel,” … Read more
Radical Rest-Taking View in browser September 28, 2022 Radical Rest-Taking Phiwa Langeni Six days shall work be done; but the seventh day is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no work: it is a sabbath to the Lord throughout your settlements. – Leviticus 23:3 (NRSV) Growing up in a sabbath-observing … Read more
Post-Covid Church Conflict Got You Down? View in browser September 27, 2022 Post-Covid Church Conflict Got You Down? Lillian Daniel What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? – James 4:1 (NIV) Is your church experiencing some conflict? If so, you are not alone. As I … Read more
Daily Devotional for Small Group Discussion: From Your Lips to God’s Ears View in browser September 26, 2022 From Your Lips to God’s Ears Vince Amlin I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and … Read more
Feasting View in browser September 25, 2022 Feasting Donna Schaper The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?” – Luke 13:15 (NIV) Mark Twain once wrote, “Work consists of whatever a body is obliged … Read more
Kids Are Cute, But They’re Terrible View in browser September 24, 2022 Kids Are Cute, But They’re Terrible Quinn Caldwell Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” – Matthew 19:14 (NRSV) Everyone wants to know exactly … Read more
How to Annoy Jesus View in browser September 23, 2022 How to Annoy Jesus Kaji Douša Jesus said to them, “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, by saying: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.’” – Matthew 15:7-8 (NASB) One thing that annoyed the bejesus … Read more
Sandwich-y-ness View in browser September 22, 2022 Sandwich-y-ness John Edgerton For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. – 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV) This passage is beautiful, inspiring, flowing with grace. Also … Read more
This Poor Widow View in browser September 21, 2022 This Poor Widow Martha Spong Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of … Read more