Jesus As Our Shepherd
I know only a little about being a shepherd to sheep. My neighbor, at the first congregation I served, had sheep and once in a while, I would have to corral a sheep or two that figured out how to get out of the fence. One year she had two lambs and they were escape...
In Christ’s Strength We Can Do All Things.
My seven year old, Judah, asks me for the weather forecast each morning before he picks out his clothes. The funny thing is, he will wear shorts and a t-shirt year round. Jude doesn't feel cold, we say. Now and then he might be convinced to pack a jacket and on rare...
How Long, O Lord?
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me for ever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? Psalm 13:1-2a Another eight people have been killed in our nation because of hate. The violence...
Easter is a Punchline
“Christ is risen, Bethesda. Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!” The resurrection of our Lord is a joke at the expense of sin, death, and the devil. A chuckle that rises up to turn aside tears. A sudden burst of laughter that can’t believe its own good fortune. A...
How God Loves You
“The cross wasn't God's response to humanity's sin. It was humanity's response to God's love.”—David Henson I saw the above quote last week on Twitter. I like things that make me stop and look at what is being said. There are lots of theories lifted up about why Jesus...
“Jesus loves me, this I know”
Sometimes we take the long way around only to arrive right back where we started. Singing "Jesus loves me, this I know" can be equally powerful to the grandparent as to the grandchild in their lap, but for different reasons. A child could sing, "Jesus loves me, so I'm...
Questions
Instead of a usual article this month, I want to share some of the questions I’m thinking about as we approach the next few months. As more of our members receive their second dose of the vaccine, will they be ready to come back to church? How long will it take for a...
The Privilege No-one Wants
“27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28 and are...
Look Up
Dear Bethesda, I spent the last week on vacation. During that time off, I got to spend a few days in Sunriver. The weather was glorious! Clear blue skies and lots of sunshine. Days like that are good for the soul and good for refreshment and rejuvenation. Lots of long...
The ”ologies” of Food Wrap Up
I want to thank everyone who took the time to participate in the recent class that I offered. I want to highlight a few things from the class. First, I want to apologize because I accidentally didn’t record the last session (session 6) which also means I didn’t get...
What the Heavens Tell, What the Scriptures Teach
Our bedtime devotionals this past year have been "Indescribable" and "How Great is our God" by Louis Giglio. They are subtitled as "100 devotions about God & Science." Our kids enjoy the fun facts about creation while we also hear a word that relates this learning...
My Cross To Bear
“It’s just my cross to bear.” Maybe you have uttered these words or maybe you have heard them spoken by a friend or family member. We all have moments in life where we feel like we are carrying a heavy burden. But that heavy burden isn’t necessarily “our cross.”...