THE BLOG
Category
Topic
- Anxiety 2
- Beauty 1
- Bible 4
- Blessings 1
- Body of Christ 1
- Burden 1
- CEO 1
- Christian Living 91
- Christlikeness 6
- Christmas 9
- Commandments 1
- Community 1
- Conflict 1
- Cults 1
- Culture 1
- DDM 1
- Death 1
- Discipleship 3
- Emotions 4
- Eternity 2
- Evangelism 6
- Faith 2
- Forgive 2
- Freedom 1
- Fusion 1
- Gather 1
- God 1
- Gospel 2
- Gratitude 1
- Hebrews 11 1
- Holiness 1
- Holy Spirit 1
- Homosexuality 1
- Humility 1
- Israel 2
- Jesus 5
- Joy 2
- King of Glory 1
- Lying 1
- Missions 1
- Outreach 1
- Pastor Jeff 1
- Perspective 2
- Prayer 7
- Psalm 119 3
- Reading 1
- Salvation 13
- Sanctification 1
- Satan 1
- Scripture 2
Are You In?
Can you say, “I’m in”? It is very easy to underestimate the importance of being involved. I use the word involved as a verb which simply means to be actively engaged in something. Involvement is at the very heart and soul of everyone’s life and faith:
Let's Pause and Remember
All too often it seems the Christmas season is a blur. It comes and goes so quickly, doesn’t it?
It’s not the American way, but let’s slow down, be still, take time to reflect, and let it really sink in—the real meaning and message of Christmas. We heard it once again on Sunday:
Jesus emptied Himself.He took on human flesh.He became a servant. He humbled himself.He obeyed to the point of death on a cross.
What if Jesus Hadn’t Come
Dear Church Family, I believe I speak for all the staff and elders when I pray that during this Christmas season and at all times God would enable you to treasure His incarnate and risen Son above all else.Have you ever asked yourself what would be different if Jesus had never been born? If Jesus had not come in the fullness of time and been born of a woman and fulfilled the law, there would be no Bethlehem and this staff photo would not be possible.If Jesus had not been born
Kenosis
Who [Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! || Philippians 2:6–8
Kenosis is a Greek word meaning “emptiness” or “to empty.” It is the word that theologians use to describe verse 7 when Jesus “makes himself nothing” or “empties himself” by taking on the nature of a slave/servant. Jesus maintains His deity, but somehow empties Himself? Because of this, people continue to ask questions like “what did Jesus know,” “what did he learn,” and “could Jesus walk on water as a boy?” These questions might be fun to debate, but they miss the point of the kenosis.
Spiritual Evergreens
Washington is called the “Evergreen State.” The experts say we have 25 different types of evergreens growing in our state. While most of the evergreens are in the western side of the state, these conifers are found in every part of the state. The one thing they all have in common is what we enjoy most about them…they never stop being green.
You could say that the Lord wants us to be evergreen-like followers who never stop displaying and growing three virtues in our lives. These virtues are well-known, but easily neglected and underdeveloped.
Paul unveils them in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18.
The Thanksgiving Song
One of my favorite quotes around Thanksgiving is “everyone seems to be thankful at Thanksgiving, except the Turkeys.” I’m not sure who said that, perhaps a vegan, but I’m thankful the Lord gave us some tasty meat to enjoy during this national time of Thanksgiving, especially the white meat (with stuffing and gravy on top).
There is only one song in the book of Psalms that is specified as “a Psalm of Thanksgiving,” and it is Psalm 100. It is the last of what is known as the Royal Psalms (or Theocratic Enthronement Psalms: 93–100). These psalms highlight God’s Sovereign reign over all as King and Judge and they call all nations to worship Him.
God chose to use two Hebrew words for “thanksgiving” and they are both used in this psalm in the same verse (v. 4).
Why? Why? Why?
Why? We all ask this question from time to time about the smallest of things (Why do I keep losing my keys?) to the biggest of things (Why did God allow my child to die?).
Asking the why questions is a very normal human response since God has given us a rational mind that wants to make sense out of things until they don't make sense. Why do I have a terminal disease? Why isn't God answering my prayers? Why do I suffer chronic pain? Why did my spouse suddenly leave me? Why am I continually experiencing financial loss? Why do I feel so lonely? Why is life so hard? Why do I struggle with depression?
Why? Why? Why?
Quotables by Notables to Live By
We have all been moved in one way or another by famous quotes like:
“Give me liberty or give me death.”(Patrick Henry during a speech to the Second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775, at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia)
“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”(President John F. Kennedy at his inaugural address as the 35th president of the United States on Friday, January 20, 1961, at the East Portico of the United States Capital in Washington D.C.)
Both of these quotes have been monumental in the life and development of our country, but when it comes to words that have monumentally transformed lives for eternity, here are some profound words: