Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4.4 We’ve all said it or heard it a hundred times: “Happy New Year!” It’s a seasonal greeting, a way of acknowledging that according to the Gregorian calendar, we’ve just begun a new numbered year – in this case, 2024. But for most of
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! The Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 5.20) The Apostle Paul prophetically wrote that “in the last days perilous times will come” (2 Tim. 3.1). He goes on to
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61.1-2 At the end of another year – how quickly this one has flown by! – we look
Haul out the holly Put up the tree before my spirit falls again Fill up the stocking I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now For we need a little Christmas, right this very minute… American composer and lyricist Jerry Herman passed away three years ago this month, leaving behind many memorable
Author’s note: Often before worship services, I enjoy playing hymns and reflecting on their lyrics. One of my favorites is entitled “I Love to Tell the Story.” This is the story behind that song. While evangelism has been the responsibility of Christians since Jesus uttered His ‘Great Commission’ (Matt. 28.18-20), it has not always enjoyed
After listing some of the great heroes of faith from the Old Testament in Hebrews 11, the author of this grand New Testament epistle begins the twelfth chapter with these words: Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so
I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday: Madison Avenue hasn’t been able to commercialize it the way they do most holidays. At its core there is one idea: Give thanks – and when it comes right down to it, that thanks is directed to God. In the fall of 1621, after a difficult year of
In September, I joined the growing fraternity of COVID-sufferers. It wasn’t fun. Nothing about COVID is. On the one hand, you have the arbitrary, inconsistent, and often-bizarre restrictions mandated by well-meaning (to be charitable) leaders who enjoy controlling other people’s lives. On the other, you have a man-made virus that will make you feel nauseous,
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. Psalm 56.3 We are living in a day of fear. COVID fears consume many; some Christians are so exercised about it that they divide from other Christians who feel differently than they do. There are fears of the encroachment of evil into our
As Christians ask God for wisdom and grace to live in days of increasing evil, the lessons from our sermon series “How Should We Now Live?” become ever-more applicable. This month we look back to an especially dark time in our nation’s history, which highlights the importance of Christians standing for truth. PC On
