A new house church network begins, and right away there is trouble – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Part 1

Today we start a study through the New Testament book titled 1st Thessalonians.  What is 1st Thessalonians?  Turn to Acts 17, because there’s a back story we need to hear if we want to answer the question “What is 1st Thessalonians?”  In Acts 17, the Christian church is only about 20 years old.  What JesusContinue reading “A new house church network begins, and right away there is trouble – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Part 1”

Jesus’ grand welcome – Advent Peace, Part 3

My granddaughter Lily is eleven months old, crawling all over the place and climbing stairs. She especially loves to do everything her older three-year old brother is doing.  The other day her brother Luke and I were playing with wooden trains, building a track layout on the floor. Lily crawled right into the middle ofContinue reading “Jesus’ grand welcome – Advent Peace, Part 3”

How an intimate surgical procedure became an idea that can change the world – Advent Peace, Part 2

Can you guess what intimate surgical procedure the title of this post is referring to? Some people consider it barbaric. The National Institutes of Health reports that 80% of eligible people age 14-59 have had this procedure. What do I mean by “eligible people”? I’m being intentionally vague so as not to give away, justContinue reading “How an intimate surgical procedure became an idea that can change the world – Advent Peace, Part 2”

How could David slaughter men and women…and lie about it? – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Part 4

In the previous post, we read something very dark about David, who was supposed to be a man after God’s own heart. In 1st Samuel 27, we learned that David and his men go out on raids, slaughtering people.  Men and women.  Also, David clearly didn’t want his new king, the Philistine, Achish, to knowContinue reading “How could David slaughter men and women…and lie about it? – 1st Samuel 26 & 27, Part 4”

Advent and…the Psalms of Ascent, Part 5

This week I welcome guest blogger, David Hundert. David and his wife Terri are members of Faith Church. David is currently studying for his Master of Divinity at Evangelical Seminary of Kairos University. How do the Songs of Ascent help us understand Advent? As I mentioned in the beginning of this series here, the Songs of Ascent wereContinue reading “Advent and…the Psalms of Ascent, Part 5”

The third leg of the journey into…The Psalms of Ascent, Part 4

This week I welcome guest blogger, David Hundert. David and his wife Terri are members of Faith Church. David is currently studying for his Master of Divinity at Evangelical Seminary of Kairos University. The Third Antiphon (Chant) 130-134 At this point, this journey is on it’s last leg. The kids have fallen asleep. They’ve gotten cheerios allContinue reading “The third leg of the journey into…The Psalms of Ascent, Part 4”

Taking a journey into the…Psalms of Ascent, Part 1

This week I welcome guest blogger, David Hundert. David and his wife Terri are members of Faith Church. David is currently studying for his Master of Divinity at Evangelical Seminary of Kairos University. Does you like vacations? I have to admit, I don’t travel well. I get so stressed out about the travel process that, until IContinue reading “Taking a journey into the…Psalms of Ascent, Part 1”

When the world moves into your neighborhood – Current Events Week November 2021, Part 1

Who are your neighbors?  Think about people who live around you.  Imagine their faces, say their names.  How well do you know them?  Who is your neighbor?  There are many other kinds of neighbors. Some people are unexpected neighbors.  Some people are neighbors that you didn’t realize are neighbors.  Some are neighbors, and you knowContinue reading “When the world moves into your neighborhood – Current Events Week November 2021, Part 1”

Interpreting the parable of the Eagles and the Vine – Ezekiel 17, Part 2

Can you interpret the allegorical parable of the Eagles and the Vine in Ezekiel 17? In the previous post, we talked about how this parable is for people that have lost hope, or are feeling it slip away. So it is important that we understand it. In this second post of a five-part series studyingContinue reading “Interpreting the parable of the Eagles and the Vine – Ezekiel 17, Part 2”

The Prophetic Stare? – Ezekiel 6, Part 1

I’ve been listening to a compelling podcast called The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.  Mars Hill is the name of a megachurch in Seattle, Washington.  It was a church started by a small group of people in 1996, but eventually came to be synonymous with its lead pastor, Mark Driscoll.  At its height, theContinue reading “The Prophetic Stare? – Ezekiel 6, Part 1”