In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word was with God in the beginning. Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being.What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the …
Continue reading First Sunday in Wilson (Rebekah & Derek really really go to church)
" But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”Joshua 24:15 Thanks to Jim Ferry and Kipp Spanbauer …
Continue reading a manifesto for men’s ministry (we all need a band of brothers)
“You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober – alert and clearheaded…”.1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 For me, today's big focus is about getting ready for a Friday …
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when …
Continue reading teaching faith to our grandchildren by living it
My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a …
Continue reading Dipping into the Devotional Classics with Rebekah
Jesus - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”John 16:33 Once in a while - not often enough I'm sure - Max Retriever gets to go see his friends at the Dirty Dog Spa and come …
Continue reading “Who’s a Good Boy!” – We all need a little affirmation
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”John 18:37 - Back at HMPC This Sunday Rebekah and I returned to Hudson Memorial Presbyterian …
Continue reading Countering a catechism of misinformation with more Jesus, because Jesus is truth
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deedsHebrews 10:23-24 - Opening slide Saturday morning, with the help of imagination, technology, and the enthusiasm of a Presbyterian pastor, I showed up for my first speaking gig …
- some of the Bibles on my bookshelf This weekend's "If I were teaching" post is going to focus - albeit very briefly - on the scriptures. In the chapter (10 Life-Charged Words), I focused on three keywords: SCRIPTURE: The sacred writings of the Bible.LOGOS: A ground, order, knowledge; the animating principle of divinity; the …
Continue reading The Amazing Power of Knowing Scripture! (“If I were teaching” – week 6)
But you are not like that (people who reject God), for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as …
Continue reading God called us out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
Derek Maul: Words, Photographs, and Food for the Journey 