He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 2 Timothy 1:9 - church at HMPC It's not a hard and fast rule, but Mondays I tend to find …
I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk Song of Songs 5:1 Over the years the garden has been a recurring theological theme in my writing. It's kind of funny because I am …
Continue reading Sunday morning preaching – and how our garden reminds me of church
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23 Two days, two worship services. They could not have been more different. They could not have been more similar. First, on Saturday, I enjoyed the blessing of being in the sanctuary at Wake …
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 - at St. Giles this Sunday It's been a while since I last penned any updates in the "Derek & Rebekah go to Church" series. We are …
Continue reading Another splash of new life (at hashtag “Derek & Rebekah go to church”)
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-16 I have been thinking …
Continue reading The only answer is to “Be devoted to one another in love”
Take hold of the life that is truly life!1 Tim 6:19 Sunday morning Rebekah and I enjoyed one of those deeply meaningful worship experiences that reaffirm everything positive about church and make us so incredibly thankful to be part of the Body of Christ. - Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church We needed to arrive early, as Rebekah …
Continue reading Getting the message right (btw, the message is “welcome home”)
Then Jesus replied, “Happy are you, Simon son of Jonah, because no human has shown this to you. Rather my Father who is in heaven has shown you. I tell you that you are Peter. And I’ll build my church on this rock. The gates of the underworld won’t be able to stand against it.Matthew 16:17-18 There …
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.Ephesians 3:17-19 - Benediction Peace …
Continue reading Caught by Surprise: (has it really been six months since Rebekah retired?)
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."Isaiah 60 Salvation is joining in with God, becoming partners in God's initiatives of light, justice, mercy, grace, peace, love... …
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given …
Continue reading The “why” of church: believe me, it is critically important!
Derek Maul: Words, Photographs, and Food for the Journey 