I stopped in Walmart yesterday to pick up a few groceries. By the time I got to the self-check line it was plain to see that the woman in front of me had had words with the young man who was already at the kiosk over his not wearing a face mask. “I don’t need...
COVID-19: LIVING BY PROBABILITIES OR BY PROVIDENCE? by Mike Emlet The COVID-19 pandemic is making statisticians of us all. Perhaps you, like me, have investigated where you fall in the mortality-by-age charts. (If you haven’t, don’t.) I’m 58 and, at least on the graphics presented last week, if I contract the virus my probability of...
We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until. And not only creation, be we ourselves,… (Romans 8:22-23) I sent an email to a friend who is fellow pastor in New York City yesterday, asking how he and his family were doing and how I could pray for...
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord!!” (Psalm 122) This post is another installment in my endeavor to keep us as a congregation connected during this season of “social distancing”. Needless to say, we are unable to go into the house of the Lord for...
When I am afraid I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4) We see the news coming out of Italy and Spain. Germany and France are right behind. We don’t know how this thing...
His divine power has granted to us all the things that pertain to life and godliness,…Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election,… (2 Peter 1:3-10) My goodness, here it is 2020! A new year. A new decade. Was it really twenty years ago that we celebrated the turn...
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18) As I write this, Charleen, Ian and I are preparing to leave for Virginia, where I have been asked to officiate the wedding of my nephew. Mark’s fiancé is from...
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that...
Using Gifts for the Good of the Church by Tim Challies The Bible is a book full of metaphors—word pictures that God uses to explain who He is and what He requires of us. We are sheep and God is a shepherd. We are treasonous prodigals and God is a forgiving Father. We are trees,...
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. (Luke 10:33) It has been a delight for me to watch as many of you have taken the challenge to memorize one of the parables of Jesus and recite it in front of the congregation on...
