PRAYER & FASTING (APRIL 17, 2020)
Join us this coming week for a special week of prayer for our homes, churches, and spiritual concerns as well as our nation and world. Additionally, we’ll be uniting with many other churches in southern Sheboygan County on April 24th for a day of prayer and fasting. We invite you to join with us. Please see the link below to our website where you’ll find documents guiding us on topics of prayer for the week as well as a schedule…
EVEN THE WIND & WAVES (APRIL 16, 2020)
We read some amazing words in Matthew 8. We see the power of Jesus on display. Even the disciples you have been near him for a bit now are amazed at the power of this one who commands even the wind and waves. God is sovereign and in control, even in this time.
ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE (APRIL 15, 2020)
As we go through this time, it is easy to be a deer in the headlights focusing on only the hear and now. Having and keeping an eternal perspective gives us hope and encourages us each day.
FEAR & DELIGHT – PSALM 112:1
In a day calling us to fear the circumstances and delight in the things of this world, the psalmist calls us to fear and delight in something or rather someone else. Read Psalm 112:1 and then take a moment to view this video.
WHERE ARE OUR LIVES BUILT – MATTHEW 7
The wise man and the foolish man – the last few sentences in Matthew 7 and the conclusion of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. It’s a good children’s song, but there is some deeper truth to explore here as well about our relationship with God.
PD’S VLOG – GOOD FRIDAY (April 10, 2020)
Join us tonight at 6:30 PM for our Good Friday service. Here’s quick “hello” & reading that will encourage you and prepare you for this evening. “See” you all tonight online. – PD
THE LOVE OF GOD IN SOCIAL DISTANCING
Just some thoughts on loving one another during this time when we’re practicing social distancing as we reflect on the love of Christ. See the PDF below for some helpful thoughts and resources to consider.
TESTIMONY FROM IRELAND
In a time when circumstances and much that we hear through media can discourage us, here is a story from Ireland of God at work. This pastor was hospitalized by the COVID-19 virus and came through it. His testimony reminds us to call out to God. He hears us. He is still there. And he’s answering prayer and doing amazing things in people’s lives.
WHAT DO YOU WORSHIP?
In Matthew 2, we find the wise men from the east coming to worship Jesus. Herod says he desires to as well & asks them to report back to him. Seeing that word in the text & the actions that transpired for the different parties begs us to ask what do we worship? Worship and love affect our thoughts, actions, and investments of time and money. What do you worship?
A WORD FROM PAUL TRIPP
Saw this short clip on Facebook this morning. These words from him will encourage you in this time and help you to have a balanced perspective about what is going on presently.
AAH!
A word of fright or perhaps even fear. At the very least, it’s the shriek heard when a mouse runs across the floor. I grew up in an old farmhouse built in the early 1900s and remember various creatures running or jumping across the living room floor occasionally. While others might have cringed at it, we thought it was funny as we look back. In fact, during cricket season (and I’m not talking about the English game), we used to…
CONFESSING ATHEISTIC TENDENCIES
I heard a joke many years ago that has stuck with me. Though various versions likely exist, it goes something like this: God was sitting in heaven one day when a scientist said to Him, “God, we don’t need you anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing – in other words, we can now do what you did in the beginning.” “Oh, is that so? Tell Me…” replies God. “Well,” says the scientist,…
KINSMAN REDEEMER. WHAT’S THAT?
Kinsman Redeemer. That’s not a term you hear used in today’s language at all. Perhaps you’ve never even heard of the term. It is a concept found specifically in the Old Testament but appears in the New Testament though only as a backdrop of a bigger picture. In fact, it may actually be lost among other “Christianese” and theological terms that we are more familiar with. I’ve been writing a commentary on the book of Ruth recently though for school…
HARVESTING SOULS
Growing up on a small farm in Illinois, I grew to love working with my dad in the fields whether that be in the spring doing tillage & planting or in the fall harvesting & doing fall tillage. I enjoyed being in the tractor and in the field. I still love it to this day and treasure the few opportunities I get to do it yet. There is just something about the smell of freshly tilled earth or freshly cut…
THE FAMILY & THE CHURCH
I found it interesting this week that in the course of a couple of days I ran across two articles addressing the importance of the church. This past Sunday, I preached from Isaiah 1. My sermon was titled: “State of the Nation Address”. What do these have to do with one another? After all the church is a New Testament entity, and Isaiah is a book of judgement and prophecy written to the nation of Israel. They seem unrelated, until…
IS GOD’S WORD ENOUGH?
Early this week, I was perusing Facebook. Perhaps wasting time would be a better description of it. I usually do a quick scroll through the latest updates until I see something that catches my eye which may be a video or something happening in the life of a friend or a quote. That was what I noticed the other day, a quote by pastor and author David Platt. What if we take away the cool music and the cushioned chairs,…