Thought of the Week

It is interesting how Christmas Traditions begin in a family and endure through the years. The one I want to share with you started because of a man who hated the commercial side of Christmas. He was fine with the true meaning of Christmas but had no use for the frantic running around, gifts given […]

There is no mention in the Bible of the Date of Jesus Birth.  As best we can determine, it didn’t even occur to early Christians that they should celebrate His Birthday.  The fact is that the Baptism of Jesus was far more important to them than his birth date. Before the birth of Jesus, midwinter […]

We are now in the Month of December. It is hard to believe how fast this year has passed. December 2, is the First Sunday of Advent. We began the year with the Theme “Continue to Pray” I have called attention to this theme throughout the year.  As we approach Christmas with so much pain, […]

Rarely do I ever think of Thanksgiving without remembering the elementary play when I was in the first grade. Funny how you can recall what happened 70 plus years ago and can’t remember what you had for breakfast this morning. Back then, children were encouraged to share their faith, sing hymns and even pray in […]

“Church Chuckles” is a delightful little book compiled by Ellen Blooming and Paul Seaburn. A caption on the cover says, “Laughter is Divine”. In these serious and trying times a little laughter goes a long way in helping us keep our sanity and perspective.  In this delightful book, a little boy is praying, “Dear God, […]

With the coming of November and December we enter the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Both events open to us many opportunities for family time, worship, and reflection.  I encourage you to plan family time when you can be together, express your love for one another and revel in the precious gift of family. We […]

Two church members were engaged in a serious conversation about the financial status of their church, one said to the other, “Our church costs too much. They are always asking for money!” The other church member replied, “Sometime ago a little boy was born into our home. He costs us a lot of money from […]

Last Sunday, the primary text for the message came from 2 Corinthians 8:7 “But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” The context in which this text is written […]

I have found it a rich experience to carefully study the lives of Missionaries who have changed the world.  During the past two months we were inspired and challenged by the stories of William Carey, Adoniram and Ann Judson, Bill Wallace, Lottie Moon and Bill Elliot.  Out of those studies I have made some observations […]