Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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As a young pastor in a small tribal village in Guatemala, I was always amazed at both the deep faith and the profound generosity of the Kaqchikel people I served. For what seemed to me even the smallest favor, they responded by filling my pantry with baskets filled with handpicked fruits and vegetables or fresh eggs. One dear brother insisted on gifting me with his prize pig, possibly his most valuable possession. In this month, when we are most likely to focus on being gratef...
Over these past several years I've enjoyed being part of a "Zoom Cohort," comprised of pastors across the country. These groups are organized by our US Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, and in the past, I've even had the privilege of leading one of them! One of the cohorts I was recently in spent time reading and discussing a book together by Eugene Peterson, "Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work." It's an interesting study of various Old Testament books and how they relate to pastoral ministry. One of our...
Everyone in the world is on a quest for success. Many successful people in history accomplished great things; none more so than King Solomon (990-931 BC). Proverbs is where Solomon wrote divinely revealed wisdom for skillful living and success. Reading Proverbs regularly and repeatedly will bear the life-changing fruit of being able to live righteously and skillfully in this fallen world to the glory to God. Every person seeking to accomplish anything needs motivation that goals can be attained and hope that success will...
Have you noticed that it’s that season again? The season I am referring to is the silly season we refer to around here as election season. Every two years we go to the polls – except here in California where we mail our ballots – and we decide who we want to represent us and which of the 20 million propositions that end up on the ballot we want passed. The wonderful thing about our country is we have the freedom to choose who we want to represent us at the local, state, and n...
It’s always nice to be able to make and stick to plans. That isn’t always reality, though. If a flight gets canceled, we wind up making new arrangements on the go — sometimes with considerable disappointment. Since it happens to all of us, you would think people would understand. But when the Apostle Paul’s plans changed, some in Corinth took that as an opportunity to criticize him for being a fickle and unreliable person. He had said he would come to them when he passed...
2nd Timothy 1:12 says, For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. This world is a dangerous place. Carjackings, smash and grab, and assaults are an everyday occurrence in this world. Violence in major American cities continues to rise. Where can a person find shelter from this storm of violence and danger? Jesus Christ is the shelter for our souls. In him is the safest place you can be....
When I was in college at Biola University, I remember making a statement to my roommate that went something like this: “I can live out my faith by myself and really don't need others to do that!.” Wow, was I wrong! In my zeal to live out my faith at that time, I was more "conformed to the pattern of this world" that Paul speaks of in Romans 12:2 and needed to be "transformed by the renewing of my mind" by the Holy Spirit. Essentially, I was thinking more like an American citizen than a citizen of heaven. I appreciate the man...
How many of you know what a tattoo is? Before anybody gets defensive, I’m not preaching against tattoos. It is your body. If you want tattoos, more power to you. I don’t. But that’s me. Anyways, do you know how a tattoo is applied? The tattoo artist takes a torture device, a needle, and he runs ink into your skin with it to leave an image on your skin. How long does the tattoo stay on your skin? [BEGIN ITAL]It is permanent!![END ITAL] It stays forever. As long as you have...
The book of Ecclesiastes has a number of texts that make us scratch our heads and wonder a little. To give just a few examples: “In much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow” (1:18). “Therefore I hated life” (2:17). “A time to hate” (3:18). “I praised the dead who were already dead, more than the living” (4:2). “Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise”(7:16). Statements of this puzzling kind come up so much that I’ve reached the co...
Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10b) Yet many Christians have lives that are anything but blessed, flourishing and abundant. They live below the level of blessing Jesus promised. They live with lack, sometimes financial lack, but more often a spiritual and emotional lack of love, joy and hope. There is a story in Samuel 9 of a young prince, who in spite of his royal blood, lived with lack. He was the...
Hebrews 10:23 says, Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised. In this world that we live in we are going to need spiritual endurance and stamina. We must hang onto the Lord and His Word. The Bible tells us to fight the good fight of faith. We are living in uncertain and perilous times, but God is faithful! Deuteronomy 7:9 says, He is the faithful God. That is his character – faithfulness. Scripture teaches that no m...
Life often presents us with choices between two options: good or bad, right or wrong, wise or foolish. Not every choice is black and white, but biblical wisdom proposes that most of life falls into two categories: living wisely or foolishly. Two paths are presented in Proverbs 1:7: [BEGIN ITAL]“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”[END ITAL] “Fear of the Lord”’ is not being terrified and running away from God; rather, it means reverential awe, humble respect and obedi...
My wife and I just returned from two weeks in the Frazier Park mountains for our church organization’s youth camp. The kids arrived at camp with anticipation of seeing friends they haven’t seen in a year, all the activities that have been planned and, of course, the amazing food at the camp snack shack. As campers and workers have all returned both tired and refreshed, it reminds me that the end of youth camp is the unofficial sign that summer is soon to be over. Back to sch...
Although a big chunk of the book of Genesis is devoted to Abraham's life, there is a great deal we don't know. For instance, 13 years go by between the end of Chapter 16 and the first verse of Chapter 17. The history in the Bible leaves out a lot. There must be a principle of selection, a way of determining what was significant in Abraham's life for later readers. One suggestion, made by the late Noel Weeks in his book Gateway to the Old Testament, is that Genesis is...
In Acts 17:30, the Bible tells us that God once winked at the ignorance of men but now (this day and time) “Commandeth all men everywhere to repent!” What does this word “repent” mean? Does it mean we must be sorry for our sins? Yes, it does, but that is not all it means. There are many people who are sorry for the wrong things they have done. They tell themselves, “I will stop doing wrong.” They may be sorry because they are now facing the consequences of their wrongdoing. They have been found out. There are others who...
As the days go forward the world gets more vicious and crazy. 2nd Timothy 3:1 says in the last days perilous times shall come. God said that if we humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, He would hear us and forgive us and heal our land. It is righteousness that exalts a nation. Sin is a reproach to any people. To get this country going on the right track, the Continental Congress called for a day of prayer. Once when a critical moment arose...
I am sure by now most of you reading this have heard about the many mass shootings throughout the last few decades. It is tragic all of the lives that have been lost to senseless violence. Before you stop reading, I ask you indulge me a few more minutes. I am not going to argue for or against gun control or for more laws in regard to gun violence. I would argue that since the Columbine school shooting in the 1990s, we have passed many new laws and had countless hours of...
2nd Corinthians 1:3-4 says: "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort where we ourselves are comforted of God." God is our strength and comfort. If a people and a nation ever needed God’s comfort, it is I now. Our nation is in mourning as we pray and weep with the families in Uvalde, Texas. Jesus sa...
The Bible is very blunt about the fact that life in this world is quite difficult. Genesis explains that Adam and Eve, by their rebellion against God brought death into the world and the necessity of hardship (Genesis 3:8–24). The book of Job illustrates that life is harsh through the story of a man, who lost everything. The reality that life is short and full of frustration is the background for everything Ecclesiastes says. And in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul takes th...
It feels like we just move from one crisis to another these days, doesn’t it? For the record, that feeling increases if you regularly watch the news on television. Remember, news programs get more viewers and sell more advertising when there is “major news,” or in other words, some kind of “crisis.” So, be aware that every news organization loves a crisis and is willing to exaggerate everyday problems or situations to create them daily. The problem is that all this media-crisis surfing, on top of the daily struggles...
Proverbs 31:10 says, "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies." It speaks of a woman that is strong in moral principles. This woman in Proverbs is a strength and blessing to her husband and children. She is clothed with strength and honor and she loves God. Godly women are a strength and a stability in this chaotic world, as they exhibit hope and trust in God. Some of the most godly women I have met were moms and grandmas in the church where I pastor....
Christians are against murder. After all, it's prohibited by the law of God (#6 in the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:13). In fact, even the beginning of murder - hostility and hatred in the heart - is ruled out by the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:22). And yet there is one murder we celebrate and give thanks for: the judicial murder or unjust execution of Jesus Christ when Pontius Pilate was Procurator of Judea for the Roman Empire. The moment I say that, of course, I have to h...
When the people heard He was coming, they lined the streets hoping to see Him. They sacrificed their best coats and stripped nearby trees to create a makeshift red carpet to honor him. They shouted "Hosanna" over and over when He came into sight. (See Mark 11:1-10) The strange thing is that many from this same crowd were shouting again a few days later, but this time, they were calling for His execution. "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" (See Mark 15:6-15) Have you ever wondered...
Proverbs 22:11 says a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. I would like to talk about the greatest name ever spoken upon this earth. There is no other name like the name of Jesus Christ. His name is a saving name. Isaiah. 45:22: His name is a precious name. In 1 Peter 2:7, Peter said the name of Jesus was precious. His name means everything to a Christian. In that precious name I was saved. When I find myself in the storms of life I cling to that precious name....
You know that moment in the movies... someone who's terrified of heights must climb out on a ledge or jump between two high buildings. And they look down and the fear that overwhelms them almost makes them lose their grip and fall. We live in uncertain, scary times and the last thing we need to do is look down. If you look down... at your problems and your worries for too long, you'll soon be depressed and afraid to go on. If you look down... at your cell phone or tablet and...
