Pastor Steve is on Sabbatical, we thank Pastor Isaac Martin for today’s contribution. A few weeks ago, Pastor Steve used a creative illustration in his sermon about who is shaping us. As Steve pointed out, you don’t get a purple dinosaur if you have green Play-Doh and a Christmas tree cookie cutter. You need the right mold and the right color of Play-Doh to get the right result. This spoke to me in a powerful way. This is the third…
This coming Monday, August 10, I begin my sabbatical. We announced it during a worship service this spring, but since several people have recently asked about it, I thought I’d share a little of the story behind it. Many of you know that our employee handbook provides pastors with a scheduled sabbatical after every seven years of ministry. I’ve now been serving in pastoral ministry for thirty-five years, and I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the wisdom and kindness…
This past Spring on Easter Sunday, I sent everyone home with a packet of flower seeds and an invitation to plant a little “resurrection garden.” I encouraged our church family to sow them in a small plot to remind us that God’s promises are sure, but sometimes take a long time. Jesus Himself said, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed” (John 12:24). Ironically, I was…
My veggie garden is a bit of a disaster this year. Between the weather, ministry, and life in general, I got a much later start than usual. Eventually I managed to get my normal lineup in the ground—tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, and green beans—but everything felt rushed, and ever since then, the garden has shown it. This year I also tried something new. Jim Paul and I often compare notes about our gardens. Early this spring he started several flats…
Well, like I mentioned before the sermon on Sunday, we lost another tree at the Benedict estate this past weekend. ☹ One of the things that first attracted Pam and me to our home on Cedar Avenue was the trees. We only have a third of an acre in a development-styled neighborhood, but when we bought the house, the property had twelve large, mature trees. Combined with a sweeping panorama of Lancaster County farmland behind us, it felt almost like…
This week we’re headed up to my dad’s cabin in north-central Pennsylvania. Pam and I are taking a few days to unwind after Justin and Maria’s wedding. It’s been a wonderful season of celebration. The wedding was beautiful and our home has been filled wth family, laughter, and memories we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives. But now all the kids have returned home and we’re looking forward to a little peace and quiet. One of the things I’ll…
“So you have a big week this week!” exclaimed Diane when she saw me Tuesday morning. Diane’s our excellent bookkeeper at the church and is only in on Tuesdays. “Sure do,” I replied. She was, of course, referring to Justin and Maria’s wedding this Saturday. And to say that we’re a bit preoccupied at the Benedict house right now would be an understatement. “When do Josh, Alaina, and Evan arrive?” she asked. “They fly into Newark tonight. Pam’s picking them…
One Tuesday morning earlier this spring, I went to the men’s breakfast. Every Tuesday, about a dozen Bethany men gather at the Olive Branch Restaurant in Bowmansville for coffee, breakfast, and conversation. I enjoy it, but my attendance is weak. Monday’s my day off, so Tuesday, my first day back in the office is crazy busy. Unfortunately, in recent months other responsibilities have occupied that time slot. Since forever, the breakfast started at 7:00 AM. I’m not particularly an early…
I’m not much of a journaler. I wish I was. I always admire people who can say things like, “I’ve been keeping a spiritual journal for the last 25 years and I’m just starting my 37th notebook.” Of course, if I could say that, I’d probably be spiritually proud about it, so maybe it’s just as well. My devotional life has always been a little more… unstructured. I’m not saying that’s ideal. I’m just describing reality. Over the years, I’ve…
Adapted from a devotional given to the Revival Prayer Group at Garden Spot Village, May 14, 2026. All my life, I’ve longed to witness revival. A true season of renewal and restoration… a sovereign work of God marked by a fresh outpouring of His Spirit. I’ve been more than blessed in ministry over these past 35 years, but I can’t honestly say I’ve seen what could truly be called a revival. Nothing like the Great Awakening of the 1700s or…