We have safely arrived in Jamaica for our week of ministry with Jamaica Link Ministries! Let me step you through our eventful day. We gathered at Bethany church at 5:15 AM and were on the road by 5:38 AM. Not bad! Everyone came ready to roll with suitcases packed and our 7 ministry boxes were loaded, labeled and zip tied shut, ready for transport. We gathered for a brief prayer and I challenged the team with Ephesians 2:10… that each…
A few weeks ago at Bethany, we had an all-church luncheon following our morning worship service. Our quarterly luncheons are one of my favorite activities at the church. It’s not just the food, which is always delicious, but the connection. It’s so encouraging to see people who have been here 2 weeks mingling with people who have been here 20+ years. One of our church values is to be “community embedded.” We define that as, “God desires intimate relationship with…
Last Tuesday I received a brief email in my church inbox from a Gmail account I didn’t recognize. It said, “I need to talk to you asap.” That’s it. I was instantly suspicious. Because my church email address is public on the church website, I frequently get phony or unsolicited emails- people phishing, random people asking for money, and tons of dubious links that I instantly delete. This email had all the markings of a fake, but I didn’t want…
A devotional by Mari Madonna We all can relate to misplacing something that’s important; our credit card, an invitation or worse our wallet. I am great for never knowing where I put my phone or glasses. I have glasses in every room but never seem to know where they may be! Recently, l misplaced the key my neighbor gave me to watch her house while she was away. I thought I knew exactly where I put it. When I found…
Over the past several months, Pam’s really been stepping up the uses of her iPhone. I’m proud of her. I won’t lie. She often struggles with technology. Computers crash, emails rearrange, text streams vanish, the TV won’t turn on and computer programs seize for her with disturbing regularity. It’s a bit of a family joke. When Pam attempts a task with technology on phone, computer, smart TV, whatever… it doesn’t work. Then one of our kids takes it and does…
I ran across a few statistics this week that intrigued me. According to the National Retail Federation, only 50% of those who receive gift cards for Christmas have used them by April of the following year. Further, a 2019 survey found that 51% of consumers have unused gift cards, with an average value of $167. And a 2020 study estimated that Americans have $3 billion in unused gift cards lying around the house! Wow! 3 billion dollars. That’s a lot…
I’m looking forward to Easter Sunday. It’s my favorite Sunday of the year. I love the joy of celebrating the resurrection, new life and Jesus’ victory over death. But let’s not forget Good Friday. Today’s the day when redemption of purchased, sin was atoned, and our forgiveness was won. But at what cost? Jesus our Savior, Creator of heaven and earth, innocent and and sinless was brutally slain- beaten, mocked, and nailed to a cross in public humiliation. Like countless…
I have friends I talk to almost every week. We have a standing Facetime video appointment 5 PM on Tuesdays. I’ve known Chris and Kathy for years. It’s an unusual relationship in that we don’t talk about the weather, sports, or the normal stuff of life. Instead, I would call it a “spiritual friendship”, in that we talk almost exclusively about what God is doing in my life, the struggles and challenges I’m facing, and what it means to walk…
Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to attend our Adult Bible Fellowship, second hour down in the fellowship hall. It’s a rare occurrence for me since I’m usually preaching. The lesson for the week was about “sowing and reaping,” which was part of the winter study on the metaphors of Scripture. I had a great time participating and it was a timely discussion since Spring is on its way. I’ve noticed that farmers in our area are already plowing their…
One of the standing jokes between Pam and me is our method in packing a suitcase. I pack my suitcase once and Pam packs hers 3 times… at least. It happens most every trip. A week or two before we’re scheduled to leave, a suitcase appears in our bedroom and a small pile of clothes and sundries begins to form. As the days go by, the pile grows- jeans, capris, shirts, a dress or two, several pair of shoes, a…