Mark 1:15 “The time has come” [Jesus] said. “Repent and believe the good news!” I was talking with Lance Utne, one of our 10th grade class shepherd, last night at the Patriot/Stonewall boys basketball game. He shared a humorous story from teen Sunday school this past week. Every week the senior high youth gather for a time of group instruction and then break out into various small groups for further teaching and discussion. Now, I was a youth pastor for…
Hebrews 11:39 & 40 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us… Every day I heat up this car and never get any benefit out of it at all!” This is what my oldest son Josh told me this morning as he exited the still-fridged car at 6:59 AM to enter the campus of Stonewall Jackson High School. He’s absolutely right, but let me explain. Josh…
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may … grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ [and] that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 Well I’ve had some overflow moments this week. Have you? For the past few Sundays we’ve been talking about “overflow” in the morning worship service. God pours into us his healing presence, guidance and provision and…
Habakkuk 2:4 But the righteous will live by his faith! Sally Hagenhoff forwarded me an email last week that I can’t get out of my head. It’s from Jacques Rancourt, the discipleship pastor over at Manassas Baptist. I suppose it strikes a cord with me because our family has pursued a special needs adoption from China and we know the uncertainty of that process. But it’s more than that. Jacques’s words strike at the heart of the toxic and smothering…
1 John 3:17-18 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. Sunday was our annual “Operation Neighborhood” Christmas Spaghetti Dinner. This is the third year we have had this ministry event which pairs GLCC families with families who have benefited from our food pantry throughout the…
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced… that [nothing] in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Every Thanksgiving my entire family travels up to Pennsylvania for a feast of turkey, stuffing and all the traditional trimmings with family and friends. On black Friday while everyone else is scooping up those door buster specials at Target, my dad and I along with Josh (and this year Amanda!), my…
… for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8 Every year at the end of October a thoughtful email appears in my inbox: In light of this being pastor appreciation month and to honor our Pastors, we would like to offer a complimentary pre-season heating safety inspection. Just call my office and Sandra will be happy to schedule an appointment. 703-730-8444 Thanks for all you do for us! Trevor & Sandra Briggs, Briggs Heating and…
James 1:17; 1 Corinthians 4:7 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father… What do you have that you did not receive? Sunday was my daughter Katelyn’s ninth birthday. It was actually only the second birthday she’s ever celebrated. In the orphanage in China they never celebrated birthdays at all and she came to us not even knowing she had one. Most people are shocked when they hear this, but knowing the situation in China-…
Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Psalm 96:7-8 Ok. I’ve been accused of using difficult and obscure language from time to time, I admit it. For example, a couple of months ago I used the word “salvific” in a message on Sunday morning and afterwards Paul Green came up to me laughing. “What…
Psalm 146:9 The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. Last night Josh and I went to the grocery store. We were picking up a couple of bags of chips and a jar of salsa because it was his week to bring snack for the SJHS Edge club. When I got to the checkout line, I had no cash on me, so I used my…