You know what an oxymoron is, right? Jumbo shrimp Open secret Deafening silence An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines words with opposing meanings. We use them all the time in casual conversation. Here are a few more. Clearly confused Pretty Ugly Government efficiency (just kidding on that last one) The Bible’s a treasure trove of similar wordplays and paradoxes. A few weeks ago, one of our elders, Larry Fox shared one at our Wednesday night prayer group….
Years ago, when I was an assistant pastor in Virginia, our lead pastor preached a powerful sermon titled “A Bend in the Road.” In the message, he wisely taught that everyone is either about to go into a storm, in a storm, or just coming out a storm, so we’d best be ready for the next “bend in the road.” Fifteen years have gone by, and I still think about that sermon. As a lead pastor now, I often get…
Well, I’ve taken a month off… so this is my first blog of 2024 and if January is any measure, we’re in for a bumpy ride this year. On the global front, there’s a war in Ukraine about to enter its third year and the devastating Israel / Hamas war is entering its 5th month. US and British warplanes are hitting Houthi rebels in Yemen who are taking potshots at commercial shipping lines in the Red Sea and the US…
A devotional by Pam Benedict Nothing makes this mama’s heart happier than knowing that her kids are coming home and that we’re going to spend family time together. This is especially true around the holidays. Several days before Thanksgiving, I washed sheets & blankets and made up the beds. We shopped & stocked the shelves and the refrigerator with fresh cider, snacks, and breakfast treats. Tuesday night everyone arrived, driving in from Pittsburg and Richmond and the kitchen was full…
This past week was the color green in our Christmas series. And, using Psalm 23, Pastor John preached a timely message on God’s presence, provision, and peace at Christmas. He emphasized that Jesus, our Good Shepherd has promised to “give us everything we need for life and godliness” so we can grow up in Christ. And in the message, he referred to a book that our Bethany men used as the basis of a fall Wednesday night men’s study- The…
A devotional by Miki Clouser This year, our Pastors are doing a series on the colors of Christmas- Blue, Green, White & Red. I’ve been excited, wondering what each color will stand for, and what aspect of Christmas will be highlighted each week. This past week was “blue.” The worship service was designed to acknowledge the pain, sorrow, and longing that many of us experience during the holidays and then pointed to Jesus as the ultimate satisfaction for all of…
I have what you might call a chronic intermittent back injury. Years ago, when I was a youth pastor, I was playing flag football with the young men of our church on a crisp fall Saturday morning. The field was slippery due to heavy dew, and I forgot to bring my cleats. But I was young and invincible and played anyway in regular sneakers, even though my house was only two miles away and I could have easily gotten the…
I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 “Hey, do you know where the broom is?” I was on the phone with Pam, and if my terse words didn’t communicate that I was irritated, then my tone of voice certainly did. It was Saturday afternoon and Pam had been out all day at her sister’s house in Bucks County. I…
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 The other week at our midweek prayer group, we were talking about the weather. It seems like we’ve been in a pattern of late afternoon thunderstorms recently and tropical storm Ophelia certainly didn’t change that. But since things have been generally dry, we all agreed that the rain was a good thing, even if…
A devotion by Miki Clouser Recently someone asked me what I do when I am depleted… It didn’t take much thought to answer. Every place I’ve ever lived, I’ve found a quiet alone place in nature, because alone with God is where I recharge and find sanity. If I can find a remote enough trail, I’ll just walk along talking to God like He’s next to me, because He is. Anyone who’d happen to round a corner and find me…