This past Sunday my friend Pastor Dave Falconer from Jamaica Link Ministries spoke at Bethany. His message, The Rescue Mission, focused on the four men who carried their paralyzed friend and lowered him through the roof to Jesus. Dave highlighted their faith, determination, and the way the healing hinged on friends who wouldn’t quit. Then yesterday morning I was enjoying a rare quiet minute in my office when my door flew open and in burst Miki Clouser. Miki and I…
This Sunday at Bethany, we celebrate Communion together. I’m especially excited because, with the holiday weekend, we’ll gather in one worship service (10 AM—just a reminder!). And the kids will be with us, too. So as families and as one big family we’ll join in a celebration the church has shared for 2,000 years. In the ancient world, sharing a meal carried deep meaning. To eat with someone was to open your life to them. A meal meant trust, intimacy,…
by Linda Fisher Over the decades of my life, the orphan has always pulled at my heart. Children whose parents were killed in war. A mother without the resources to raise her child. A child removed from home for their own protection. Whether in Disney movies or missionary stories, these accounts always left me in tears. Many tissues required. This past summer, I was struck by another “orphan” passage—though not about orphans at all. Reading Matthew 3:16–17, I was unexpectedly…
One of my favorite childhood memories from church was our all–church picnic. Ours was always held on Memorial Day weekend, right at that sweet spot where school was winding down and summer was just starting to stretch its arms. Pam and I grew up together at Faith Baptist Church in Sellersville, a pretty good–sized congregation with over 500 people, so it was a BIG deal. To accommodate everyone, the annual picnic took place at the local community park. It had…
A devotional by David Ronk As I was reading through the Bible again this year, I came once more to the Exodus and Israel’s journey through the desert. I was reminded of the grumbling over manna. God’s response has always seemed disproportionate to me. Capital punishment—for complaining about manna? (Numbers 11:18-34) I’m sure manna was an excellent product—versatile and miraculously provided. Its supply and daily collection were clearly divine. But let’s be honest: how long would it take before you…
I have a little ritual every morning when I arrive at the church. I dump my stuff in my office, grab a coffee mug and head to the copy room. I turn on the Keurig, put my mug in place, insert a coffee pod, and press the brew button. Then, while I’m waiting for the water to warm up and the coffee to drip, I grab a broom out of my closet, unlock the office entrance door, and sweep the…
A devotional by Miki Clouser Sometimes the simplest things in life remind you of the most profound truths. That happened last week with a friend of mine. I stopped by on Sunday and found her watering her hanging ferns. Both ferns had nests with tiny baby birds in them. She took down the younger nest, and I snapped a photo of the three babies huddled together while she carefully poured water around them. Before she pulled down the second fern,…
A Midweek Devotional from Pam Benedict Towering above us, the church steeple stretched 530 feet into the sky like a sword pointing to heaven. Against the grey, cloud-filled backdrop, the gothic structure loomed large, and we craned our necks for a better view. We had traveled to Ulm in southern Germany to see the tallest church in the world. Inside, I stood in awe. Stained glass windows told stories from Scripture, glowing like jewels. Marble statues of biblical figures lined…
One of the major industries in our area of Pennsylvania is the Case-New Holland plant, right in New Holland. If you’ve ever driven by on Route 23, you know exactly what I mean—massive tractors, balers, cultivators, all brand new and gleaming like trophies, proudly parked out front for the world to see. It’s great advertising. You don’t have to be a farmer to feel awed by their sheer size. Those machines are no joke. Being the son of a farm…
A Devotional Invitation to Worship. If you have kids, I’m sure you’ve observed this phenomenon. As our kids grew up, Pam and I saw it dozens of times—though for the sake of family harmony, I’ll change the names so no one gets singled out (they know who they are). Let’s say… “Brian, time for dinner.”Suddenly he’s at the table in 10 seconds flat, waiting for the pizza to come out of the oven like a dog who’s just heard the…