Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. Zechariah 4:10 This past Sunday, as I sat quarantining in my living room watching our student ministry intern Isaac Martin preach, it hit me. 2021 is a big year. This year I celebrate 30 years of pastoral ministry and 30 years of marriage to Pam. It’s hard to believe, but in 1991 I was a pastoral intern at Grace Baptist Church of Boyertown, soon to marry…
Probably about 5 years ago, Pam and I were challenged with the idea of God giving you a “word” for the new year. Now, this isn’t a prophetic word, as in “this year God told me I should move to Colorado, start a new business, be wildly successful and earn a high six figure salary.” But more like a discipleship focus for the next 12 months. It’s an advance sense of an area God will be developing and refining you…
Dear Family & Friends, As we look back over 2020, God has given us many reasons to REJOICE! Here are a few highlights… “The new house” has become our home. Living in Lancaster County has been peaceful and restful. We love the view of the farm fields out our back window and the clip-clopping of a horse & buggy rolling past our street. Many evenings we take pictures of the vibrant sunsets that fill the sky. It’s fascinating to watch…
“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.” Job 37:5-7 Massive storm spanning Ohio Valley to Southeast, bearing down on Northeast ~ Accuweather, December 15, 2020, 9:05 AM So, here we are… awaiting the first significant snowfall of the season. I’m…
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 “What does it mean to ‘walk by the Spirit’”? (Galatians 5:16) My good friend, John Stroud, texted me this question last week as he did his sermon prep on Galatians 5. John and I were partners in ministry for over 10 years and he is now a full time counselor for Grace Ministries and an elder at Mosaic Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. He asked, not…
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God ….” Hebrews 12:28-29 At Bethany Grace Fellowship, this past Sunday we began a three-week series on thankfulness, entitled “Moving from ThanksGiving to ThanksLiving.” And in my introduction, I mentioned how Thanksgiving has become somewhat of a “non-holiday” in our culture. I good naturedly pointed out that our local Lowes has had artificial Christmas trees on sale since before Halloween and Christmas decorations appeared…
“Betsie, that’s too much. There’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.” “Give thanks in all circumstances,” she quoted. “It doesn’t say, ‘in pleasant circumstances.’ Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.” And so, we stood between tiers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong. (The Hiding Place) This past weekend, my son Justin and I took a few days off to hunt…
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 “Well after the last Democrat and the last Republican have passed off the scene. Jesus will still be on the throne.” My dad has a way of getting to the heart of the matter. And those where his wise words to me as our bi-weekly phone conversation ended yesterday. My dad just turned 80 this year, so he’s seen a lot of change in his lifetime- spanning the…
Can you believe it? The election is next Tuesday. Only 7 more days to go. It’s finally here. It seems so surreal. I remember back in January… of 2019, when the first Democrats began announcing their candidacy for president… all 28 of them. I thought, “This is going to be a really long two years.” Pam said to me, “Just wake me up when it’s over.” It has been long, in so many ways. Pick your adjective to describe the…
[Ones who] measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves are not wise. 1 Corinthians 10:12 The other day I made the mistake of reading one of the countless online church growth articles that seem to appear in my inbox daily. I’m not sure what caught my eye, but the click-bait headline was something like, “Grow Your Church NOW!” or some such thing. The article was no doubt written by some tech savvy, mega-church hipster pastor who wears skinny…