Last week I took my parents to Sequoia National Park in California. My mom and dad have had a lifelong dream of seeing the giant sequoias. I remember my mother talking about them when I was a boy, when we’d dream about where to go on family vacation. To my young imagination, it sounded like some faraway enchanted land—like Narnia—where you might stumble upon talking animals or wood dwarves. As kids, we had an old View-Master with a reel of…
I think I may be the slowest hiker in the world. Last Saturday, I took our little beagle, Chloe, out for a walk on a two-mile loop up on Welsh Mountain. She’s built low to the ground with stubby little legs, and takes maybe five inches per stride. Yet even she turned back on her leash to give me a disapproving look. Truth is, I’m not getting any faster the older I get. That little hike reminded me of one…
We live in challenging times. Every headline seems to shout fear, division, and despair. It’s easy to get swept along and forget who we really are in Christ. More than ever, the world needs Christians who know who they are — not just in their head, but in their bones. This past Sunday we began our fall series, What If It’s True? — Life-Changing Truths We Believe but Don’t Always Live Out. The first message asked, “What if it’s true…
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,…