As a pastor, numerous people have told me that if they were to walk into our church building, the roof would cave in. I jokingly reply, “It has not caved in on me yet.” Continue reading
Wellsboro
Face to Face (Matthew 6:22-23)
Submitted by Andy McIlvain.
You and I have a unique and singular face. We have been seeing it in a mirror since we were young. We have watched it change as we age. Continue reading
What did Jesus do? (Romans 1:1-6)
“If we seek strength, it lies in his dominion; if purity, in his conception; if gentleness, it appears in his birth. For by his birth he was made like us in all respects [Heb 2:17] that he might learn to feel our pain [cf. Heb 5:2]. If we seek redemption, it lies in his passion; if acquittal, in his condemnation; if remission of the curse, in his cross [Gal 3:13]; if satisfaction, in his sacrifice; if purification, in his blood; if reconciliation, in his descent to hell; if mortification of the flesh, in his tomb; if newness of life, in his resurrection; if immortality, in the same; if inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom, in his entrance into heaven; if protection, if security, if abundant supply of all blessings, in his Kingdom; if untroubled expectation of judgement, in the power given to him to judge.” These are the words of the sixteenth century reformer John Calvin. Continue reading
Tikkun Olam (Proverbs 27:1)
Submitted by Andy McIlvain.
I like to fix things. Most people do. It is a facet of our humanity that we create and repair. Life is short. And in our short sinful imperfect lives we are called by God to be co-regents, to participate in the restoration of the Kingdom of God in the here and now. So how do you and I repair/restore the world together; how do we repair ourselves, the people in the complex and paradoxical world in which we live? Continue reading
Pray Without Ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Submitted by Andy McIlvain.
Prayer is difficult, even for the most disciplined. Life in our broken world is not sympathetic or understanding of prayer. The powers and principalities that surround us deem it irrelevant, and the Spiritual Forces that seek to discourage us also work to diminish its use and effectiveness. Continue reading
The Power of Cinema (Joel 1:3)
Submitted by Andy McIlvain.
We live in a unique time in the history of the world. Our “being” in the world at this time and place is not only providential but sovereignly ordained. God Made you and I to be at this place at this time to help fulfill his will for humanity. One of our many joys in this life is to help other people live and flourish. Continue reading
Why is the Bible Soo Important? (2 Peter 1:19-21)
Christians are people of the Book. Why is the Bible so important, if God makes himself known to us in many ways? Continue reading
Who Created the Heavens and the Earth? (Genesis 1:1)
The Bible begins with the words, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).” It is difficult to imagine nothing: no white room, no bright light, just nothing. Whether over seven literal days or through some instantaneous initiatory event, like a big bang, the Bible affirms that God spoke all creation into existence. Every star in the sky, celestial satellite, atom, molecule, tree leaf, and toenail resulted from God’s creative act. Continue reading
God Exists as Trinity (2 Corinthians 13:14)
The belief that God exists as Trinity distinguishes Christianity from other religions.
You might be surprised that the word Trinity appears nowhere in the Bible. The concept of the Trinity, however, fills the pages of Scripture. Continue reading
“A Good Not Otherwise Attained” (Romans 8:28)
Submitted by Andy McIlvain.
Anglican Bishop J.C. Ryle writes:
“There is nothing which shows our ignorance so much as our impatience under trouble. We forget that every cross is a message from God, intended to do us good in the end. Trials are intended to make us think — to wean us from the world — to send us to the Bible — to drive us to our knees. Health is a good thing; but sickness is far better, if it leads us to God. Prosperity is a great mercy; but adversity is a greater one if it brings us to Christ. Anything, anything is better than living in indifference and dying in sin.”