Join Pastor John and Rev. Bob Bronkema, First Presbyterian Church Strasburg, as they lead a Bible study together this morning, April 30, at 11:00 A.M,. on the Book of James via Zoom. There will be time for questions and answers at the end of the study. Thursday, April 30 at 11:00 A.M. https://us04web.zoom.us/j/805070626 One tap mobile - 805070626# US Tol...

"Forgiven and Forgotten" I love the story of the bishop who was a confessor for a nun.One day the nun told him that Jesus Christ had revealed himself to her, -- in person!Well, the bishop understandably had doubts about her vision, and so, he said to her, "I want to give you a couple of instructions.The next time that Jesus Christ appears to you, I want you to ask ...

"Heart of Good" David Breashears is an American mountaineer, filmmaker, author, and motivational speaker.In 1985, he reached the summit of Mount Everest a second time, becoming the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest more than once.He was on Mount Everest that fateful night of May 10, 1996, when eight climbers lost their lives on the south face of the mo...

Join us tonight for "Let's Gather the Flock" at 6:30 pm. Please zoom in!! We will catch up, share with each other and play some non-competitive Bible Trivia...the game where the trivia isn't trivial! We hope that you will gather with us! https://us04web.zoom.us/j/404194383 Meeting ID: 404 194 383...

"No Guilty Dollars" Larry the Sad Boy, one of the inhabitants of Garrison Keillor's "Lake Wobegon" was saved 12 times in the Lutheran church, an all-time record.Keillor describes the scene this way."Between 1953 and 1961, he threw himself weeping and contrite on God's throne of grace on 12 separate occasions, --- and this in a Lutheran church that wasn't evangelical, ha...

"Super Committed" In tuning into sports talk radio as I drive back and forth to church during the week, it's fascinating to listen to what various professional leagues and colleges are going to do in moving forward.To play or not play the games?And if they do, should they play them without fans in the stands?A big part of the college football experience are the fan...

"Aging Gracefully" Even at the age of 92, Jack LaLanne, the "Godfather of Fitness," continued to work out every morning for two hours, one and half hours in the weight room and a half hour in the pool.He told Katie Couric, "I can't afford to die.It will ruin my image."Back in 1976 a news report came on saying, "Today on his sixty second birthday Jack LaLanne commemo...

"Green-Shaded Glasses" According to my Presbyterian calendar, today is "Earth Day."Well, growing up in New Jersey, I used to hear a lot of jokes about air pollution, being so close to the metropolitan area.We used to say, "We wake up to the sound of the robins coughing."Later on, only through the monologues of The Tonight Show did I realize that air pollution is als...

Join us tonight for "Let's Gather the Flock" at 6:30 pm. We will be playing Chestnut Level's version of "Name That Tune."You are going to be asked to test your knowledge of church hymns as our own Rick Rineer plays the first few notes, before somebody "names that tune."Please join us! https://us04web.zoom.us/j/404194383 Meeting ID: 404 194 383...

"Walk the Line" The appeal of Johnny Cash was wide ranging.He was a singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and author.He crossed over into a variety of musical genres including country, rock and roll, blues, folk, and gospel.He is arguably one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide.Many people loved his music, b...

"We Imitate Whom We Adore" St. Augustine once said, "We imitate whom we adore."Why did the Nike brand grow so much that every young person in the world, in every far corner of this planet, wanted to wear Nike sneakers?Because of one person: Michael Jordan.You see, we imitate whom we adore.The one who captures our imagination controls our behavior.As we continue our po...

"The Transforming Moment" One of my professors at Princeton Theological Seminary was Dr. James Loder.He was a professor of the Philosophy of Christian Education and a Presbyterian minister.Years ago he was headed with his wife and two daughters to Quebec, Canada for a vacation.On their long drive Dr. Loder stopped the car on the side of the road for a distressed woman w...

"In Christ Alone" Last week, during a Bible study, someone mentioned Chuck Colson.Chuck Colson was involved in the Watergate scandal, and actually went to prison.While in prison, he became a Christian, and later he founded Prison Fellowship Ministries.He tells the story of a time he visited a prison called Humaita, which was turned over to Christians over 40 years ago i...

Thursday, April 16, 2020 11:00 A.M. https://us04web.zoom.us/j/805070626 (Click the Zoom link here, or below, to join the service!) Join Pastor John for a virtual Bible Study on the Book of James, Thursday, April 16 at 11:00 A.M. (Note: This is the same Bible Study given...

Join Pastor John for a virtual Bible Study on the Book of James,Wednesday, April 15 at 6:30 pm,or, Thursday, April 16 at 11:00 A.M. The study will be the same each week, just available at different times to view and join in.If you would like to participate, please click on the link to participate through Zoom either video or over the phone.If you have trouble getting on...

"InvestmentDay" Today is April 15, which means it is Tax Day.And even though the government has extended the filing deadline to July 15, April 15 has been the deadline for filing your income tax returns since 1955.It got me to thinking, not so much about taxes, but the places where we have made our investments over the years. Sir John Templeton was an American-bo...

"Chestnut Level Flock" As a country, we used to be more of a nation of joiners. I have seen that most often when reading the obituaries of an older adult who has died.I am always impressed with the long list of clubs and organizations that these people belonged to.For example, one time I read an obituary which said that the person who died belonged to Sam's Price Club.I...

"After Easter" Back in 1970, I remember a CBS TV show called,"Can You Top This?"It wasn't on very long, only 8 months.As you might guess, that notorious game show host, Wink Martindale, with his pearly white teeth, wasthe host.The way it worked was that eachweek a celebrity wouldread jokes submitted by viewers, while a group of panelists (all professional comedians) w...

"God's Friday" Today is Good Friday, and while we are not having a worship service this evening, it is important to understand a bit better its meaning and why it is important.Good Friday is a critical day for Christians, because it celebrates what we believe to be the most important weekend in history.We proclaim the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ to be the decis...

"The Table of Reconciliation" It's late at night, and Jesus is in the hands of the Roman authorities, and he's being bounced back and forth in a kangaroo court trial.Peter is in the courtyard, warming himself next to a fire, and standing next to him is a teenage girl who comes to him and says, "Say, I know you.You're one of those who were with Jesus the Nazarene."And ...

"See Jesus" A young new pastor was invited to lead Sunday evening worship at senior adult retirement community.She gladly accepted the invitation and began pouring herself in to her sermon preparation.She didn't want to deliver just a good sermon, but a great sermon.So, she worked very hard getting it ready.The only trouble was that it was the kind of sermon only a sem...

"The Secret ofSuccess" Toward theend of Jesus' life, he had a conversation with his disciples.James and John had seen all of it coming together and figured, "It's now or never."They needed to nail down their cabinet positions.So they said, "Lord, with your kingdom about to come in a few days, you are going to need a vice president and secretary of state, so we have ...

"The Calm Before The Storm" James Bonham, a fiery young lawyer from South Carolina, had been in Texas for only three months, but his yearning for freedom left him no choice but to march alongside these Texans in their battle for liberty.He volunteered for service at the Alamo, a small mission near the Guadalupe River.As the Mexican army filled the horizon and the tiny bas...

"Riding Into Our Lives" This Sunday, April 5, is Palm Sunday and thebeginning of Holy Week.Jerusalem was a holy, sanctified city where the leaders were again preparing for the Passover according to the ancient script handed down by their ancestors.Suddenly, they looked up and here came their worst nightmare, a man who had shown himself capable of almost anything: raisi...

"Endless Hope" As we come into this new month, I am reminded of the phrase,"April showers bring May flowers."The cold winds and grey skies of March are behind us, and we are eager for Spring to begin.Unfortunately, April is going to have its heavy "showers" this year, as the coronavirus continues to wreck havoc over our lives.The statistics...

"Storm Warning" Today is April 1st, which means it is April Fool's Day.Of course, you and I both know that what is going on in our lives and around us is no laughing matter.Today's scripture reading is aparable that Jesus tells fromMatthew 24:24-27."Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the...