Youth Mission Trip 2023!! New Orleans! The first day of the Youth Mission Trip began with a bang, while we had a couple issues we persevered and remained positive. Leaving the church at 4:00 this morning to start the day, on our way to the Baltimore airport our first turmoil came with the Conowingo Dam not working and a detour being taken. Finally reaching the airport we discovered the news that the plane was delayed forty-five minutes, leaving us to discover and explore the airport. After the wait we finally and safely boarded the plane, flying out and reaching New Orleans with a congratulations from the Southwest crew on our mission courtesy of Alexa Musser chatting with the attendant....
“We Are Gathered By God” There is a woman who is sitting home alone reading her Bible. There is another woman who is at the church sitting around a table surrounded by styrofoam cups, as she serves on a committee trying to plan next summer’s Vacation Bible School and mission experience for the children. The question I want to ask you is, “Which of these two women is more deeply involved in the kingdom of God?” ...
"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...
Keep Reading"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...
Keep Reading"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...
Keep Reading"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...
Keep Reading"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 ...
Keep Reading"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...
Keep Reading"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 ...
Keep Reading"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...
Keep Reading"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...
Keep Reading"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...
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