Holiday get-togethers have pretty much cornered the market on this week's calendar. Scroogish as I may be about the abundance of gatherings (we've had twelve Evites within a month, plus other events), it's really been fun, and we have more to come today (two get-togethers). We head to Iowa for a few days at the end of next week, and once we get ( Read more... )

Reading this morning in 1 Kings 18 of fire from God which consumed Elijah's sacrifice. He called out the multitude of prophets of Baal and Asherah, the latest emissaries of Israel's ongoing corruption under Ahab. The deck could hardly be more stacked against him, yet Elijah knew his God. He taunted Baal's prophets, and still they sought salvation ( Read more... )

Along the same lines as this morning's previous entry, the cover quote for the upcoming Sunday's Order of Worship hit close to home:Those who remain alone with their evil are left utterly alone. It is possible that Christians may remain lonely in spite of daily worship together, prayer together, and all their community through service-that the ( Read more... )

Loving Psalm 107 this morning. Part of knowing God is knowing from what He's saved me. Of course, there are many aspects of this that all believers hold in common, but if we're willing to drill down, we each have stories of God's salvation specific to us. There's no need to let our failures weigh on us in ways that are inappropriately heavy, nor ( Read more... )

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
    “In returning and rest you shall be saved;
    in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

-Isaiah 30:15

("Returning" may also be translated "repentance.")

When iniquities prevail against me ( Read more... )