Dear Church family, Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT) “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to…

Church family, In my reading of God’s Word this morning, I read through 1 Timothy 4 & 5. Several things caught my attention and caused reflection. Let me share one with you. 1 Timothy 4:7-10 (NLT) Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good,…

Church family, It is a chilly morning here in northwest Ohio and my day is getting started. Much of my family will be coming here for Christmas. It is one of the things I look forward to the most during Christmas. The receiving of gifts has lost its appeal over the years. After all, what else do I…

Dear Church family, As we approach the fall holiday season, what runs through my mind is “Wow, another year is almost over!” I am sure many of you have thought the same thing! This coming Sunday morning we will take time in the worship service to praise and express thanks to the Lord. It is clearly much easier…

Church family, Understanding Your Pastor’s Mindset. You probably read that title and say to yourself, “This ought to be interesting! Do I have enough time to read through this?” All my life I have lived in vocational ministry. My father was a pastor. I am a pastor. Some might say that I lived in a ‘fishbowl’. Some…

Church family, I came across this video teaching this morning and wanted to share it with you. It is a little over 6 minutes long. It’s worth a listen (definitely, more than once). Why Christians Should Be Cautious About Self-Help Resources   So often we look at Christianity as a ‘means to an end.’ “Here’s what you need to…

Church family, Most of us are fully aware of the “Great Commission” passage of scripture found in Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father…

“Earlier this week, the California Senate passed a resolution calling upon all Californians—despite religious beliefs—to embrace LGBTQ lifestyles.” As I read this first sentence of an article on the Christian Headlines website, I paused to reflect on what was being said here. What does it mean for me as a Christian? I read through the rest of…

Church family, Often the subject “making disciples” comes up in conversations I have with folks. I use the phrase “making disciples” because it summarizes what folks are really talking about. Sometimes these phrases are used: “sharing our faith”, “telling people about Jesus”, “inviting others to church”, etc. Sadly, I believe many Christians have the desire to want…