December 2022

The Magi’s Journey

In this message we be consider the story of the wise men found in Matthew 2:1-12. The Christmas story is not the only place in the Bible where we bump into this mysterious caste of foreign priests known as the Magi. For example, they are mentioned in the Old Testament books of Daniel and Esther […]



The Shepherd’s Journey

I wonder how the shepherds announced themselves when they arrived outside the place where Jesus had been born. Was their arrival in the night as loud and surprising as the angel’s had been? I wonder if they barged right in or did they “hallooo” from the street? Maybe they approached with reverential trepidation, quiet and […]



Mary and Joseph’s Journey

The Christmas story is one of the most well-known and beloved portions of scripture in the Bible. Perhaps the mention of the Christmas story conjures for you images of camel-riding wise men pointing toward a distant star, or a very pregnant Mary riding on a donkey being led by Joseph, or awe-filled shepherds surprised by […]



November 2022

Courage For When Our Fears Come True

Have you ever asked the question, “Why does God let bad things happen?” As I get to know people and hear their stories, I become aware that this question, when it is asked, is not posed by philosophers sitting in ivory towers who just like debating interesting ideas. This is a burning question on many […]



Courge For Mission

We’ll be looking to the life of Gideon in the Bible to find some helpful insights on how we can find the courage necessary for Christian mission. You’ll find the story of Gideon, an unlikely and somewhat reluctant, hero in chapters 6-8 of the Old Testament book of Judges.



Courage To Be Counter-Cultural

In the Old Testament book of Daniel we find the example of some people who lived as a small minority in the midst of a wicked, pagan society that not only did not share their values, but who were often openly antagonistic toward them. However, For the sake of God’s name and for His glory […]



Courage In The Face of Need

When I first felt a calling to pastoral ministry, I knew I needed some formal Bible training and equipping, but there was a problem. It was a money problem. Seminaries were expensive, I had a pile of kids to provide for, and the income I was earning from my job at the time was barely […]



October 2022

Death Is A Bully

I love the scene in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy accidentally kills the Wicked Witch by dousing her with water while trying to save the scarecrow who had been set on fire (not accidentally) by the witch. The whole land of Oz, which had been living under the fear-filled oppression of the witch, burst […]



Fear of the Unknown

Fear of the unknown is a particularly difficult form of fear because it refuses to take the shape of anything definite, real or concrete. If it did, it would no longer be properly a fear of the unknown but a fear of that thing. A fear of the unknown flourishes in the shadowy world of […]



Fear of Man

As we continue our study on fear and courage we’ll be spending some time with the Apostle Peter. Peter is one of the most fascinating personalities that we encounter in the New Testament, and unlike most of the other men who formed Jesus’ inner circle of disciples, we are actually given a lot of information […]