All According to Plan
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). The first strokes of brush of the painter on the canvas are just as important...
Lord, Teach Us to Number Our Days
As the calendar turns to December and the liturgical calendar turns to Advent, the lives of families of all shapes and sizes become increasingly busy. From midweek services to athletic practices and games to Christmas concerts, programs, and parties. If there is one activity that both the Scriptures and research...
What Are You Thinking About this Advent?
By Francis Lieb, Church Worker Care Team As you enter the Advent/Christmas Season, what are you thinking about? Chances are that most professional church workers are thinking about all the deadlines and demands of this season. We think about the extra time it takes to get ready for special services,...
Christmas, Good Friday and Easter Always Bleed into Advent
“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it.” Isaiah 2:1 My daughter texted me last spring a bit...
The Church’s Mission and the End Times
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14 The end of the church year always directs the vision of the saints towards Jesus’ return in glory. With our eyes cast towards...
Thanksgiving: More Than a Day
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 The familiar words of Psalm 136 have become a frequent refrain at kitchen tables for generations. Thanksgiving is more than just a day of the year. It is also more than just a...
Overflowing Generosity
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. Acts 8:1-2 The focus of...
The Dual Nature of Life as a Pastor
This piece was written by Rev. Dr. Darrell Zimmerman, Chairman, Ministerial Health Committee Explain this for me, if you can. According to research from the Barna Group (Pastors: 2018) and others who dig deep into what’s going on with clergy, pastors have one of the highest rates of satisfaction among...