Love and hurry are fundamentally incompatible.   Love always takes time, and time is the one thing hurried people don’t have. This quote, written by John Ortberg, a pastor in CA, captures our dilemma.  Hurry seems to be the definition of today’s world.  Before the alarm goes off in the morning, we have a list of things to do that will more than fill our day.  From shopping… to a work call… to a fa...  Read More

In 1915, Samuel Sorenson Adams wanted to tease his wife Emily after she complained that he had left the jam jar sticky.  That night, Sam cleaned out a jam jar, filled it with cloth-covered, spring-loaded ‘snakes’, that would pop out when she opened the jam jar the next day.  Emily must have enjoyed the humor of that practical joke, because Sam went on to create a snake peanut brittle can, a snake ...  Read More

The Lord added to their number those who were being saved.  Acts 2:47 One of the surprising blessings of the pandemic is the way God has added to our number these past two years.  Who could have imagined that a global pandemic, with all the isolation and uproar, would be fertile ground for church growth.  Between those who now join us for live-stream worship from their homes across the country, to...  Read More

Imagine a week surrounded by mountains… the Rockies… the Canadian Rockies.  From one snow capped peak to the next, the views we enjoyed during our family vacation were awe-inspiring!  We saw those views from our first sip of coffee on the deck, to our drives from hike to hike, to peaceful moments sitting by a glacial lake with mountains reflected in the still waters.  The view never grew old, in f...  Read More

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19 Last week, our family traveled to Banff, Canada for an adventure of a lifetime:  clear turquoise-blue glacial lakes, rocky snow-capped mountain peaks, wildflowers in the colors of the rainbow, fresh mountain air, and the laughter of family all around- best week ever!  E...  Read More

I must begin this ‘Tuesday Letter’ with an admission.  I am a chicken.  I have been watching and listening… reading and considering… but I have stayed safely on the sidelines since June 24th.  Actually, I am not so sure that it is safe even on the sidelines, but I know it is safer than jumping into the middle of the debate.  I have not preached a sermon, made a public comment, or written a word ab...  Read More