Pastors Pen

‘…don’t look down’ July 29, 2018   Scriptures: based loosely on John 6:1-20 and Matthew 14:28-33 Simon Peter looked longingly towards the hills where they had watched Jesus walk off all alone several hours earlier.  He had always taken time to withdraw by himself and to pray, but this time it seemed somehow different. In […]

…a dwelling place for God July 22, 2018 Scriptures: Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56   Ephesians 2:11-22 So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles…were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus

Our blessing place… July 15, 2018 Scripture: Psalm 24 Twenty years ago, in the early fall following our second season on Cascade Farm as a Community Farm, I found myself reflecting on how wonderful the season had been.  It was a good season in part because we had only recently begun to use some of

…and what is truth? July 8, 2018 Scriptures: Mark 6: 1-6, John 18: 37-38 Mark 6:1-6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that

…the Goliaths among us, and the david within… June 24, 2018 Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23) 32-49   Today’s scripture passage from 1 Samuel is one of the all-time best known and well-loved bible stories.  It has been depicted in paintings that most likely adorn the wall somewhere in every Sunday School and even

‘gardening with God…’ June 17, 2018   Mark 4:26-34 Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then

Kingdom or ‘kindom’? June 10, 2018   Scriptures: 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15), Mark 3:20-35 Kingdom or ‘kindom’…warring or loving?  Truly there has been and continues to be a battle raging for the very soul of humanity.  It is an age-old struggle, rooted in the need for self-preservation at the dawn of history…back when

…the One who finds you… May 27, 2018 Scripture: John 3:1-8 1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do

‘need-poverty’…or ‘want-poverty’? May 20, 2018 …a note about today… With all that went on this week, with the storm and extensive damage and related power outages I lost track of the fact that today was in fact Pentecost Sunday. Held on the seventh Sunday or roughly 50 days after Easter, Pentecost is the celebration in

…worth more than precious jewels 5/13/12   Scripture: Selections from Proverbs 31(MSG Trans.)   Dear Mom, First of all, Happy Mother’s Day!  I know you can hear me, and I know you are well for I know you dwell in the presence of our Lord Jesus.  It has been far too many years since I