Learning to love others the way Jesus loves us
Resting is hard for many of us, especially those of us who grew up in a community where work was prized above almost anything else. "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise..." Productivity, even in ministry, becomes an idol, but it is an acceptable one. We take pride in how… Continue reading The gift of rest
How to please the Lord 101: Love God, love people. There is nothing complicated about what God wants his children to do. He says it over and over in every book of the Bible. Jesus himself summed up the commandments in two sentences: Love the Lord your God will your heart, soul, mind, and strength,… Continue reading How to please the Lord 101
It has been a rough few weeks. My father, who lived a multitude of lives in his 81 years, passed away on July 29. I took a last minute trip to my hometown earlier in the month when he was hospitalized and not expected to walk out of the facility. True to my dad's stubborn… Continue reading Romans 6:8
The Lord is good John 15:1-8; Psalm 34:8; 1 John 4:7-17; Galatians 5:22-23 The late 1960s were tumultuous times in the US. Not unlike today, there were protests and riots over political statements, racism, sexuality, and the role of the Church in society. In that chaos, Peter Scholtes penned the words to "They'll know we… Continue reading Taste and see: Part five
Tasting: The perfection of the fruit John 15:1-8; Galatians 5:22; 1 John 4:7-17 Taste Just a few days ago, Wine Spectator posted a "wine IQ" blind tasting game on their website. It posted a sommelier's tasting notes and asked players to identify the variety, country/region of origin/appellation, and age based solely on the notes. Tasting… Continue reading Taste and see: Part four
The wine John 15:1-8; Psalm 34:8; Galatians 5:22; 1 John 4:7-17 ; Hosea 9:3-5; Exodus 29:40; Romans 11:11-24 A quick recap The focus of John 15 is the role of the vine to the branches, and thereby to the fruit. The vine grows from the rootstock and is vital to the life of the plant.… Continue reading Taste and see: Part three
Berries, Vérasion, and Harvest John 15:1-8; Psalm 1 "Every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes that it may bear more fruit." Pruning does more than shape a grapevine. Pruning also directs the future growth and direction of the plant, and affect how well the vine produces. In viticulture, pruning is an ongoing process. The… Continue reading Taste and see: Part two
The vineyard and the vines John 15:1-8; Psalm 34:8; Galatians 5:22; 1 John 4:7-17 A recent sermon about Jesus as the true vine included an illustration meant to be humorous (it was), but got me thinking about the process of wine-making. Having lived 12 years in Sonoma County among the wineries, the illustration brought back… Continue reading Taste and see: Part one
Inspired by a sermon By Pastor Jason Cook at Fellowship Bible Church, Roswell, GA 4/18/2021
Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe Baucham, V.T. (2021) Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe. [Kindle] Salem Books. Those of us who grew up in California understand earthquakes better than most people in the US. We are aware that the State is riddled with fault plane boundaries,… Continue reading Book Review
Defaulting to Grace 