Allow me if you will, on this Mother’s Day weekend, to pay homage to my own mother. She is 92 years old and I’m sure as I can be that she won’t make it to 93. She is in the last days of her life— on this earth, that is. Dad finished his life here and has been with our...
The two biggest Christian holidays of the year are Christmas and Easter. And each year as each of them approach, I find myself wondering which one is most important, which one should we celebrate most. Of course in our culture, Christmas gets the most hype and the most lead time, beginning these...
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation...
Many people have observed that we are in a season of unity as a church community and that it is delightful. What is even more delightful, and remarkable, is that within that unity there is a growing diversity. We are seeing an increasing ethnic and language and cultural diversity. Generational...
We are already six days into the new year, but since this is our first blog of 2017, Happy New Year! 2016 was not a happy year for many people in our church. In fact, it was quite difficult and painful for several. So when I say, “Happy New Year,” it’s not just a holiday...
“For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” - Hebrews 2:17 I have known the Christmas story...
Last Sunday we looked together at the story in Acts 3 about the lame beggar at the Temple gate, how Jesus made him whole and strong through the hands of Peter. Immediately, the formerly lame man began to jump and run and dance around the apostles as they made their way through the crowded Temple...
If you’ve been in church with us in the last few weeks, you’ve witnessed the implementation of a new advance in our philosophy of ministry, the preaching guild. While there are several capable preachers and teachers in our church, this is the first time we have formed a team to...
Here it is Labor Day weekend, the official end of Summer, but it feels like Fall started a week ago. Many Portland area kids started school last Monday and the weather today is autumn—ish. I hope you had a chance to get some down time this summer or at least a slower pace of life for a...
“If you hear someday that I’m in prison, please pray for me.” The comment was made offhandedly, half-jokingly by Pastor Alexey Shipovski in his sermon to us last Sunday. But the reality out of which his comment arises is no laughing matter. The government of Russia has recently...