Worship & Prayer

The Spirit of Truth

Publication: Pastoral Letter, September 2016 Dear Friend in Christ: I cannot think of a more important subject for this time than TRUTH. It is vital for each of us to ask these four questions regarding truth:  Can I be deceived? Have I been deceived? What are the consequences of deception?. [...]

The Power in SMALL

Publication: Pastoral Letter, August 2016 Dear Friends, Greetings in the Lord! I want to describe what I believe that the Lord is saying to me and pray that it will be useful to you. Together, let’s look at the contrast between “big” and “small”. Certainly, big enterprises have a lot. [...]

Isolation or Vena Cava Heart Filter?

[Part 2] We left our heroes—Luke, Leia, and Han Solo—with the worshiping, childish, primitive, Freudian Ewoks.  Thankfully (a phrase not to be confused with thank God, which implies a personal deity), sophisticated Luke Skywalker knows how to tap into the impersonal force, which just so happens to resemble the teaching. [...]

Will You Lead?

Publication: Pastoral Letter, July 2016 Dear Friend in Christ: July reminds us that the United States is a nation that was set free from political tyranny by leaders who were willing to give their lives. A total of 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence; later, they were captured, tortured,. [...]

Unshakable Christians Shake the World

This year’s testimony of Joseph Bondarenko at the Gatlinburg conference reminded me of Peter and John.  As I listened to Bondarenko describe how the KGB paraded him in front of an assembly of his fellow college students and told him to choose between God and a diploma, I thought of. [...]

The Search

Publication: Pastoral Letter, June 2016 Dear Friend in Christ: Thank you for praying for our annual CSM Gatlinburg Conference. It was a wonderful time in the Lord focusing on the “Unshakable” reality of Christ’s Kingdom in shaking times. The testimonies we heard were inspiring and instructive. In this letter, I. [...]

Drawn From The Water

Publication: Pastoral Letter, April 2016 Dear Friends, Late one cold and icy evening, a woman was driving home with her baby daughter strapped in her car seat. For some reason, the woman missed a bridge and the car tumbled down a slope into the shallow, frigid stream below. The mother. [...]

Impasse or Bypass?

Publication: Pastoral Letter, March 2016 Dear Friends, I want to address what I believe is the biggest hindrance to a great revival. We see it in chapter 4 of James where the apostle is writing to scattered Jewish believers, and asks a very important question: “Where do wars and fights. [...]

The Offense Fence

Publication: Pastoral Letter, February 2016 Dear Friend in Christ: What I want to say in this letter is, “Get over it.”  Get over the fence of offense.  If we fail to get over offenses, we will miss the truth that offense conceals. Let’s talk first about offense.  “Offense” in sports. [...]

The Lord Our Provider

Publication: Pastoral Letter, January 2016 Dear Friend in Christ: Happy New Year! I pray that you had a wonderful Christmas season and that the presence of God very near to you and yours.  We thank God for you and appreciate your friendship. As we enter 2016, I want to share. [...]

What Troubled Herod

Publication:Pastoral Letter, December 2015 Dear Friends, We thank God for you and pray that you are having a blessed season of Thanksgiving and preparing for Christmas.  This month, I want to share how the birth of Jesus gives us hope and courage for the times in which we live. Matthew. [...]

Thanksgiving Brings God’s Presence

I hope this blog finds you well and enjoying this autumn. This is my favorite time of the year for many reasons, but primarily because we are nearing the celebration of Thanksgiving Day here in the United States. In addition to the deeply meaningful acknowledgement of God’s presence in our. [...]

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