A Dwelling Place for the Mighty One

One of my favorite sections of the Psalms is Psalms 120-134, which are called the Psalms of Ascent. This set of Psalms was often sung by the Jews as they made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem - specifically when they went up, or ascended, the mountain on which Jerusalem rests - thus they were named the Psalms of Ascents. Not only is it fascinating to read the thoughts of the people of God as they journeyed to the holy city, but I believe we, as people of God, can learn from them on our journey…

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

My how car rides with the family sure brought us places! Whether it was in the family station wagon or later when Dad drove the 1986 Chevrolet Conversion Van, we cruised together in our reliable horse powered beast of the road. It was Dad, Mom, Mandy, David and Becca, and we all loved each other dearly. The weekly treks to the church building, family trips, funerals, weddings, oh the places you go! Dad and Mom were sure to have us travel to gospel meetings in the surrounding Houston area as often as we could. Becoming acquainted…

Sprinting Toward God, with a Limp

In Genesis 32 and 33 we have an amazing series of events that provide a transformative text, critically valuable for a daily journey with Jesus.

We have just read of Jacob’s flight from Laban as God instructs him to return to the land of his father, the land of promise.  He now engages in a life and death wrestling match with God. On the horizon the looming consequences of the past are speeding across the plain to meet him.

Jacob is now between the proverbial rock and a hard place.  Behind him, a rich and powerful uncle…

My Grandmother taught 5th grade Bible Class for many years, so naturally I was excited as the time approached for me to be a student in her class and was also excited to obtain the coveted postcard with 5 stars, each star representing memorization of the following:
●    Names of the Apostles
●    Books of the New Testament
●    Books of the Old Testament
●    Psalm 23
●    The Beatitudes

The Beatitudes have continued to encourage me from that early age until now.  They are found in Matthew 5:3-12 and begin Jesus' Sermon on the Mount from Matthew chapters 5-7.  As…

When the World’s Greatest Painting Isn’t That Great

There are certain moments in life when we eagerly anticipate experiences we build up in our minds long before they ever happen. For many, traveling to Paris is one of those dreams. The city itself has an almost legendary beauty, and at the heart of it stands the Louvre, one of the most famous museums in the world. Walking through its halls, you are surrounded by centuries of human creativity; paintings, sculptures, and artifacts that have shaped culture and history.

Before visiting, we looked forward to seeing many of these renowned works of art.…

    As individuals and as a congregation, our aim is to “press on to maturity” in 2026. This involves a commitment to personal growth, spiritual development, and advancing beyond the foundation of our faith.  The shepherds have provided several resources and tools to help accomplish these goals set before us.  One such continual reminder is future bulletin articles written by our devoted deacons.

    The deacons will be writing this year on different phrases taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7).  This sermon, which introduced His hearers to “the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt. 4:23), is still well known…

Exodus 21:1-6 provides a most beautiful picture of love and commitment. 

    Under the Law of Moses, if an Israelite bought a Hebrew slave, he would serve for six years; but on the seventh he can go out as a free man without payment. If he comes in alone, he shall go out alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him.  If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master and the slave shall go out alone. But…

Is That All There Is?

In one of his plays Shakespeare describes Macbeth as being in abject despair.  He has lost his wife and his position of power.  All of his great ambitions have been crushed and life seems utterly empty.  In his hopelessness he declares:

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.  It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

That soliloquy reminds me of the hauntingly pessimistic words in Mark Twain’s autobiography:

A myriad of men are born; they…

    There is no logical reason for not enjoying the worship services.  They should be a source of comfort to us, as well as a strong influence on our lives.  Good worship services should provide hope, strengthen ties, broaden influences, settle disturbed minds, and bring consolation to the disconsolate.   I was just thinking recently about some ways I might implement that would make the worship services more meaningful to me, and thus more helpful.  Maybe they might help you, too.

    Prepare early.  Far too few are ready to worship when it's time.  We get here right on time (or,…

Let the One Who Boasts . . .

All societies have generally assigned value to the same kinds of things. Regardless of time and culture, people have desired to be strong and powerful, to have wealth and resources, and to achieve status or influence among their peers. When someone has an abundance of these things, there has been a historical trend to assign moral value to these “successes,” even among the people of God. Despite history having abundant examples of the righteous suffering (e.g. Job) and Scripture clearly teaching that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ will…