Quote for the Day
It Is Hard To Enter
A word from Elizabeth Elliot today: The kingdom of God stands over against all other kingdoms—that is, over against all other authorities, sources of power, objects of trust. It is hard to enter the kingdom of God—not because an angel is set to keep us out, not because God would surround Himself with a highly selected elite, but because the condition for admittance is renunciation of all other kingdoms. The wealthy stranger who ran up to Jesus and knelt and…
What a Wonderful Way to Start!
So said our elder, Don Richards, when replying to a question about whether we would have full services on New Year’s Day. Of course the answer is “YES” – all systems are go to start the year out in the Lord’s house. Sunday School will meet as normal at 9:30, as will our normal worship service, starting at 10:30. Don’s entire comment was, “What a wonderful way to start a new year. In the Lord’s house with my brothers and…
The Serenity Prayer
The 18th century theologian Reinhold Neibuhr is thought to be the actual author of what we often call The Serenity Prayer. Niebuhr was a major influence on the German Pastor and Nazi resister, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The version of the prayer we usually see is this: God, grant me the Serenity To accept the things I cannot change… Courage to change the things I can, And Wisdom to know the difference. But the original and full version is better. Perhaps you…
A Spurgeon Minute
The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7). “Cleanseth,” says the text–not “shall cleanse.” There are multitudes who think that as a dying hope they may look forward to pardon. Oh! how infinitely better to have cleansing now than to depend on the bare possibility of forgiveness when I come to die. Some imagine that a sense of pardon is an attainment only obtainable after many years of Christian experience. But forgiveness of…
A Prayer for Everyday
Lord, grant that I may tell to others as long as I live, that thou art a sin-pardoning God! (from The Valley of Vision)
Can you handle the truth?
Winston Churchill said, “Truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but, in the end, there it is.” Pontius Pilate asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) And Jesus stood silently before him, not answering the question. But He had already answered it in the previous chapter when He prayed for His disciples, and by extension for you and me, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) Whatever else we do here at…