Pastor's Pen

  Pastor’s Pen , This Sunday:    Prepare for the Best                                                          1Peter 3:13-22 Ever hear the phrase “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst?”  It’s probably a good piece of advice in many ways, especially when things are not going so well. That was certainly the case for the believers to whom Peter was writing in northern Asia Minor. They were undergoing significant persecution, and maybe some are struggling with their faith. After discussing the importance of Godly Christian conduct in a hostile environment, including at work and in the home, Peter now turned his attention to calling for steadfastness during times of suffering. His message, an optimistic one, is simply… Prepare for the best                      ...

  Pastor’s Pen , This Sunday: How to Have a Gold Medal Marriage                                                       1 Peter 3:1-12    Every four years the world pauses for the Olympics. We had them last summer, and the controversial winter Olympics from Beijing, China recently concluded . Athletes compete in a variety of sporting activities to see who can win the coveted gold medal. Those who win the gold are acknowledged as the best! While marriage is not a competitive Olympic event, Kathy and I have built a marriage weekend seminar around the concept of going for the gold.  We call it our “ Gold Medal Marriage ” seminar, and our key passage is this weekend’s text from 1 Peter. After his focus on submission in the workplace, Peter calls for the same quality to be present in the Christian home. ***** We appreciate those wh...

  Pastor’s Pen , This Sunday: Spiritual Growth                                                                                           1 Peter 2:1-3   One of the most fascinating elements of parenting is to watch your children grow.  Think of the journey each child takes, from infancy to toddlerhood. Before you know it they're off to elementary school, and before long the graduating from high school. Their body grows and takes shape, the young men began to shave, the young ladies begin to use makeup and change their wardrobe. But one of the most important times of human growth is the kind Peter addresses in our text of this weekend. It's spiritual growth. And it's important to realize that it isn't automatic. Sometimes people who are chronologica...

Pastor’s Pen , This Sunday: Christian Character                                                                                           1 Peter 1:13-25   Did you make any New Year's resolutions? Are you doing with them?  Many people make resolutions at the beginning of the New Year, to exercise, quit smoking, lose weight, and eat more healthy foods. The problem is, those resolutions often fade out of existence by the end of January. But there are changes that God wants to bring into our lives. He does so through the power of his Holy Spirit who lives within each believer, and he wants to bring about lasting change. We call this Christian character, and it's not so much what you do as who you are, and who you are becoming in Christ. As Peter wrote...

  Pastor’s Pen , This Sunday: Our Amazing Inheritance                                                                                            1 Peter 1:1-13   Some years ago we watched a fascinating situation in which the Boy Scouts, the Mormon church and dozens of frustrated individuals from Nevada to Texas to California. What did they all have in common? They were all focused on Howard Hughes’ will. It's not surprising that when someone with money down is there's a great deal of interest in who will inherit. But for those of us who are believers there is something far better to look forward to and any financial inheritance here.  Scripture makes it clear that our salvation includes God's gift and inheritance to all those who trust his So...

  Pastor’s Pen , This Sunday: Hope for Hard Times                                                                                            1 Peter 1:1-13   Have you ever been away from home, lonely, maybe a little depressed, going through hard times?  Then you received an encouraging letter from a loved one, and your spirits were lifted! That's how the Christians who were scattered through the five provinces of Asia Minor must've felt when they received this letter from Peter. They been under persecution many have been forced to leave their homes jobs and loved ones after they had welcomed the gospel message and trusted Christ as Savior. Godless Emperor Nero had singled out Christians as scapegoats for his troubles in some believers had b...

  Pastor’s Pen , This Sunday: Portrait of Peter                                                                                                Luke 5:1-11   A new year is upon us, with new challenges and new opportunities! One challenge I’m facing: I received word Wednesday afternoon that I had tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID. Thankfully, Kathy tested negative, but we will both quarantine until early next week.  My prayer is for God’s protection for each of you as we continue to deal with this pandemic. We appreciate your prayers for us.  Bruce Moilan will be preaching for me Sunday, an introductory message on the life of Peter, the leader of Jesus’ disciples. This will prepare the way for my series of messag...