Check out this page at our new site:

Light cuts the Darkness

Light cuts the Darkness

The power went out at about 10:30 PM. Lori and I were right in the middle of watching a movie. The movie was one someone had loaned to us and said we needed to watch it. To be honest, we didn’t mind missing the rest of the movie! But we did mind the darkness and cold. Our thirty hours without power made it feel like we were back in the pioneer days, out on the prairie living by candlelight and warming up by the fireplace. We own about ten flashlights, but only one worked, and it was a needed companion. Light cuts through the darkness.

Power of Jesus

Power of Jesus

The context of today’s passage began when an invalid beggar was healed by Peter and John as they made their way to the temple for afternoon prayers. Reports of the healing drew quite a crowd and quickly caught the attention of the Jewish leaders. They arrested the two disciples and brought them before a group of high officials with a demanding question: “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Peter’s answer is straight to the point— “Jesus Christ of Nazareth.”

Amazing Work

Amazing Work

I recently spent time in Thailand. It was amazing to see the work that is being done there. At Faith House, girls destined for the sex trade are rescued, educated, and introduced to Jesus. We are thankful for the Thailand staff and their ministry to these girls. Paul said it this way in Romans 10:14-15.

Believe. Saved.

Believe. Saved.

Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Isn’t this relationship with God something to be earned? Don’t I need to spend time demonstrating my religious worth—confirmation, first communion, baptism, listening to sermons, or to speed up the process—volunteering with the youth group? Don’t I have to do something, be something, or achieve some spiritual…something? This sounds too easy. Just say, “Jesus is Lord,” and that’s it? Come on!

A Stone of Stumbling

A Stone of Stumbling

In 1 Peter 2:4-8, the apostle Peter uses the example of a building to help us understand the eternal importance of our relationship with Christ. He describes Jesus as “the living stone,” “a cornerstone,” and the “cornerstone chosen and precious.” In 1 Peter 2:7, the apostle warned those who did not believe. In today’s verse, he followed with a second warning. Sometimes Jesus becomes a “stone of stumbling.”