The Bell Tolls for Michael Jackson … and for me
 
As of this hour (9:30 on Friday morning), CNN’s homepage is still dominated by the death of Michael Jackson with the kind of graphics and in-depth reporting that is usually reserved for the most important news stories.  “’King of Pop’ Michael Jackson is Dead,” the somber headline reads.  When I turned on the television after I got home for our Worldview Forum last night, it was all Michael all the time.  Continue reading →

How Would Jesus Drive?
 
You can’t miss the new church bus as you pull into the main parking lot, and this week you will notice that the church logo, name, web address and “Sharing the Life of Jesus” have been emblazoned across the sides and back of the bus just in time for the long youth workweek trip to Kentucky.  Continue reading →

Ready to Step Up

During Sunday’s worship we will recognize the graduates of the Class of 2009.  Over thirty high school, college and graduate school students will be recognized for their recent achievements. It is, as we say, right and good to acknowledge the students and to thank God for the milestones reached. 
 
Our English word graduate comes from the Latin gradus for step and has connotations of moving up – one more step, one more notch.  We congratulate on graduates for having done all that needs to done in order to move up to the next step – another degree or the beginning of new vocation. Continue reading →

Music from a Grateful Heart
 
From time to time our confirmation kids will ask if it is possible to confirm their faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, but not to join the church. From time to time many of us may wonder about the possibility of the “I'll take Jesus, but hold the church” option. Sorry.  It doesn’t exist. When you open the door of your heart to Jesus, he holds it open and lets in all his friends, that ragtag band gathered from the streets and the alleys, the roads and the country lanes. When Jesus comes into your life, so does the church. I, for one, am glad that’s the way it is.  Continue reading →