Coming to the Still Waters

  Snow has come to Ohio and it seems each weekend brings a little more.  The photo above shows our barred front doors of the church for a few days but it was removed before the next service.   We finished up our mini-series through the chapters of Luke 1 & 2 this Sunday.  It was great to slow down and take a deep dive into the events and people associated with Jesus' first coming.  Luke and all of his details informed us of 3 angel appearances; helped us triangulate with historical figures the time frame of Jesus' birth; brought to light near and far prophecies; supplied witnesses with the final two being Simeon and Anna; and provided through his words the physical growth of Jesus from newly born, to in the arms of another, to being able to render help, and finally to being under the law. This is a "Luke only" passage.  None of the other gospel accounts, Matthew, Mark, and John, give us this scene when Jesus is 12 years old.  It makes you ask...

  This is a new shot of the sanctuary after the acoustical tiles were installed and also the resurrection of an old piece of furniture from the old church to use as a very adequate pulpit.   It was a snowy Sunday and actually two in a row and snowing another possible 4" today.  Our attendance was about half but the online viewers jumped to an all time high with sustained minutes compared to any time during the of the height of COVID over the last year.  We have been trained in so many new ways over the last couple of years.  For example, if you are sick, stay home but if you can't get there because of the snowy weather, hop online! Sunday's sermon took us further into the events of the first advent of Christ.  Joseph and Mary are following the instructions of the Law found in Leviticus and the temple visit produced a couple more witnesses of who this baby was that was in their arms.  It is no surprise that like Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary and ...

  It is a rare opportunity but when it comes I love it.  We have a Missions Focus Sunday at the church this Sunday so I have two weeks to prepare for my next sermon.  I almost feel this would be ideal on a regular basis but I make the most of the time when I get it. The sermon title for last Sunday was "Cue The Shepherds!" and the picture above is of a sheepfold in the fields which is used for the evening gathering of the sheep.  How many times I have "cued the shepherds" in a Christmas pageant to come to the manger but the shepherds that night didn't need to be cued .  They were in haste to find the Babe wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.  The angel had said, "For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2.11, LSB). It was a five point sermon. 1.  We marveled at the layering of the Bible.  It just keeps building upon itself as we study it throughout our lives. 2.  We noted the p...

  I'm back in the office after a day of 72 degrees in Florida and it was 14 degrees this morning in Ohio!  It was a long stretch to leave at 6 a.m. from Zephyrhills, Florida and arrive back in Medina, Ohio just before 11:30 p.m.  This route is just about 1150 miles.  So what do you do driving by yourself over that span of time? You scan the radio dial for anything interesting.  Talk radio, sermons, and songs are my stable unless I have some podcasts lined up.  You watch other drivers like a hawk especially when traveling through the larger cities (Atlanta, Knoxville, Cincinnati, etc.).  There always seems to be at least one close call over that many miles.  I think through a lot of ministry scenarios and then commit them to prayer with my eyes open!  I usually end up with singing Christian kids songs I grew up with.  Deep and Wide, Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves The Little Children, One Door And Only One, I May Never March In The Infan...