Letter from the Board of Elders
Congregational Letter February 25, 2022
When School Starting Is a Gift Not a Curse
I grew up hating Labor Day. I have nothing against the holiday itself, though the idea of celebrating work never seemed all that appealing to a child or teenager trying to avoid work. My antipathy for Labor Day was rooted not in the day itself but in the day that followed: the beginning of school. As the dusk of this holiday settled into the darkness of night, a lump grew in my throat and a pit emerged in my stomach.…
Responding to Evil Against God’s People
Evil is a reality in our world. We may not always recognize it, but it is still a reality in our world. Nowhere do we see this more clearly than in the treatment of Christ’s followers in many places of our world. The persecution of Christians in all of its forms is not a problem of history, though it is that, but is a problem of life in the 21st century. The most dangerous places for God’s people are often…
Chasing Down a Wallet Thief
I came across a story this week that made me stop and think. The story caught my attention because the headline stated: “A woman chases down a wallet thief – and then buys him coffee.” I was intrigued by the headline and its potential to speak into my life. Here’s the gist of the story. A couple of weeks ago, a woman in Edmonton, Alberta witnessed a mugger grab a woman’s wallet and run. Without giving much thought to her…
Ash Wednesday and Missions
Today is Ash Wednesday: a day ignored by many evangelical churches. Actually, it is often not just ignored but demeaned. Many evangelical churches see the observance of the day as strictly Roman Catholic. Unfortunately, this misunderstanding of the day is a detriment to our faith as Christians and to our vision of the world. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Season of Lent that prepares us for Easter. Ash Wednesday is a time to think about the reality and…
God’s Kingdom on Earth
At the heart of God’s kingdom and at the heart of the king is this truth: God created us to be whole and to flourish. We struggle with this idea because our lives are so far from God’s intent. Our lives tend to be defined by other words, words like: brokenness, heartache, pain, hurt, bondage, disappointment, despair. We ask, “If God’s design for us is wholeness and flourishing, why do we experience so little of it?” Quite frankly, this is…
Are Mistakes Worth It?
I have loved sports since I was a little boy. I have played sports my entire life: Knothole, Little League and Pony League baseball. Church league basketball. Neighborhood sports from one season to the next. I have been a sports fan all of my life as well. In the 60s, it was the Green Bay Packers and the Boston Celtics. Living in the Cincinnati area, I followed in my father’s footsteps of being a lifelong Reds fan. And growing up…