Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Shaken by loss, frightened by illness, worried about family and finances, and pulled by a million demands on our time, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Add on social media’s tsunami of information about others’ real-life dramas, alerts to potential future dangers and millions of invented “crises,” and facing life can feel impossible. As pastors, we frequently counsel people to stay off social media (and turn off the news) to avoid added stress. Our own lives already have enough drama. But the...
These days, we know little about leprosy, the disease that is both referenced more times than any other in the Bible and was the illness most frequently healed by Jesus. In Bible times, it was a terrifying diagnosis because it not only meant an incurable sickness, apart from a divine touch, but also a life sentence to solitude. Sufferers had to live away from the rest of society and could never again live in their own homes or experience the touch of a loved one. So, it may be surprising that...
In Genesis 25, it tells the story of Esau and Jacob, brothers as different as night and day, who had fought with one another even in their mother’s womb. Though they were twins, Esau was the firstborn and had the right to certain privileges. The firstborn was entitled to a double inheritance and would someday take his father’s place as the head of the family business. What is more, he also would be expected to take on the spiritual leadership of his clan. But Esau never got to exercise those pri...
For the last month, parents have been bombarded with ads with back-to-school must-haves. Each one encourages us to start their school year off right by purchasing everything from clothes and school supplies to electronics. But getting kids off to a good start in life, as well as in school, is something that cannot be purchased and which needs to be addressed long before that panicked, last-minute trip to the store. Many have the idea that our schools are totally responsible for the education of...
Father’s Day, like many holidays, gives rise to a lot of mixed emotions. For many, the lack of a loving and involved father or father figure brings a deep sense of loss and insecurity. I stand on the precipice of being fatherless – my precious dad just received a terminal diagnosis, yet I count myself blessed because of his love, support and wise advice over many years. My heart breaks, not for my coming loss, but for the orphaned generations, who hunger for the security of a caring father. Fre...
As a young pastor in a small tribal village in Guatemala, I was always amazed at both the deep faith and the profound generosity of the Kaqchikel people I served. For what seemed to me even the smallest favor, they responded by filling my pantry with baskets filled with handpicked fruits and vegetables or fresh eggs. One dear brother insisted on gifting me with his prize pig, possibly his most valuable possession. In this month, when we are most likely to focus on being grateful and giving thank...
Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10b) Yet many Christians have lives that are anything but blessed, flourishing and abundant. They live below the level of blessing Jesus promised. They live with lack, sometimes financial lack, but more often a spiritual and emotional lack of love, joy and hope. There is a story in Samuel 9 of a young prince, who in spite of his royal blood, lived with lack. He was the grandson of Israel's...
When the people heard He was coming, they lined the streets hoping to see Him. They sacrificed their best coats and stripped nearby trees to create a makeshift red carpet to honor him. They shouted "Hosanna" over and over when He came into sight. (See Mark 11:1-10) The strange thing is that many from this same crowd were shouting again a few days later, but this time, they were calling for His execution. "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" (See Mark 15:6-15) Have you ever wondered about these...
Who was the first person you called when your doctor gave you the bad news? Or maybe when the phone rang in the middle of the night and a stranger asked if they were speaking to the parents of...? Where did you go for help when the bills were beyond overdue and there was nothing coming in to pay any of them. For many, a memory of a loyal family member or a faithful friend coming to your rescue or at least available to listen and offer comfort in your moment of crisis comes immediately to mind....
You know that moment in the movies... someone who's terrified of heights must climb out on a ledge or jump between two high buildings. And they look down and the fear that overwhelms them almost makes them lose their grip and fall. We live in uncertain, scary times and the last thing we need to do is look down. If you look down... at your problems and your worries for too long, you'll soon be depressed and afraid to go on. If you look down... at your cell phone or tablet and read all the...
You know that moment in the movies... someone who's terrified of heights must climb out on a ledge or jump between two high buildings. And they look down and the fear that overwhelms them almost makes them lose their grip and fall. We live in uncertain, scary times and the last thing we need to do is look down. If you look down... at your problems and your worries for too long, you'll soon be depressed and afraid to go on. If you look down... at your cell phone or tablet and read all the...
If you are a pastor in the Shafter/Wasco area and would like to contribute to our weekly column, email [email protected] or call 661-292-5100. to get added to our list of pastors.It’s now been almost two years since the threat of contagion and illness changed almost every aspect of our lives. It trapped us for weeks on end in our homes, eliminated the simplest gestures of love, friendship and solidarity — from smiles to handshakes and hugs to high-fives, and left many living in alm...
