Reflecting Redemption
Pastor Doug Dent
Our minds may be stupid, and our hearts may be underdeveloped, but they can still sing songs of praise to God who is the rock of our salvation. We can live in an evil world, surrounded by evil people with a tendency to do evil ourselves, but we can still choose to do good. We […]
A Psalm for Slippery Slopes
Pastor Doug Dent
The mountains in Psalm 121 are not God, but seeing the mountains helps the psalmist think about God who is the keeper Israel, the protector of the people, the One who never slumbers or goes off duty. When we find ourselves on slippery slopes, we need not fear, but instead, look for God’s leading. Ask […]
God is Greater
Pastor Doug Dent
The ”God is greater than our highs and lows” design is a spiritual reminder that our identity is not based on what we have accomplished for ourselves, nor is it determined by what we’ve failed to do. Life will continue to have highs and lows. Don’t waste them! Trust God through the highs and lows […]
Sharenting the Transfiguration
Pastor Doug Dent
There is a word for this over-sharing about our kids on social media: “sharenting,” a hybrid of the words sharing and parenting. Sharenting happens any time an adult in charge of a child’s well-being, such as a parent or a teacher, transmits private details about a child via digital channels. Most sharenting stems from simple […]
Rap Sheet
Pastor Doug Dent
We’re all called to walk in the way of the Lord! Career criminals are known by their “rap sheet”— the long list of their arrests and convictions. Career Christians, on the other hand, should be known by their long obedience to the commandments of God. God’s commandments, laws, statutes, and ordinances are designed to keep […]
God’s Protest Movement
Pastor Doug Dent
Yes, we live in a golden age of protest, but no modern rally can achieve what God accomplished through the cross. God is “the source of your life in Christ Jesus,” says Paul, “who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (v. 30). Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption. All these benefits […]
Healing Divisions over Dinner
Pastor Doug Dent
I think Federated Church is a “dinner church.” (I know we like to eat!) We spend a lot of time around the tables in our fellowship hall. At those tables we share our stories and our worries, our laughter and our tears. We are about as diverse a congregation politically and theologically as is possible, […]
Jesus and Airbnb
Pastor Doug Dent
Jesus is more than an Airbnb host, of course; but no doubt when we invite people to come and see, to go and prepare, and to come and dine, they are going to check the reviews. Are we people who live out our faith? Do our actions match our words? What are other people saying? […]
What’s Your Why?
Pastor Doug Dent
We need a personal mission statement to remind us where we ought to be going. We have our general orders from God through Jesus and through the disciples, but each of us must discover our individual calling, our own personal mission within the mission of God. What’s your why? I encourage you to find out, […]
The Fault in Our Stars
Pastor Doug Dent
Friends, there is a fault in our stars, and not just in that blinking sky-train of satellites that is the Starlink array. The fault in our stars is whatever turns our attention from the True Star, the True North Star — he who is the source of everything good in our lives: Jesus Christ. At […]
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