Flash Nonfiction
Pastor Doug Dent
The resurrection is a sort of threshold between this life and the next, and discussing it is a matter of our all-too-human minds racing ahead, endeavoring to touch the thing we can never fully know in this life. The apostle Paul gives us a possible flash-fiction story here. It’s flash because it’s quick and short. […]
Talking Stones
Pastor Doug Dent
The Palm Sunday story is a reminder to stand tall in the face of adversity, to cry out against injustice, and to shout “Hosanna!” for Christ is come, God’s reign begun, and the Spirit is among us transforming the world. Unlike the disciples, we really do know how this story ends: Jesus died to take […]
The Joy of Forgiveness
Pastor Doug Dent
(Please note the title change from the morning bulletin) We know that with God there is always forgiveness for those who repent and seek God’s grace. In Jesus Christ we have a Savior who came to show us a better way to live, and who died to make that new life possible, free of sin. […]
Why So Cast Down? Hope In God!
Pastor Doug Dent
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God” (42:5, 11; 43:5). The psalmist is not naïve or overly optimistic when he says this. He knows, from experience, and truly believes that God is faithful. […]
Patrick’s Legacy
Pastor Doug Dent
Let me offer some ways to honor Patrick’s legacy: Offer some holy conversation to a person who needs to know the love of Jesus; Engage that person at work who may be difficult for you; Help a neighbor without being asked; Respect those with whom you disagree; Drop a note to someone who could use […]
Named and Claimed
Pastor Doug Dent
You know what God expects of you. You’ve studied what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. You’ve learned how to listen for the Holy Spirit working in your life. You’ve explored what our church is about and what it intends to do in and for this community. For all these reasons, Jesus now […]
Your Cheatin’ Heart
Pastor Doug Dent
Who’s more optimistic: the sin-deniers or the sin-acknowledgers? The sin-deniers have yet to come up with a concept that works better. The sin-deniers have cheatin’ hearts. They don’t accept the truth. We acknowledge our sin and we acknowledge a remedy more powerful than the stain of sin: the love of Jesus incredibly displayed on the […]
Side Hustle
Pastor Doug Dent
What does your side hustle for Jesus look like? Is it checking-in on a neighbor? Helping with Kids’ Club? Pounding nails with Habitat? Stocking shelves at the Food Pantry? Caring for an aging parent? Mentoring a student? Teaching music lessons or coaching a sport? When your deep passion and the world’s deep need collide, that’s […]
Disaster Maps
Pastor Doug Dent
Unlike Facebook’s Disaster Maps, which rightly assume that hurricanes and earthquakes are forces of nature beyond our control, there are some human disasters Christ’s church can and should directly address in the form of social action. In fact, Christians spearheaded many of the great social-reform movements over the past centuries. The Spirit of the Lord […]
Stead-fast-love
Pastor Doug Dent
This is steadfast love. This is a love that if we strung all its attributes together it would look like steadfast-unrelenting-unfailing-patient-believing-hoping-enduring-love. This is amazing love! This love comes from God who is transforming us moment by moment and day by day. As we meet today to set our course for the coming year, it is […]
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