State of Readiness
Pastor Doug Dent
There is a story told of a woman who received a note from Jesus saying, “I will visit you today.” She furiously tore around her house cleaning and baking and making things presentable for such a distinguished visitor. As she bustled about the door rang. She opened the door to find a poor beggar asking […]
Adhesive Faith
Pastor Doug Dent
We strengthen our connection through consistent Christian service, by acting as the hands and heart of Jesus in the world. This may include feeding the hungry and housing the homeless, as well as teaching children or mentoring teenagers. It may include donating a portion of our income to a charity or giving some time to […]
Water from the Well
Pastor Doug Dent
But God does not meet our needs as we sit in passive inactivity. We must reach out and draw what God provides, remembering that it is God’s water, God’s well, God’s rope, and God’s bucket that we use. Therefore, we may draw this water “with joy” because it is all “of the Lord.” We tend to downplay Jesus’ […]
Let Your Light Shine
Pastor Doug Dent
If are faith-lights are dim, if the layer of dust is shielding them from view, it is because we are the ones holding Christ back, we are the ones standing in the way; and the truth is we do it by choice. Jesus said, “This is the judgment, that the light has come into the […]
Don’t Move Until God Moves
Pastor Doug Dent
Jeremiah and Peter counsel the exiles to recognize that they are resident aliens; to stop whining about the past and to remember that God is faithful; to stop living for an uncertain future and to live in the moment. If they pray, they will prosper. If they sow gratitude, they will reap hope. If they […]
Parting Words
Pastor Doug Dent
But the church was not without leadership: a second generation of preachers and pastors stood ready to carry the torch. One of these was Timothy, arguably Paul’s favorite and most devoted disciple. It is Timothy to whom Paul addresses his parting words. Paul mentored Timothy in the fundamentals of faith. Timothy served with Paul in […]
Bare Essentials
Pastor Doug Dent
If, as you sign your check for the Sunday offering, or set up your smartphone or computer for an electronic payment, you ever say to yourself, “I feel so inadequate, just giving money, when other people are doing the real work,” don’t ever think that again! What you do, in making generous gifts of money, […]
Selective Attention
Pastor Doug Dent
Jesus wants us to love everyone, just as he does. But at the same, time, he challenges us to focus our selective attention on the lost coin, not the nine that are still in hand. He pushes us to go looking for the lost sheep that is wandering, not the 99 that are safe in […]
The Original Cloud
Pastor Doug Dent
Our culture seems to be growing more individualistic and less communitarian, but the simple truth is that we desperately need one another. The message of Hebrews is about persevering in life, but it is also about enduring life together. We do not run this race alone, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, […]
Page 1 of 5