“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances….” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18). It’s clear that Christians should not allow the pains of life to steal our joy in God. We should embrace the brokenness in the world with hopeful confidence. That’s true and biblical, but do we know how to “get there?” I find […]
Category Archives: Newsletter Articles
Let ’em Have It: The Value Of The Imprecatory Psalms For Today By Adam Miller
Read: Psalm 58 In a world of constant outrage, we need the imprecatory Psalms, but not for the reason that you might think. We don’t need them to fan the flame of our hate or justify our prejudices. We need them to see the dark underbelly of sin and understand the magnitude of God’s wrath. […]
In Loving Memory…Memorializing John DeBrine
In Loving Memory…Memorializing John DeBrine Our beloved founder, Dr. John DeBrine, passed into glory peacefully during the night of March 3, 2021 at the age of 96. The memorial service for John was held on June 12, 2021. It was attended by many generations who were touched by his ministry throughout the years. “Married to […]
What God Wants…A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving by Adam Miller
Read: Psalm 50 Being a Christian is not easy. There are a lot of requirements for following Christ. Sure, we are not under the Old Covenant anymore–we don’t have to make regular sacrifices, keep a kosher diet, or stone anyone who works on the Sabbath–but it still isn’t a walk in the park. Jesus said […]
Critical Questions: Why Did Jesus Speak in Parables? by Micah Lovell
Read: Matthew 13 One of the most commonly occurring questions from readers of the New Testament is about why Jesus so frequently speaks in parables in the Gospels. Readers are astute to the fact that the parables bring an element of mystery to the overall message Jesus is attempting to preach, but some parables are […]
Extra Mercy, Hold the Sacrifice by Adam Miller
Read: Matthew 12:1-8 One of my favorite phrases in the Gospel of Matthew is actually a rebuke. You wouldn’t notice it at first–it sounds like something you would put into needlework on a pillow–but it is a rebuke all the same: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” At face value, it is like a warm […]
NEED WISDOM? ASK, SEEK, KNOCK by Adam Miller
If you were granted one wish, what would it be? Perhaps it would be money, power, or popularity. People have spent their entire lives striving for these treasures and the rest of us are left to admire those who actually achieve them. King Solomon was the most wealthy and powerful figure of his day, but […]
LET JOY AND SADNESS INTERMINGLE THIS MOTHER’S DAY by Courtney Doctor
Mother’s Day. Few holidays can rival it for emotional highs and lows. As a child, I loved Mother’s Day. It was the one day of the year my dad would “cook” breakfast with us (or run to McDonalds to buy pancakes). We would “surprise” my mother with breakfast in bed. One particularly memorable year, my […]
Resurrection Sunday | April 4, 2021 The Empty Tomb
When the women went to the tomb following the Sabbath, they expected to find the body of Jesus in a tomb, the entrance covered with a heavy stone. They had no way of knowing how they would get inside, but they went ready to anoint Jesus with the appropriate burial ointments. What they saw when […]
Saturday | April 3, 2021 A Deliberate Denial
Saturday gives us little to read, but much to ponder. Remembering that Jesus said He would rise from the dead after three days, the religious leaders went to Pilate to commission a guard and seal the tomb to make sure that the disciples wouldn’t steal Jesus’ body and perpetuate a story that He had risen […]
Good Friday | April 2, 2021 Forsaken for Our Forgiveness
In the morning after Jesus was betrayed, the religious leaders decided that they didn’t want to be held responsible for killing Jesus, so they brought Him before Pilate. Judas is quickly dispatched as he is overcome by the guilt and shame from betraying Christ. He had counted the pieces of silver, but he had not […]
Maundy Thursday | April 1, 2021 Is There Any Other Way?
As the disciples prepare for the passover meal, Jesus tells them how they are going to find the upper room by directing them to a certain man, “The Teacher says, ‘My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” Take note of this. Jesus has repeatedly told His […]