Urgent RepetitionPastor Ben KirkmanGrowing up on a farm, my childhood was filled with many urgently repeated warnings. When I failed to consider those warnings, I often found myself in dangerous situations. I seemingly enjoyed finding out the consequences of unheeded warnings. (I am honestly not sure how I survived my childhood.) It was a slight challenge to decide which story of unheeded warning ...  Read More

Carry the LightPastor Josh YatesWe experience so many things in our lives. There are ups and downs, successes and failures, and struggles and victories. These events are so often personal and very close to us. A loved one is suffering. We have personal challenges with health, finances, and relationships. Maybe you made a bad decision and are struggling through the fallout. Possibly another person ...  Read More

Almost TherePastor Philip PiaseckiHave you ever found yourself waiting for someone to pick you up or meet you somewhere, and they are running late? Not only are they late, but they double down by telling you they are “almost there.” When in reality they are not even close. They tell you they are five minutes away when really they are fifteen minutes away? This is one of my biggest pet peeves. It i...  Read More

Bible BookendsSierra CombsIf you were to wander around my house, you would find old books in every corner. Even the closets are full of books that I have no room for. If it is old and has a beautiful cover, I feel as if I need to have it, and I have many hundreds to prove my obsession. While I do very much love to read and learn, ironically most of my reading is done on a digital device. Yet it st...  Read More

We Will See His Face!Pastor Roy TownsendWhen I think of all the things that I have learned in the last few years, I cannot believe the importance of seeing someone’s face. My friends that are working in the school system tell me of the difficulties with not being able to see the student’s face or with the students’ difficulty in not being able to see the teacher’s face. As a teacher and pastor, it...  Read More

Do You Desire Jesus’ Return?Pastor Roy TownsendAs a child growing up in the church, I always heard the saying, “Jesus is coming soon. Be ready!” I want to be honest in saying that these words caused great fear in me. Not only did I hear this message often, but we sang about the return of Christ in our worship times. We sang a southern Gospel song which included this language:"Jesus is coming soon,...  Read More

I Can Only ImagineCathy StoryThe other day our children said, “We are going to draw what Heaven looks like!” We chuckled and told them to go for it, draw what they think Heaven will look like. The white paper and yellow crayons came out and their best ideas of Heaven were created with all of their childlike imagination. I typically do not consider myself strong in arts and crafts, or spatial sense...  Read More

A Person and a PlaceDebbie Gabbara“No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the LORD will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end.” Isaiah 60:19-20 (NLT)My granddaughter asked me...  Read More

A Wedding CelebrationPastor Ferdinand SandersWhether or not you are married, I feel like it is safe to say that we are all familiar with the wedding ceremony. This celebratory occasion is when friends and family all gather together, some traveling great distances, to celebrate love, commitment, and sacrifice. It is the union of marriage. For many women, this is a day that they have dreamed of for ...  Read More

No Shoes in HeavenJohn StoneWhat do you expect when you get to Heaven and meet Jesus?Each of our expectations varies, but I have recently asked this question to people and the answers tend to be heartbreaking. They seem to reveal a lack of understanding of how much our Heavenly Father actually loves His children or perhaps an underestimation of the sufficiency of Christ’s atoning work on the cross...  Read More

ReunitedPastor Noble BairdThe whole concept and idea of a new Heaven and new Earth are mind-boggling. Maybe, this is true for just me, but this is a concept and an important part of Scripture that has always been difficult for me to understand and comprehend. Although I have done some studies, I truly believe we can never study Scripture enough. Just when we think we may have exhausted a passage, ...  Read More

All Things NewJeannie YatesAlmost everyone I know that has grown up in the church has made their own “replica” of Heaven out of paper towel rolls and cotton balls. I remember that day of Sunday School well. We were given an assortment of everyday items to build and create what we thought Heaven looked like, and then the best part, we spray painted it all gold! We all wonder what Heaven will be lik...  Read More