Simeon WaitsJohn RiggSince the very beginning of my walk with Jesus, I have sensed that Jesus would return before I would die. Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part, but I have always felt this way in my heart. There have been times that I have shared this with others and they said that they too have felt the same; that there was something telling them that the second coming of Christ would...  Read More

Seeds of ObediencePastor David WilsonPineapples can be grown by the average person in their home, but you will be committed to persevering to the end; and by persevering I mean wait anywhere between 18 to 24 months to pick and eat a pineapple the size of a softball.In Luke 2:22-35, we are given the account of a man named Simeon who was promised to see the Messiah. He would not see death until afte...  Read More

Anticipation of Things to ComeJames MannChristmas is such an exciting holiday to watch everyone with their different traditions. Many people have some sort of tradition that begins before Christmas day, and it is done to build anticipation for the big day. Some people do advent calendars while others make massive paper loops that count down the days and they rip off a loop every day. All these thi...  Read More

Exemplary Living for GodSydney KimballBear with me as I ask you a rather morbid question. I do promise you, however, that by the end of this, you will see my point in bringing up such a topic. My question to you is this, “What do you want people to say about you at your memorial service, or, better yet, how do you want to be remembered?” Now, many of us, when asked this question, will respond with...  Read More

FaithfulnessJill OsmonHaving a deep, abiding faithfulness to God and His Word is what we should pursue. All over the Bible, we see examples of faithfulness but one story is hidden, like a little gem that I think we miss when we think about the story of Jesus’ birth. Luke specifically highlights two people, Simeon and Anna, and if you do not really pay attention, you can miss the specialness of the...  Read More

A Couple SentencesDebbie Gabbara“Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.” Luke 2:36Scripture only gives us three verses, Luke 2:36-38, to learn about Anna, but there is a lot packed into this short passage of God’s Word. God tells us who she was, who her father was, and even the tribe they came from. Then in the next couple of sentences, God gives us a glimpse into Anna’s entire life...  Read More

It is PersonalCaleb Jones“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this ...  Read More

Humble BeginningsKeaton WashburnWhen I think of the angels coming to the shepherds, I think of it as a story. To most people, this event is just that though, a story. However, a story, by definition, is an account, true or imaginary, told for entertainment. Jesus coming as a baby, born of a virgin, is much more than a story. It is a historical event that begins the life of the most important perso...  Read More

Christmas Eve at a Truck StopPeter MasonWhat many of us love so much about Christmas is what causes us to miss it; the sentimentality and myth that surround it. The “story” of Christmas oftentimes is just that: a story. One that lives in a part of our childhood is A Charlie Brown Christmas. It is the story that Linus recites in his tender soft voice with his light blue blanket. The magic and nosta...  Read More

Why the ShepherdsLarry GabbaraIn 2017, my wife and I were privileged to travel to Israel with the church staff. It was amazing as we traveled along the road to see shepherds tending their sheep. Our tour guide said they were Bedouins, nomad shepherds, that are continually moving to look for greener pastures for their flock. All through the Bible, we see stories of shepherds. We read of how they pr...  Read More

The Roughnecks?Pastor Noble BairdPersonally, I have always loved how the Lord chose to include and prioritize the shepherds in the birth of Christ. As we go over the Christmas story (the birth of Christ), it is always amazing how intentional the Lord is with whom He reveals and proclaims the birth of His Son, Jesus. In Luke 2:8-20, we have the account of the proclamation to the Shepherds of the gl...  Read More

The UnexpectedDr. Randy T. Johnson“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’” Luke 2:15Do you remember hearing or seeing something that was unexpected? It caught you off guard. You might have said, “I did not see that coming.” If you were texting, you m...  Read More