The Theme for 2023 With Grateful Appreciation In 1978, my heart was captured with the Christmas musical “The King of Love.” When I presented it to the youth/college choir as a possible cantata, the consensus was that it was too difficult. However, after listening to it several times, the life-changing truth of the message…….Read More
The Seven Feasts of Israel serves as God’s prophetic calendar to carry out His plan for our redemption. Other than the Passover, I don’t remember being taught about the Seven Jewish Feasts, perhaps because, as Christians, we are not required to observe them. However, by not teaching about these seven feasts, not only in terms…….Read More
“It is not possible to say, “I am a Christian” and not love the Jewish people. I did not fully grasp that until I made my first trip to Israel over 20-years ago. On the second day of the tour, I exchanged my camera for my Bible, and the historical narrative of the Scriptures literally…….Read More
Luke 2:1-20 Of all the characters in the Christmas story, the lowly shepherds were the most amazing to me. Why? Shepherds were outcasts among the people. They were considered “unclean”, and therefore not welcome in the temple services – other than to bring the lambs, of course! But God used them as the first people…….Read More
Zephaniah 3:14-20 In this obscure passage from Zephaniah, God made an incredible promise to His people: “I will bring you home.” The writer is referring to days of King Josiah in Judah, but if we will allow them, they will give us a fresh promise for today. “Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O…….Read More
Psalm 96:1-3, 10-13 The Lord is coming. His arrival is so close we can almost taste it. The psalmist invites us to sing and rejoice at the universal reign of God. The nations witness it. All of creation—heaven and earth, field and forest, sea and dry land—are called to join in praise of the Lord……..Read More
Luke 1:46-55 After the baby inside of Elizabeth leaped for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice, Mary broke out in song, praising God for His gracious actions to redeem the world. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of…….Read More
John 3:16-17 Someone said John 3:16 is the whole Bible in one verse! No doubt it still is the most quoted verse in the Bible, and it does contain the essential elements of God’s plan for our redemption. When it is read in the context of our Lord’s conversation with Nicodemus, we can get a…….Read More
Luke 1:26-38 A very popular preacher likes to use the word “favor” to indicate the release of God’s blessings. He is prone to say, “We must get ourselves in the place of God’s favor if we want to receive His blessings.” While that might make a good motivational message, it implies that we must do…….Read More
A Warning to Our Nation Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor Last Tuesday, President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, making same-sex marriages legal nationwide. The President said it was a “victory for freedom in America,” that there was “nothing more decent, more dignified and more American, than what they were doing in signing that bill…….Read More