Come through the gates to his Temple giving thanks to him.     Enter his courtyards with songs of praise.     Honor him and bless his name.   Ps. 100:4  ESV As I was seeking direction for worship music for worship service this weekend, today’s verse, while siging the chorus, came to my mind. By the time I sang… Read More »

 When storms hit, rain pounded down and waters rose, levies broke and winds beat all the walls of that house. But the house did not fall because it was built upon rock.  Matthew 7:25 The other day I began singing the old Sunday School song The Wise man and the Foolish man. One built his house on… Read More »

Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it apart and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 As a person who loves history, I have to admit I was a bit dsmayed at… Read More »

When the holy day of Pentecost came 50 days after Passover, they were gathered together in one place. Picture yourself among the disciples:  A sound roars from the sky without warning, the roar of a violent wind, and the whole house where you are gathered reverberates with the sound.  Then a flame appears, dividing into smaller… Read More »

When they had entered the city, they went upstairs to the upper room where they were staying [indefinitely]; that is, Peter, and John and [his brother] James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew (Nathanael) and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas (Thaddaeus) the son of James. All these with one mind and one… Read More »

While he was with them, he declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me. Acts 1:4 Yesterday began what we know to be the ten day waiting period for Holy Spirit to come upon the disciples. And although the number ten holds significance in… Read More »

Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them.  While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.  So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.   Luke 24:50-52 Today is known as Ascension Day, when Jesus gave His last… Read More »

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Matthew 28:18 This is a very familiar verse to those who were raised in the church. But as Aesop once said, familiarity breeds contempt. In the Greek, the word authority also means power, dominion. So do we really think… Read More »

You can ask him for anything, using my name, and I will do it, for this will bring praise to the Father because of what I, the Son, will do for you.  John 14:13b On Sunday we had a technically problem. Our tech person who live streams the sermon was away. So she left the phone… Read More »

 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”  When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”  Jesus said to him, “If it is my will… Read More »