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THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Harry covered five types of righteousness and the Christ-follower’s transformation from a dead life to a new one of truly living, enabled by the Holy Spirit. This metamorphosis is described by Jesus in the Book of John, chapter 6, verse 63: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the…
Continue Reading about THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESSTRAINING TO FIGHT
Pastor Harry led us through the preparation for putting on the armor of God this past Sunday. Without proper preparation, we don’t know how to utilize the armor God provides. We can try without training but as an example, how do we use the sword of the Spirit (the word of God) if we haven’t…
Continue Reading about TRAINING TO FIGHT20 years ago, Pastor Mark had a vision of returning to Jesus’ calling of people to put aside differences, ALL differences: racial, social, economic, political, for the sake of a bigger mission. This past Sunday, he supported that with the Word. There is no denying that every generation of Bible readers has cultural blinders that…
Continue Reading about FOR THE SAKE OF THE CALLINSTRUCTIONS FULFILLED
As Pastor Mark walked us through Ephesians this past Sunday morning, he pointed to the diversity of the church, the body of Christ, which led to a pondering of the purposes of the body. The church exists to celebrate God’s presence. Psalm 34:3 (NKJV) 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His…
Continue Reading about INSTRUCTIONS FULFILLEDThe unconditional love of God unites Christ-followers while also manifesting His characteristics through the fruit of the Spirit so believers and unbelievers alike can witness it. In his sermon this past Sunday, Pastor Harry described it as agape love. John Ortberg captures the different kinds of love in his book, Love Beyond Reason. He says…
Continue Reading about THE LOVE OF GODPastor Mark referenced Hebrews 11:1 this past Sunday: (ESV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Having faith is not only internally passive to one’s life. The conviction mentioned here creates actions which manifest the presence of faith. Believing and applying the Word of God changes your…
Continue Reading about FAITH IS ACTIVEAN ALIGNMENT OF INTERESTS
Various traditions describe the holy grail as an object with miraculous healing power, sometimes providing eternal youth or sustenance in infinite abundance. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the holy grail as any elusive object or goal of great significance may be perceived as a “holy grail” by those seeking such. The search for this object throughout…
Continue Reading about AN ALIGNMENT OF INTERESTSLIVING WISELY THROUGH KINDNESS
This past Saturday, Jeanean and I were having a conversation about social media andhow sometimes those replying to other people’s posts are a bit harsh. As Christfollowers, we should be gracious with our words, using the opportunity for Christ’skindness to shine through, especially in a public or even virtually public setting, so thatothers might see…
Continue Reading about LIVING WISELY THROUGH KINDNESSSELF-CONTROL IS BOTH FRUIT AND DISCIPLINE
We must practice Spiritual disciplines to be like Christ. 1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV) As obedientchildren, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who calledyou is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I amholy.”Jesus implies that we…
Continue Reading about SELF-CONTROL IS BOTH FRUIT AND DISCIPLINEThis is perhaps an odd pivot from the downhome title of this blog, but I’d like to talk a little bit about a Catholic saint, Francis de Sales. He lived during the tumultuous time of the Protestant Reformation, which feels relevant already, but his spiritual formation is what is of interest for me. When he…
Continue Reading about PULL YOURSELF UP BY YOUR BOOTSTRAPS, BUT DON’T STEP ON ANYONELast Sunday at Mosaic
July 9, 2026