By Brother Brian Shimer In many ways, my childhood left me in a dark corner. Indeed, for decades, when feeling upset, I would get a brief picture in my head. It was of this little boy, curled up alone and crying in the corner of a darkened room. For years, I hated that image. I […]
By Brother Guy Ames “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions….And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2: 28, 32a). I am writing this on Pentecost, the birthday of the […]
by Sister Cheryl Jacobs “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;”(Job 42:5, NRSV) I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home, and grew up attending worship services, Sunday School and then youth group. I remember being almost pharisaical in some aspects of […]
by Brother Guy Ames You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13) I did a brief search as to how many times does “seeking God” show up in the Bible. God’s Word calls on us to seek God, search for deeper faith, and look […]
As we have been studying Jeremiah 29:11-13, we come to verse 12, from the New Living Translation: “In those days when you pray, I will listen.” How many times have you prayed for something, a big something, and you’ve prayed earnestly, but your prayers seem unanswered? The marriage fell apart. The sickness did not go away. […]
By Brother Matthew Henson Last week we investigated the first part of Jeremiah 29:11 where the “you” is plural, speaking to a community for whom God has a plan. God is one who works in the life of a community, while working in the life of the individual. When we limit our faith understanding and […]
By Brother Matthew Henson My wife and I have two children graduating this year: one from university (Micah) and one from high school (Isaiah). These milestones cause me to become introspective and sentimental as I remember when they were born. I took them in my arms, introduced myself, and prayed, “Lord, thank you for this […]
By Brother Brian Shimer Read John 20:24-29 Next to Jonah, Thomas is one of my favorite Bible characters. We often refer to him as “doubting Thomas,” a moniker he received because of his honest incredulity at the disciples’ nonsensical news that they had seen Jesus alive! And because Jesus later told him, “Stop doubting […]
By Brother Gary Wheeler Read John 20:11-18 I think Mary Magdalene must have been an extraordinary woman. Once imprisoned by the devil, she found salvation through Jesus. Yet ever since her Rabboni’s arrest, her world had been turned upside down. She had watched Jesus captivate crowds, heal multitudes, feed thousands, and promise the coming of […]
By Brother Guy Ames Jesus gathered his disciples at their Passover meal and his “last supper” before his crucifixion. Perhaps as he lifted one of the cups of wine he began talking about vineyards, grapes and growth when he told them, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch […]
