There is a joke that I have heard and, admittedly, said, many times within our denomination: “The primary qualification for any board position is saying yes.” It is certainly in jest, but often stems from the frequent frustration caused by the difficulties of finding candidates for our many board positions.
Read MoreSome time ago an article was brought to my attention that charges modern Bible translation with changing the meaning of the original text of the Bible. These questions, of course, come up from time to time. There are often those, from inside and outside of the church, who question translation accuracy in order to support a particular agenda. The problem for many Christians is that we generally do not know the original languages. So when one of these challenges arises, it can cause us to question not only the teaching of our own church, but the very teaching of the Bible itself. And so, I have written this article to reassure you that yes, our modern Bible translations are accurate to the original languages.
Read MoreOver the past couple of months I have been preaching through Paul’s letter to the Philippians. If you have read this letter yourself, you will likely remember Paul’s repeated theme: rejoice always. Each Sunday we have been in Philippians I have asked the congregation to repeat those words in order that we might firmly cement this basic instruction into our minds. This is incredibly valuable for us since we live in a broken world, surrounded by, and experiencing ourselves, sin, suffering, pain, sorrow, and hardship, among the many other trials of this world. The joy Paul talks about, of course, is not a denial of these things. It is a joy that transcends the sufferings of this world, that enables us to embrace our suffering and say, “Yes, I suffer now, but Christ will carry me through, and one day all will be made right.”
Read MoreToday is election day. And it is an unusually important one in the eyes of many. If you look to either end of the political spectrum, you will quickly hear that this election will determine if our democratic-republic stands or falls. Worse yet, many claim that the fate of our entire planet rests on this day and on who is elected as the next president of the United States of America. There are concerns of political unrest, and, in some places, threats have even been made against people who may vote for the “unfavorable” candidate.
Read More“Take and eat.” This simple statement conjures up a host of thoughts and feelings for most of us. The first thought that comes to my mind is food, obviously. I enjoy food. It is a wonderful gift from God. It is currently fall here in the North Country of New Hampshire and to me that means apples and pumpkins. Applesauce. Cider. Pie. Every fall these things bring a little extra joy to my life. And this joy should point us to our very good God.
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