• Overcoming the prejudice of the church

    A bold message from MLK50 that calls us to recognize our problems and for THE CHURCH to rise up and be the solution again. Please hear this call from Pastor Charlie Dates.

  • We would like to think our problems are unique… they are not

    Consider this quote of angst by an 18-year-old: 

  • We should move from celebrating days to observing seasons

    The other day I read a quick thought on missing opportunities of seasons in our lives as Western Christians because we celebrate days instead of walking through seasons. We get so worked up to prepare a church for Easter weekend services, most bigger church staffs on more than figuratively dead on Monday and in need of some true resurrection themselves.

  • We rise to resurrection — LIVE in that immense power

    Exodus 12:1-14 1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2 This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family,…

  • Holy Saturday

    Lamentations 3:37-58 37 Who can speak and have it happen     if the Lord has not decreed it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High     that both calamities and good things come? 39 Why should the living complain     when punished for their sins?

  • Good Friday

    Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

  • Prayer for Maundy Thursday

    Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,…

  • Ignorance of the Word

    Reading for Today: Psalm 55, 74 Lam 2:1-9 2 Cor. 1:23-2:11 Mark 12:1-11 In his march to the Cross, Jesus goes straight at the religious leaders. When spiritual authority is gone, all that is left is theological wordplay, manipulation, and outright intimidation. It still happens today.

  • When spiritual authority is lost

    Reading for today: Psalm 6, 12, 94 Lam. 1:17-22 2 Cor. 1:8-22 Mark 11:27-33 The closer Jesus gets to the work of the cross, the more the spiritual leaders press to trap Jesus. They sense their power base fading and they are desperate. 

  • Heal us of our blindness

    Reading for today: Psalm 51; 69:1-23 Lam. 1:1-12 2 Cor. 1:1-7 Mark 11:12-25 Lam. 1:5 Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The Lord has brought her grief because of her many sins… Prayer: Lord, we are blind and our blindness is simply stunning. All the advantages have been afforded us and we have become lost…