Bulletin Articles

James 4:14 says that life is “even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” This frequently quoted passage is often brought to mind when a loved one is lost or when tragedy strikes, but it is not usually discussed as we go about our normal activities and days continue to pass. Within the context of James 4 it does not indicate that James is speaking to people that are grieving; it seems that he is speaking to those of us who are living our lives as if every day is promised. He makes it...

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II Corinthians 5:7 is a passage that is quoted regularly in pulpits around the world because of its message that “we walk by faith, not by sight.” Quotation of this scripture is often followed by a resounding “amen” at the realization that Christians must have an amazing faith in who Jesus Christ is and the salvation that is promised through him. There is a common misconception; however, that Christians do not have a logical reason to believe in God and his inspired message to us.  There have been many challenges throughout the years to the Bible, but every alleged...

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In 1990 country music artist Aaron Tippin released his debut single entitled “You’ve Got to Stand for Something or You’ll Fall for Anything.” This hit song, which peaked at number 6 on the country charts, garnered Tippin a fair amount of notoriety and even gained the attention of legendary entertainer Bob Hope. Hope, after hearing the song, invited Tippin to accompany him on one of his famous USO tours to entertain the troops then serving in the Persian Gulf. The song, while also appealing to listen to, has an important message that I believe translates well to our lives...

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One of my all-time favorite “corporate mascots” is the iconic Energizer Bunny. The unmistakable pink, sandal wearing, bass drum beating rabbit has appeared on American television in over 115 commercials since his debut in 1988. The bunny is not only a symbol of the durability of the Energizer battery, but a hallmark of American popular culture. It has always seemed appropriate to me to compare the Energizer commercials to the lives of members of the church. In many of these commercials the infamous pink bunny is beating his drum alongside a number of other battery brands until they eventually...

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In John 9 there is an account of a miracle as Jesus granted a man who was blind from birth the ability to see. This is not the only time that Jesus healed a blind man, but it is particularly interesting because of the somewhat peculiar circumstances around this man’s healing. Beginning in verse 6 the text says “when He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.  And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated,...

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         “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” This passage, taken from Ephesians 2:8-9, seems to swiftly answer the question posed in the title of this article. We are saved by grace, through faith – NOT of WORKS. Seems pretty simple right? When taken out of the context of the entire New Testament the question seems to be answered sufficiently in one clear, concise statement. In the words of legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey, however, we must examine “the rest of...

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            On June 12, 1987 during a speech at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, Ronald Reagan uttered perhaps his most famous sentence as President of the United States. Speaking to a cheering crowd he challenged the capitalist/communist division of the city of Berlin by emphatically stating “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Although it took nearly two and a half more years, this goal was eventually accomplished as the wall fell in November of 1989. There was no longer a wall separating East and West – Germany was one united country.             In Ephesians 2:14 Paul wrote a...

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The book of James is perhaps the most practical book in the New Testament. While all of God’s Word should be studied and applied, in this short book James is able to give simple, concise instructions on how to live as a Christian! In James 1:22-24 he writes “but be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”...

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In the last two years we have grown significantly as a church family. We have become a larger, more diverse congregation due to the addition of several families and individuals, and we are adding to that number on a regular basis. With that growth we have also gotten younger. We have a number of young adults who are starting their families, as well as a number of smaller children who are still in the early stages of learning who God is. We are still lacking in one area, however, that may be the most important in the church today...

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New Year’s Day often invokes a desire for change within people. As the day has approached, many have come up with resolutions for the New Year aimed at self improvement in a number of different areas. Some of these include weight loss, financial management, improved relationships, and even the occasional decision to let go of a vice such as smoking or alcohol use. Sadly, statistics show that 3 out of every 4 people that make a New Year’s resolution are unsuccessful in their quest to change their unwanted habits. This unfortunate statistic is due to a lack of commitment...

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