Thought For the Week

Dear Friends, Today (on this Christmas Eve) I wanted to take the time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Here in Pennsylvania, it’s a “White Christmas” – answering the prayers, I am sure, of many! May the Lord Jesus be the focus of your celebration and may your heart be filled with joy during this annual observance of His birth. After all, the heavenly messengers assured the Shepherds, and through them assured us, that God’s intention was that joy would be part of the Christmas observance! And not just joy, but great joy! “I bring you good news of great joy” the angels said, “that will be for all the people. For today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord.” Sometimes we can forget how good the Good News is! In addition to my own personal wish that your Christmas observance be a blessed one, I also send along this insightful Christmas reminder by Ken Shigematsu, entitled, ”An Invitation Written In the Stars.” Enjoy. “In the film ‘CONTACT,’ ...

Dear Friends, Today I came across a collection of Christian quotes focused on, ”Living the Christian Life.” There were far too many to include all, so I had to select those which I thought were the best - Thoughts for the Week. I trust you might find one or two that clarify an issue you’ve struggled with, encourage your heart, bring you to nod in agreement, or bring a smile to your face. Enjoy. “The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he has no brains of his own… All originality and no plagiarism makes for dull preaching.” Charles Spurgeon “It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor.” Martin Luther “Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist.” Oswald J. Smith “We talk of the Second Coming, yet half the world has never heard of ...

Dear Friends, This past Sunday marked the 1st Sunday of Advent. For some it is their favorite season of the year, culminating on Christmas Day (December 25th) in some Christian traditions, or Three Kings Day (January 6th) in other Christian traditions. Yet, because we have entered into Advent, I thought I would pass along an Advent Devotion I received from “The Lutheran Hour.” The author is Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier. It was taken from a sermon text he wrote, entitled: "God Prevails." Enjoy. "The Battle Cry of Faith" "You are stronger than I, and You have prevailed." Jeremiah 20:7 This confession, so modern and meaningful in its application, is 2,500 years old. It's an admission wrung from the lips of Jeremiah after a bitter conflict with God. Because the prophet's service to his Lord had brought opposition and gotten him beaten and locked up in the public stocks, Jeremiah would free himse...

Dear Friends, Have you ever questioned your faith? Have you ever struggled with doubts? Have you ever thought you lost your faith – are you there now? If so I wanted to share this story of when the great evangelist Dr. Billy Graham came to such a crisis point in relation to doubt in his own life – and what it led him to do. I know everyone is different, and the struggles vary, but just knowing that a man of such faith struggled so intensely with doubt (even after being an evangelist) and came to that crisis point of teetering on the edge, only to come back and remain true – can be a shot in the arm to those in the same place. This “thought,” written by his grandson Will Graham in 2014, is entitled, “The Tree Stump Prayer – When Billy Graham Overcame Doubt” and includes excerpts from Billy Graham’s autobiography, “Just As I Am” published in 1997. Enjoy. “At the midpoint of the 20th century, he had already been an evangelist with ‘Youth for Christ’ and had preached across Europe ...

Dear Friends, I want to start by saying 'thank you' to all who responded to last week's Thought for the Week. I do appreciate the inquiries, prayers, and expressions of concern. Yet, in light of that thought, I decided that I would follow up this week by sending you the link to the message (testimony) I shared this past Sunday about the day I thought was my last one on earth - Thursday October 17. I tried to lay it out as transparently and honestly as I could, given that some children were still in the service. The title was, “Real and Raw: Sin, Death and Redemption.” I know many will not have time (it is about an hour long). In it I share 1.) What led up to that day. 2.) The Downhill Slide. 3.) The Rescue and 4.) What God has taught me through it all. It was not easy to get through it dry-eyed (at least for me and Nancy and the kids who had to relive it through my words). But I pass it along in case some of you may find it helpful, encouraging, challenging or comf...

Dear Friends, Pastor Jeff here. It has been a while. Seven weeks to be exact. For those who do not know, halfway through my vacation in September, I apparently did something that so injured my kidneys they essentially died or stopped functioning completely for weeks (neither I nor any doctor in the many hospitals I’ve been in since know what that was). Yet, to make a long story short, God has been wonderfully merciful and has slowly resurrected them from the dead, for which I am so thankful. Not totally back to where I was but I am a long way from almost going to be with him on Thursday Oct. 17. In light of all that many questions, thoughts and concerns went through my mind. And at least one result was the thought below. I do not usually send out thoughts I put together, but those of others. This time is an exception. I wanted (felt I needed) to pass this along as it was helpful to me during one of the darkest times of my life. Hopefully it will minister to someone else who may...

Dear Friends, Life is not always easy. Things come our way that inflict pain and wound the heart. Sickness can steal away our energy and strength for a time – though it is more difficult when it is chronic. My father was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 43 and struggled with its effects until he passed away at 85 – being told close to that time that his physical body was like that of a 110-year-old. Being in constant pain earned him the occasional nick-name, “Grumpy Grampy.” I could understand why. Pain is no fun. I’m not the easiest to be around when I’m in constant pain either. And as John Owen once pointed out, “It is not the intensity of the trial, but its longevity, that eats away at our resolve.” Therefore, if you are struggling in this area (or know someone who is), today I offer you some helpful words from Charles Spurgeon. Yet, it helps to point out he was not giving advice as one who did not himself struggle. He battled much of his life with depressi...