Naughty or Nice?

We’re all ailing and ill, whether naughty or nice. The question is: Do you know it? And: Are you seeking the only cure for it? From December 18, 2016

Puzzling Parables #11: Dragging In the Fish

A witness doesn’t barge in, or push forth their own agenda. Like fishermen, they wait patiently, watch attentively, and speak softly. From December 4, 2016

Puzzling Parables #10: The Hidden Pearl

Why did Jesus tell two stories to make one point? How do they contrast? Both found treasure. Both sold all they had. But, the field guy hides his find. From November 27, 2016

The Witness Stand

A city engineer, a school nurse, and a retired pastor walk into a church … and share their perspectives and thoughts about recent Sunday morning sermons! Guest speakers: John Abenroth, Tessa McIlraith, and Larry Wersen. From November 20, 2016

Puzzling Parables #9: The Yeast in the Meal

How well are you cooperating with the Holy Spirit to remove the yeast infection of hypocrisy and insincerity from your faith, so that you can be authentic, transparent, and candid? From November 13, 2016

Puzzling Parables #8: The Miraculous Mustard Seed

This mustard seed doesn’t just reach its improbable potential; it exceeds all earthly expectations and limitations. From November 6, 2016

Puzzling Parables #7: Sow-and-Sow ... and Sow

We’re part of something grand that we barely understand. So spread His Word even though you’ll likely “scatter” more than “sow”. From October 30, 2016

Have You Found What You’re Looking For?

We can be blind to the miracles of Jesus, because we are looking in the wrong direction. Jesus can overcome our blindness and indifference. He will not let our current doubt be the end. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. FromOctober 23, 2016

Puzzling Parables #6: The Wheat and the Weeds

This broken world is an impossibly mixed mess of good and evil and 50 shades of grey. In media. In politics. In business. In everything. Fortunately, Jesus covers this confusing tangle in this parable. From October 16, 2016

Puzzling Parables #5: The Hidden Lamp

We may complain about not hearing God’s voice, or understanding His will and His ways. But if we don’t bother reading His text messages, we’re settling for uncertainty in our faith. From October 9, 2016

The Witness Stand

A dietary director, a domestic engineer, and a high school teacher walk into a church … and share their perspectives and thoughts about recent Sunday morning sermons! Guest speakers: Roger Kinney, Blake Olin, and Cara Welk. From October 2, 2016

When Tragedy Strikes

How do we find comfort in a Creator who’s supposed to be loving enough and powerful enough to have stopped the disaster and all the suffering in the first place? Suffering feels like the absence of God’s love and power. But is it? From September 25, 2016

Puzzling Parables #4: Com’parables

Are you bothered by the way Jesus speaks? Are you doing what it takes to get inside Jesus’ head and heart? Want answers? Abundance only comes through desire and pursuit and persistence. From September 18, 2016

Puzzling Parables #3: Sower, Seed, and Soil

Jesus places His listeners into four categories by simply and brilliantly portraying them as soils. And in so doing, He simultaneously reveals Satan’s three weapons against our reception. From September 11, 2016

Law & Order XVII: Perfect Harmony

After three years of impassioned effort, and sixteen messages to lay it out line upon line, with no verse left out, out of order, or out of context, here is a paraphrase of a seamless harmony of Easter. From September 4, 2016

The Witness Stand

A tech guy, a nurse, and a businessman walk into a church … and share their perspectives and thoughts about recent Sunday morning sermons! Guest speakers: Rayna Richards, Doug Vander Ark, and Brian Williams. From August 28, 2016

Law & Order XVI: 40 Days Later

The resurrection story doesn’t end with Jesus floating away. It ends with a race against the clock, a sense of urgency to leave the nest, spread our wings, spread His Word, and fly! From August 21, 2016

Law & Order XV: Do You Love Me?

Jesus asks Simon Peter if he truly loves Him more than the other disciples. Why would Jesus ask such a thing? Because, it needs to be asked! From August 14, 2016

Law & Order XIV: More Than 500

Don’t admire Simon-Peter for jumping out of his own boat to get to Jesus on the shore. We can be so quick to jump ship, to get closer to Jesus, that we miss His part in our work-a-day purpose. From August 7, 2016

The Witness Stand

A bass player, a high school teacher, and an improv artist walk into a church … and share their perspectives and thoughts about recent Sunday morning sermons! Guest speakers: Heidi Hayes, Nate Murray, and Jeremiah Wohlgemuth. From July 31, 2016

Law & Order XIII: Doubting Ditto

Thomas is the only missing Apostle when Jesus appears to the others, and he never lives it down! They were all rebuked for doubting. So, why is Thomas singled out? From July 24, 2016

Law & Order XII: Replacing Judas

We’re not defined by past mistakes or triumphs. It’s not by wealth, career, car, power, popularity, or prestige. We’re defined by our current choices. From July 17, 2016

Law & Order XI: Ascending in a Cloud

We’re weaving together Jesus’ ascension. And, despite every harmonizer jamming it at the end, we’re keeping it where scripture puts it: on the night of His resurrection. This is a huge key for harmonizing the whole. From July 10, 2016

The Witness Stand

A doctor, a lawyer, and a bartender walk into a church … and share their perspectives and thoughts about recent Sunday morning sermons! Guest speakers: Noah Richards, Pat Russell, and Kevin Welk. From July 3, 2016

Law & Order X: You Are Witnesses

We are witnesses, not lawyers or judges. We wait, we watch, and when we’re called, we offer what we’ve seen for ourselves in our own words. From June 26, 2016

Law & Order IX: The Angel on the Stone

At Jesus’ tomb, Mary Magdalene found the stone rolled back and an angel sitting on it. Who is the angel on the stone? And, better yet: Who isn’t the angel on the stone? From June 19, 2016

Why Did Jesus Keep His Scars?

Jesus didn’t have to keep any of the scars, let alone all the scars! So why keep them? For what purpose? And to what end? Have you ever noticed that He never does anything by accident? Guest speaker: Steve Lotze. From June 12, 2016

Law & Order VIII: Two Men Who Gleamed

Once we understand what Jesus is fulfilling at the tomb, we can appreciate His masterwork, and see the people He invited to be part of it. From June 5, 2016

Law & Order VII: Hearing His Voice

Do you know Jesus’ voice? If you do truly desire to know Him, He’ll meet you when He sees you searching with purpose and passion. From May 29, 2016

Still-Anxious

Anxiety is equal opportunity: It attacks the strong, the weak, the tall and short. When life surrounds us with anxiety, how can we respond? In Psalms, David offered some suggestions. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From May 22, 2016

Calew, Then and Now

An overview and update on our missions in the Philippines. Speaker: Nick Harris. From May 15, 2013

Law & Order VI: A Young Man in White

These three remain: faith, hope, and love. Don’t settle for hope; fix your eyes on Jesus and go for a confident conviction. From May 8, 2016

Law & Order V: Mary the Watchtower

Several of Jesus’ disciples had nicknames. What do you think your nickname would be? Anchor or Storm? Rock or Mud? Watchtower or TV Antenna? From May 1, 2016

Experience, Acknowledge, Overcome

In our relationship with God, we eventually move from experiencing Him to acknowledging Him. But acknowledgement was never meant to be the end result. We were made to be overcomers. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From April 24, 2016

Law & Order IV: Open Minds

What’s it mean to have an open mind? It means to have an opened mind, which is something only Jesus can do … because, Jesus actually has a monopoly on truth. From April 17, 2016

Law & Order III: The Road to Recognition

On the road to Emmaus, how did Jesus change His form? His two disciples didn’t recognize Him until just before He left them. What about us? Will you recognize Jesus? From April 10, 2016

Law & Order II: Peter’s Secret Confession

Peter returns to the grave. Ashamed. Alone. Afraid. A self-deposed disciple in a broken relationship with Jesus. Ever been in Peter’s shoes? From April 3, 2016

Law & Order: Looking for Jesus

God’s Word stands firm! Yet, scores of slick YouTube accusations claim the Gospel accounts of the empty tomb are hopelessly contradictory. We’re gonna put line-on-line, law-on-law, here-a-little-there-a-little as Isaiah says, to see the fulfillment of the Law IN order. From March 27, 2016

Above the Waves

At His last supper, Jesus had some ideas and knowledge he wanted his disciples to know, before everything got crazy! And these can help us too, when the waves of life can seem overwhelming. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From March 20, 2016

Weaving the Word #61: Woe, Woe, Woe

The experts Jesus denounces know every detail the prophets wrote, and how Jesus is fulfilling them. But, they reject them, so they silence them, by not sharing them. From March 13, 2016

Weaving the Word #60: Give From the Inside

Jesus is concerned with our motivation because, our inspiration to grow in true Christlikeness can only come from deep within a genuine heart of gratitude for who He is and all He’s done. From March 6, 2016

The Highway of Holiness

On our journey down the Highway of Holiness, there will come distractions in many forms. Like Jesus did, we can answer those distractions with, “It is written!” From February 28, 2016

Weaving the Word #59: Here Are My Mother

Do you take your relationship with Jesus for granted? Jesus points out that His true family, like His disciples, are those who hear the Word of God and obey it. From February 21, 2016

Weaving the Word #58: Demonized

Jesus now explains how the generation of scripture experts, who tried to demonize Him, could have just watched a blind, mute, demon-possessed man be freed and healed, and remain blind and mute to what it means. From February 14, 2016

Weaving the Word #57: Jonah and Solomon

Practice what you preach … and only preach what is true. You have a Savior who doesn’t waver. And, He’s in charge. Not the devil. Not the world. And, not you. From February 7, 2016

Raise the Bar

Like a car hitting a patch of black ice, sometimes our lives can unexpectedly spin out of control. Here are some things to get your heart and mind heading back in the right direction. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From January 31, 2016

Weaving the Word #56: The Unforgivable Sin

Jesus’ “blasphemy of the Spirit” warning is aimed at the wolves who are chasing God’s children away from the One God sent to save. From January 24, 2016

Weaving the Word #55: Robbing the Strong Man

Are you robbing God or robbing Satan? Jesus says we’re gonna rob one of ‘em, and we best choose wisely. Because, our Redeemer came to rob the strong man’s house! From January 17, 2016

Weaving the Word #54: A House Divided

Is your heart a house divided, or united? Jesus won’t settle for a guest room in our heart’s house. He demands we make Him the heartbeat of our lives. From January 10, 2016