Expectations
Our final words, when we know they are such, are the most profound—the ones we want to be remembered by, the things we want our loved ones to always know and hold on to. No one ever reminds someone to brush their teeth or add something to the shopping list when they’re on their death bed. “Oh, by the way, we’re out of bread.” …Doesn’t happen.
From Jealousy to Joy
By Matt Nuth
….Last night, moving away from envy allowed me to truly enjoy the fruits of a musical gift received and developed by another. Instead of jealously, another’s talent and skill became a source of joy and inspiration. Let each of us use the talents we have received for the glory of God.
Pastor Wes to Speak at Princeton
Pastor Wes Ellis will be teaching a seminar entitled “From Effectiveness to Faithfulness: how to do youth ministry for Christ’s sake” at the Princeton Institute For Youth Ministry’s Forum event in May .
Lenten Bible Study 2022
Listen to Audio from our Lenten Bible Study with Pastor Wes Ellis. Join us as we explore some of the “basics” of Christian faith including the question, “Who is God?” and “What is Salvation?”
The Church May Be Bigger Than You Think.
By Wes Ellis
…I hope we know that when we say that the church is the “house of God” we really don’t mean that God is confined to the four walls of the church. For that matter, neither is God confined to the theology of the church–our rules and interpretations and doctrines. God is bigger than us and no amount of knowledge about God can ever presume to possess God.
Does Prayer Work?
By Linda Hogue
We’ve all seen the slogans on bumper stickers, billboards, t-shirts, and even from the lips of its advocates: “Prayer Works,” or “Prayer Changes Things,” or any number of other catchy phrases designed to get our attention and prompt us toward this spiritual, contemplative lifestyle.
The Human Spirit
By David Van Cleve
I have been crying a lot lately. Mostly when I think of the hardships being inflicted upon, and being endured by, the people of Ukraine. But even more so because of all the images of their response to these hardships. Grit, courage, optimism in the face of long odds, unity in a common goal, a 7 year-old girl singing in a bunker. These all apply.
IN THE IMAGE OF THE CREATOR
By Linda Hogue
There was a time in my life when I began to question everything. I suppose that was characteristic of my generation. During this particular era, I questioned the place of art and creativity, and wrestled with balancing that with my responsibility to make good use of time and resources.
Read With Your Heart
By Wes Ellis
…As someone who truly loves to examine the text of scripture, to analyze it and mine it for all its meaning, I recognize that sometimes what we need isn’t to worry about what the text means to us, but to consider what it might do to us. If we let ourselves simply listen and imagine God speaking to us, what might happen to us?
Being More Of Who We Ought To Be
By Rev. Alex Dreese
As the Lenten season begins again for us, we are each invited to take a very important journey. In one sense it is a journey to Easter that the Christian church has been taking for centuries. In another sense there is a very personal dimension to it.
Call Me Naïve
By Linda Hogue
There are many things that could be attributed to chance... or circumstance... or the generosity of others… or our own wits. I don’t doubt that these things play a part in the events of our lives (though I’m still wondering about that chance bit). But what if I attribute a good thing to God?
Pastor Wes on “Lunch with the Chamber”
Pastor Wes was interviewed on this week’s edition of “Lunch with the Chamber” on the Ramona Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
A Different Lesson
By Matt Nuth
The older I get, the more I understand that I have so much more to learn. I get this shot of humility every day as situations arise that provide me the opportunity to look at them in a different way than I did yesterday. Recently, I had a look at the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard through a different lens to learn an additional lesson.
Name The Mystery
By Dr. Wes Ellis
…But a person cannot be contained in a riddle and neither can the God of the universe. A person is a mystery…. they can never be solved but they can be seen, heard, and named. To know a person is different from knowing a math problem. You can only know a person by being in relationship with them.
Hope ≠ Optimism
By Rev Steve Swope
…“Optimism and hope are not the same. Optimism is the belief that the world is changing for the better; hope is the belief that, together, we can make the world better.”
Small Faith
By Linda Hogue
Does God ever invade your thoughts in such a way that it stops you dead in your tracks? It happens to me every now and then. He mostly corrects me, but I don’t care because I’m just so glad to hear from Him. And really, when you think about it, it shows He cares. It also shows He believes I can do better.
The Big Game
By Ratko Filipovich
…There are a lot of reasons somebody could be happy with success in the end. For me it would be that while everybody is celebrating, the quarterback runs to me to tap my shoulder in the end zone with a few words like, “You did it, and I am proud of you!”
Prayer & Unbelief
By Pastor Wes Ellis
…I think some of us would be embarrassed to admit how seldom we actually stop and pray. Some of us are probably embarrassed to confess that we’re not sure we even know how to pray. The fact is, you’re not alone if you’re one of those people. Prayer is difficult.
Does God Truly Answer Prayers?
By Matt Nuth
Time after time I get the opportunity to get reacquainted with prayer. I say “reacquainted” not because I have fallen away from prayer, but because circumstance force me to learn something new about prayer and my faith in God.
AGREE TO DISAGREE
By Hal Mortier
The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, left or right, mask or no mask, vaccination or no vaccination; but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit