Not That Kind of Baptist
Recorded Live on Sunday, June 18, 2023
My Experience at the Texas Border
By John Whisler For the young couple fleeing political upheaval in Venezuela, the road to Texas was long and perilous. Often, it wasn’t even a road at all. Most…
MERCY – Episode 8
Retracing the steps of Jesus during Holy Week requires considerable soul-searching and a willingness to get in touch with the darkness of the Season of Lent. Most of us would…
MERCY – Episode 7
Retracing the steps of Jesus during Holy Week requires considerable soul-searching and a willingness to get in touch with the darkness of the Season of Lent. Most of us would…
MERCY – Episode 6
Retracing the steps of Jesus during Holy Week requires considerable soul-searching and a willingness to get in touch with the darkness of the Season of Lent. Most of us would…
MERCY – Episode 5
Retracing the steps of Jesus during Holy Week requires considerable soul-searching and a willingness to get in touch with the darkness of the Season of Lent. Most of us would…
MERCY – Episode 4
Retracing the steps of Jesus during Holy Week requires considerable soul-searching and a willingness to get in touch with the darkness of the Season of Lent. Most of us would…
MERCY – Episode 3
Retracing the steps of Jesus during Holy Week requires considerable soul-searching and a willingness to get in touch with the darkness of the Season of Lent. Most of us would…
MERCY – Episode 2
Retracing the steps of Jesus during Holy Week requires considerable soul-searching and a willingness to get in touch with the darkness of the Season of Lent. Most of us would…
MERCY – Episode 1
Retracing the steps of Jesus during Holy Week requires considerable soul-searching and a willingness to get in touch with the darkness of the Season of Lent. Most of us would…
Mercy Promo
Retracing the steps of Jesus during Holy Week requires considerable soul-searching and a willingness to get in touch with the darkness of the Season of Lent. Most of us would…
A Word of Love
Garrett Vickrey Sunday, December 20, 2020 Advent I Homily Psalm 89 Psalm 89 seems to be an effusive description of God’s covenantal love and blessings on King David, but if…
Silent Night … a celebration of hope, peace, joy and love
Episode 7 … In a time of Joy Episode 7 … In a time of Joy from YouthCUE on Vimeo. Silent Night … a celebration of hope, peace, joy, and…
Silent Night … a celebration of hope, peace, joy and love
Episode 2 … In a time of hope Episode 2 … In a time of hope from YouthCUE on Vimeo. Silent Night … a celebration of hope, peace, joy and…
A Word of Joy
Garrett Vickrey Sunday, December 13, 2020 Advent I Homily Psalm 126 To say that my mom has had a tough last decade would not be an overstatement. As many of…
Silent Night … a celebration of hope, peace, joy and love
Episode 1 … In a time of hope Episode 1 … In a time of hope from YouthCUE on Vimeo. Silent Night … a celebration of hope, peace, joy and…
SILENT NIGHT … a celebration of hope, peace, joy, and love.
Silent Night Video Series Promo Episode 0 … In a time of hope, peace, joy, and love Observing all 2020 pandemic protocols, YouthCUE and Woodland Church provide a series of…
A Word of Peace
Garrett Vickrey Sunday, December 6, 2020 Advent I Homily Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 Psalm 85 is a reflection on God’s covenantal faithfulness. It’s a call for restoration and forgiveness. It’s a…
A Word of Hope
Garrett Vickrey Sunday, November 29, 2020 Advent I Homily Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Advent begins in the dark. It begins on the pages of newspapers and on local newscasts where we…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 14
Saturday, July 4th, referring to the Unanimous Declaration of Independence when we were a Christian nation in contrast to the recent trend. The figure above indicates the proportion…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 30
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Friday, July 3 By Kim Moore Psalm 30 I will exalt you, Lord for you lifted me out of the depth and did not let…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 86
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Thursday, July 2 By Lisa Shinkins Psalm 86 On a very hot day in August, my hero died. The hero that I went…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 130
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Wednesday, July 1 By Mary Nichols Psalm 130 A song of ascents. 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; 2 Lord, hear my voice.…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 138
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Tuesday, June 30 By Lynn Teel A Psalm of David – Psalm 138 1 Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!” Angels listen…
Daily Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 13
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Monday, June 29, 2020 Psalm 13 By Lance Mayes Psalm 13 (NLT) 1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 73
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Sunday, June 28 By: Carol Hagler Psalm 73 Psalm 73 first caught my attention on a chilly November Saturday morning in 1989, as…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 25
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Saturday, June 27 By: Joel Kirn Psalm 25 New International Version (NIV) Psalm 25 Of David. 1 In you, Lord my God, I put…
Daily Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 8
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Friday, June 26, 2020 A Psalm about Creation By Ray Cook Furr 1O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the…
Devotions Based on the Psalms: Psalm 121
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Thursday, June 25 By: Brad Dutton Psalm 121 A song of ascents. 1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my…
Devotions Based on Psalm: Psalm 22
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Wednesday, June 24 By: Lee Weems Psalm 22 Living In Times of Struggle and Hope Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) To the director: To the…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 33
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Tuesday, June 23 By: Linda Mason Psalm 33 1 Release your heart’s joy in sweet music to the Eternal. When the upright passionately…
Devotions Based on the Psalms: Psalm 40
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Monday, June 22 By: Garrett Vickrey Psalm 40 [From Psalms for a New World] I have trusted You, Holy One and waited…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 63
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Sunday, June 21 By: Sharon Sheriff Psalm 63 A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah. 1 You, God, are…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 139
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Saturday, June 21 By George Cowden Psalms 139 1Lord, you have examined me and you know me. 2 You know everything I do; from…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 122
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Friday, June 19 By: Marilyn Gladson Psalm 122 New Living Translation (NLT) Psalm 122 A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 100
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Thursday, June 18 By: Edgar Twedt Psalm 100 (nrsv) 1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come into…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 82
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Wednesday, June 17 By Diana Bridges Psalm 82 God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods. How long will you judge…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 91
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Tuesday, June 16 By Edie Dutton PSALM 91 1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 34
Sunday, June 14 By: Daniel Zamora Psalm 34 1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in the…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 46
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Saturday, June 13 PSALM 46 Derlene Williams 1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 27
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Friday, June 12 Psalm 27 – by Gwen Kandt So, I am a “theater geek” – an actor, director, playwright. And many of…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 147
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Thursday, June 11 By: Grayson Hanchey (10 years old) Psalm 147 (New Revised Standard Version): Praise for God’s Care for Jerusalem This psalm…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 19
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Wednesday, June 10 By Barbara Higdon Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 92
Tuesday, June 9 Randy Edwards PSALM 92 – DOING WHAT IS GOOD Forty-one years ago, I sang a required recital to complete my masters in church music. On that springtime…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 23
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Monday, June 8 By Willard Teel A Psalm of David – Psalm 23 1. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2.…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 55
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Sunday, June 7 By Erica Hanchey Psalm 55, full of vivid imagery of the battles we face and distinction between righteous and unrighteous,…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 88
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Saturday, June 6 By Matt Allen O God, I need You every day that I exist and every night that I pass through.…
Devotions Based on the Psalms: Psalm 131
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Friday, June 5 By Jeni Cook Furr Psalm 131 (NIV) 1. My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 1
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Thursday, June 4 The Two Ways A meditation by Ray Cook Furr Psalm 1 1Happy are those who do not follow the advice of…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 42
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Wednesday, June 3 Devotion on Psalm 42 by John Ramsey PSALM 42 (NIV) 1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 3
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 June 2, 2020 What do you do when life falls apart? Psalms 3 from The Message translation 1-2 Look! Enemies past counting! Enemies sprouting…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 51
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Monday, June 1st By Conrad Navarro For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after…
Devotions Based on Psalms: Psalm 11
St. John’s University, Collegivelle, MN, 56231 2006 Sunday, May 31st I am frightened by the insecurities about me. I am sorely tempted to run for my life, to take refuge…
Taking a Mediterrean Vacation with St. Paul as a Guide: “Do not be conformed to this world…”
Saturday, May 30th I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,…
Taking a Mediterrean Vacation with St. Paul as a Guide: “…to the praise of His glory…”
Friday, May 29th Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you…
Taking a Mediterrean Vacation with St. Paul as a Guide: “…forgiveness of sins…”
Thursday, May 28th I, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: Grace…
Taking a Mediterrean Vacation with St. Paul as a Guide: The Lord’s Supper
Tuesday, May 26th Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, to begin…
Taking a Mediterrean Vacation with St. Paul as the Guide: Fruit fo the Spirit
Monday, May 25th The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. –Galatians 5:22-23 On this Memorial…
Taking a Mediterranean Vacation as St. Paul as a Guide: “…encourage one another”
Sunday, May 24th Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the…
Taking a Mediterranean Vacation with St. Paul as a Guide: “…greatest of these is love.”
Saturday, May 23rd If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I…
Sign Language: Perceptions of John of the Messiah: “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb…”
The Saint John’s Bible, John Frontispiece: The Word Made Flesh. Donald Jackson, 2002 Friday, May 22nd Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene…
Sign Language: John’s Perception of the Messiah: “Lazurus, come out!”
The Saint John’s Bible, John Frontispiece: The Word Made Flesh. Donald Jackson, 2002 Thursday, May 21st Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her…
Sign Language: John’s Perception of the Messiah: “I am the Light of the World.”
The Saint John’s Bible, John Frontispiece: The Word Made Flesh. Donald Jackson, 2002 Wednesday, May 20th (Editor’s Note: I’ve included the entire ninth chapter of John’s Gospel here, because the complete…
What Is the Church When We Can’t Be Together?
“The church is not a building; the church is not a steeple; the church is not a resting place; the church is the people.” I learned this little verse as…
Sign Language: John’s Perceptions of the Messiah: Five Barley Loaves and Two Fish
The Saint John’s Bible, John Frontispiece: The Word Made Flesh. Donald Jackson, 2002 Tuesday, May 19th After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called…
Sign Language: John’s Perception of the Messiah: Five Barley Loaves and Two Fish
The Saint John’s Bible, John Frontispiece: The Word Made Flesh. Donald Jackson, 2002 Tuesday, May 19th After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called…
What Is the Church When We Can’t Be Together?
I believe we seek community when we come together as a church body. One dictionary defines “community” as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common…
Sign Language: John’s Perception of the Messiah: “Do you want to be made well?”
The Saint John’s Bible, John Frontispiece: The Word Made Flesh. Donald Jackson, 2002 Monday, May 18th After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.…
What Is the Church When We Can’t Be Together?
Greetings, Church Family. I miss seeing you in Sunday School, in the hallways, and in the pews! I miss your smiles and your hugs. We spoke easily of our church…
Sign Language: John’s Perception of the Messiah: “…second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee”
The Saint John’s Bible, John Frontispiece: The Word Made Flesh. Donald Jackson, 2002 Sunday, May 17th Then Jesus came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into…
Sign Language: John’s Perception of the Messiah: “the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory;”
The Saint John’s Bible, John Frontispiece: The Word Made Flesh. Donald Jackson, 2002 Saturday, May 16th On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother…
Sign Language: John’s Perceptions of the Messiah
The Saint John’s Bible, John Frontispiece: The Word Made Flesh. Donald Jackson, 2002 Friday, May 15th Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not…
What Is the Church When We Can’t Be Together?
We are not the first group of Christians who try to define the church during difficult times. Martin Luther, the XVI century great reformer, affirmed that the preaching of the…
What Is the Church When We Can’t Be Together?
During this time of safe physical distancing, what is the church when we can’t be together? For me, the church is as it always has been. I’ve experienced first-hand the…
The Parables and The Pandemic: “Two men went up to the temple to pray…”
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Wednesday, May 13th He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two…
What Is the Church When We Can’t Be Together?
Gathering together and knowing others care has been my experience of “being church” all of my life. During this time of paused conversations and hugs, I am realizing the joy…
The Parables and The Pandemic: “…their need to pray always and to lose heart.”
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Tuesday, May 12th Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain…
What Is the Church When We Can’t Be Together?
Years ago there were churches that posted on the signs around their campuses “Such and such a church meets in these buildings,” signifying, of course, that the church isn’t a…
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Monday, May 11th The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed,…
The Parables and The Pandemic: Sharing
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Sunday, May 10th “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at…
The Parable and The Pandemic: “The most puzzling parable Jesus ever spoke…”
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Saturday, May 9th Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him…
The Parables and The Pandemic: “I’ve been waiting for you.”
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Friday, May 8th Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father,…
The Parables and the Pandemic: “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Thursday, May 7th Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes…
The Pandemic and The Parables: God is at work during the most difficult times.
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Tuesday, May 5th At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with…
The Parables and The Pandemic: So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Monday, May 4th Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said…
The Parables and The Pandemic: “Lord, teach us to pray…”
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Sunday, May 3rd He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord,…
The Parables and The Pandemic: Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Saturday, May 2nd Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said…
The Parables and The Pandemic: The start of Luke’s parables!
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Friday, May 1st * Editor’s Note: Today we move to examining Luke’s parables. I find it interesting that there must have been many stories…
The Parables and The Pandemic: “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Thursday, April 30th “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on…
The Parables and The Pandemic: A man on a journey entrusted his property to his slaves
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Wednesday, April 29th “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them;…
The Parables and The Pandemic: Matthew 25:1-13
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Tuesday, April 28th Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of…
The Parables and The Pandemic: The kingdome of heaven may compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Monday, April 27th Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave…
The Parables and The Pandemic:The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Sunday, April 26th “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine…
The Parables and the Pandemic: Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?
The Sower, Vincent van Gogh Copyright: www.bridgemanart.com Original: https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-the-sower Saturday, April 25 When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was…
The Parables and The Pandemic: For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early
Friday, April 24th “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the…
The Parables and Pandemic: How many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?
Thursday, April 23rd Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I…
Parables: The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea
Wednesday, April 22nd Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it…
Parables: Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field
Tuesday, April 21st The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he…
Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast
Monday, April 20th He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all…
Parable – The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
Sunday, April 19th He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the…
Parable: The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field
Saturday, April 18th The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds…
Parable: A sower went out to sow
Friday April 17th That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and…
Why do you speak in parables?
Thursday, April 16 Then the disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets…
Sermon on the Mount: Beware of false prophets
Wednesday, April 15th Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.…
Sermon on the Mount: Ask, and it will given; search and you will find
Tuesday, April 14th Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and…
Sermon on the Mount: Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.
Monday, April 13th Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be…
Easter Sunday: He has Risen!!!
Easter Sunday, April 12th When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And…
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive;…
Good Friday
Good Friday, April 10, 2020 So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before…
Maundy Thursday Meditation
Maundy Thursday Meditation And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up…
Wednesday Holy Week
April 8th, Wednesday Holy Week Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for…
Tuesday Meditation
Tuesday Meditation When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you…
Holy Week: Monday
Holy Week: Monday Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple,…
Lest We Forget: Hymns for Holy Week
Sensing the need for comfort through the challenging days of COVID-19, and knowing that Holy Week 2020 will be a time none of us will soon forget, the staff of YouthCUE recently went…
Palm Sunday
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and…
Do Not Worry
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither…
When You Fast
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in…
When You Pray
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly…
For where your treasure is there your heart will be also
Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms,…
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so…
Do not refuse anyone
You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone…
simply Yes or No
Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you,…
It was also said
It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the…
It is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with…
You have heard that it was said
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone…
I have come not to abolish [the law] but to fulfill [the law]
Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven…
Blessed are those who are persecuted
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds…
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called daughters and sons of God
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called daughters and sons of God.” –Matthew 8:9 I begin this day with a confession that I daresay most of you would…
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” –Matthew 5:8 Earlier this week Jeni Furr shared with me a poem composed about these days of coronavirus. It…
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7 I have for some time been infatuated with words or phrases that have changed their meaning over the years…
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 This past weekend Lisa put in a call to the manager of our H-E-B…
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5 Newsweek magazine was one of the first news agencies to report the growing hysteria in stores about, of…
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. –Matthew 5:4 This past weekend I saw a newscast where the anchorperson was interviewing Cristina Higgins, an American woman currently…
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. –Matthew 5:3 One of the common beginnings in homiletics is for the preacher to begin with some…
The Beatitudes: Guides for Individual Journeys in Lent of 2020
An Introduction One of the curious ironies of preaching is that what a preacher says and what members of the congregation hear are sometimes different things. The prism of context…
Staying in Touch with God and Each Other During this Imposed Interim
Staying in Touch with God and Each Other During this Imposed Interim “Grace and peace” are words that Paul often employed when writing his scattered flock, and they seem so…
Hints of the Gospel in Written Word
Spring, 2020 Michael M. Massar D.Min. One of the pleasures that became vital in my life as a minister is reading. When I was just a first-grader, my mother took me to…
God Comes to His People
David Bridges John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace…
Just As You Are
Jeni and Ray Cook Furr Luke 2:8-10 8 That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. 9 All at once an angel came down to…
My Soul Glorifies the Lord
Carol Hagler Luke 1:46-48 As puzzled as a virginal teenaged Mary must have been by the angel’s announcement in Luke 1:30-33, she readily accepts her role as expectant mother of…
Behold: The Peace of Worship
Norman Dugas Isaiah 43:1-3 There’s not a lot of peace in our modern, daily lives. Pressures abound. Cell phones ringing. Email pinging. Obligations tugging at our shirttails. Maybe that’s why…
The Gift of Peace
Mary Russell John 14:27 “Peace, this I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart…
What a Wonderful World
Lisa Shinkins WBC Minister to Children Isaiah 11:6-9 As I read the Scripture assigned for this day, I could not help but think about the song by Louis Armstrong, “What…
Prepare for Christmas
Grayson Hanchey (age 10 years) Philippians 4:4-7 What Philippians 4:4-7 means to me is that you should not worry about anything else than God and you should not be afraid.…
Peace in the Beauty of the World
Kay Morrison Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called…
Waiting in Community
Diana Bridges Psalm 62:1-2, 5-7 As you read these words, I’m about 745 miles northeast of Woodland, at The Dwelling Place, a Franciscan prayer center deep in rural east Mississippi.…
Hope Dangerously
Edie Dutton Romans 8:18-25 The New Testament in Modern English paraphrases verse 19 as “the whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the people of God…
A Full Panoramic View
Paul Gagné Isaiah 40:11 Cameras offered on newer smartphones can be overwhelming. Many choices are provided like Night, Professional, Panoramic, Live Focus, etc. Furthermore, each option presents many levels of…
Plans for Shalom
Lance Mayes Jeremiah 29:11-13 Have you ever thought something will never happen? You can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel? You have hope, but it is becoming…
Refuge & Confidence
Lisa Massar Psalm 63:1-8 Today’s scripture, the first eight verses of the 63rd Psalm, beautifully reflect David’s ability to find refuge and confidence in God even when he was in…
God is Our Hope
Daniel Zamora Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” This ancient…
Advent Calendars
Ashley Allen Isaiah 40:1-5 “Prepare for God’s arrival. Jerusalem has served her sentence. All sins have been taken care of…Make the road straight and smooth…Then God’s bright glory will shine…
Dawntreading: Dr. Nora O. Lozano
Dawn Treading: A Monthly Blog Dedicated to New Experiences and Practices in Faith Development Editor’s Note: In the coming months we will post a blog each month in hopes of…
God Says, Yes
Week of Love We give thanks for the perfect love of your Son, so that we may, with grateful hearts, love one another. Amen Weekly Advent Prayers by Betty Claire Jackson By…
God with Us
Week of Love We give thanks for the perfect love of your Son, so that we may, with grateful hearts, love one another. Amen Weekly Advent Prayers by Betty Claire Jackson By…
Love in Action
The Week of Joy At the birth of your Son, you whisper to our hearts, Father, as you fill us with the joy of our salvation. We thank you. Amen…
The Greatest Gift
The Week of Joy At the birth of your Son, you whisper to our hearts, Father, as you fill us with the joy of our salvation. We thank you. Amen…
Wired to Love Music
The Week of Joy At the birth of your Son, you whisper to our hearts, Father, as you fill us with the joy of our salvation. We thank you. Amen…
Entrusted with a Treasure
The Week of Joy At the birth of your Son, you whisper to our hearts, Father, as you fill us with the joy of our salvation. We thank you. Amen…
Christmas Music
The Week of Joy At the birth of your Son, you whisper to our hearts, Father, as you fill us with the joy of our salvation. We thank you. Amen…
True and Perfect Peace
The Week of Peace As your peace rules in our hearts, we give thanks to you, Lord, and rejoice in the birth of the Prince of Peace. Amen Weekly Advent…
What Truly Brings Peace
The Week of Peace As your peace rules in our hearts, we give thanks to you, Lord, and rejoice in the birth of the Prince of Peace. Amen Weekly Advent…
Peace Means Waiting
The Week of Peace As your peace rules in our hearts, we give thanks to you, Lord, and rejoice in the birth of the Prince of Peace. Amen Weekly Advent…
Garden of Eden Peace
The Week of Peace As your peace rules in our hearts, we give thanks to you, Lord, and rejoice in the birth of the Prince of Peace. Amen Weekly Advent…
Rejoice Always?
The Week of Peace As your peace rules in our hearts, we give thanks to you, Lord, and rejoice in the birth of the Prince of Peace. Amen Weekly Advent…
The World Will Never Be the Same
The Week of Peace As your peace rules in our hearts, we give thanks to you, Lord, and rejoice in the birth of the Prince of Peace. Amen Weekly Advent…
Mixed signals or which way do I turn?
The Week of Hope You are our living hope, Lord, as we celebrate your promises for our present and our future on your birthday. We are your grateful people. Amen…
A Lot of Hope
The Week of Hope You are our living hope, Lord, as we celebrate your promises for our present and our future on your birthday. We are your grateful people. Amen…
Like a Shepherd
The Week of Hope You are our living hope, Lord, as we celebrate your promises for our present and our future on your birthday. We are your grateful people. Amen…
Look Everywhere
The Week of Hope You are our living hope, Lord, as we celebrate your promises for our present and our future on your birthday. We are your grateful people. Amen…
Fill Others Up
The Week of Hope You are our living hope, Lord, as we celebrate your promises for our present and our future on your birthday. We are your grateful people. Amen…
God With Us
The Week of Hope You are our living hope, Lord, as we celebrate your promises for our present and our future on your birthday. We are your grateful people. Amen…
Pelican Belief
The Week of Hope You are our living hope, Lord, as we celebrate your promises for our present and our future on your birthday. We are your grateful people. Amen…
Dawn Treading: Dr. Jill Y. Crainshaw
Dawn Treading A Monthly Blog Dedicated to New Experiences and Practices in Faith Development Editor’s Note: In the coming months we will post a blog each month in hopes of…
Habitat Weekly Prayer – for Build Day November 17
God of Beauty, nurture us all to be more loving people and to grow in our relationship with You and others. Let this time of service remind us to be…
Habitat Weekly Prayer – for Build Day November 10
Purposeful God, prompt us to stop occasionally and focus on the little things in life that You have blessed us with to witness Your glory and love.
Habitat Weekly Prayer – for Build Day November 3
Perfect God, let those working on this home: Habitat staff, volunteers and homeowners, strive to continually work for the greater good. As we focus on the details in this home,…
Habitat Weekly Prayer – for Build Day October 27
Delightful and Welcoming Father, as we work on the heart of this home, we ask that you bless all the meals this family will prepare and share together– that this…
Habitat Weekly Prayer – for Build Day October 20
God of Love, bless the ground this family will walk on inside and outside of their new home. Guide them to find and keep a secure footing in this world…
Habitat Weekly Prayer – for Build Day October 13
God of Mercy, as we construct storage space for this family, allow us to grow our capacity to forgive others. Open our hearts to show mercy to those who need…
Habitat Weekly Prayer – for Build Day October 6
Shielding God, we ask for the protection of our bodies and spirit as we seal the home to protect these families from the elements. Let us all look to You…
Dawn Treading
A Monthly Blog Dedicated to New Experiences and Practices in Faith Development Editor’s Note: In the coming months we will post a blog each month in hopes of deepening our…
Habitat Weekly Prayer – for Build Day September 29
God of Light, as light shines through the windows of this family’s new home, let us know that Your light is always there to guide us and provide us with…
Habitat Weekly Prayer – for Build Day September 22
Father God, as we come together this weekend to serve our community, let us build strong relationships with the people we meet along the way. As we build up the…
VBS Prayer Calendar July 8-14
Pray with us! For the next few weeks leading up to VBS we will be posting a weekly blog with daily ways you can be praying for our 2018 Vacation…
VBS Prayer Calendar for July 1-7
Pray with us! For the next few weeks leading up to VBS we will be posting a weekly blog with daily ways you can be praying for our 2018 Vacation…
VBS Prayer Calendar for June 24-30
Pray with us! For the next few weeks leading up to VBS we will be posting a weekly blog with daily ways you can be praying for our 2018 Vacation…
VBS Prayer Calendar for June 17-23
Pray with us! For the next few weeks leading up to VBS we will be posting a weekly blog with daily ways you can be praying for our 2018 Vacation…
You Are Loved
By Garrett Vickrey Luke 2:11-14 On a side street just off of South Congress in Austin there is a mint green wall with a message written on it. Scrawled across the…
Life, Love, and Joy
By Marilyn Gladson John 6:33 “The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Today is a special day for me.…
Choose Joy
By Elizabeth Pruitt Psalm 40:16 Choose joy!! Have you seen this advice on social media or received it from a well-meaning friend? Sometimes when I hear those words, I think “Really,…
A Moment of Silence
By Cameron Taylor Romans 12:9-12 “Please remain standing for a moment of silence.” As an elementary school teacher, the above words are spoken after the Pledge of Allegiance at the start…
The Birth that Changed the World
By Becky Miller John 1:14 “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:14 The birth that changed the world must change us also. Many years ago our…
Joyful Sounds
By Jerome Malek Psalm 98:4-9 “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” Psalm 98:4 From the beginning of time…
Ready for Joy
By Gina Garrison Luke 1:46-48 One of my favorite folk songs, recorded by Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem, is titled “Ready for Joy.” The song expresses the dark places in our…
Gifts of Light
By Daniel Zamora Isaiah 9:2-3 Increase your Joy and Rejoice! Have you ever tried to walk in the darkness, at least a few steps to reach the closest light switch or…
Peacebuilders
By Mark Noblitt Luke 2:11-14 In 20 centuries of Christianity, it is counterintuitive that a faith centered on peace has been used as the excuse for so much war and violence.…
The Bread of God
By Cindy Twedt John 6:33 “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Our dreams are said to reflect our waking…
I Am with You
By Glo Parchman Isaiah 43:1-3 This passage of scripture was unknown to me. I was eleven years old and living in Nevada during World War II. I was a new Christian. I…
Don’t Be Afraid
By Kirsten Hancock John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and…
How Long Lord?
By Conrad Navarro Isaiah 11:6-9 As I sit writing this devotional I’m still feeling sick, still shedding tears, and still praying for the survivors and the family members of our brothers…
The Peace of God
By Barbara Higdon Philippians 4:4-7 There is a pervasive theology called the “prosperity gospel” or the “name it–claim it” gospel which says that wealth and physical well-being are what God…
We are a People of Hope
By Lance Mayes Psalm 62:1-2, 5-7 I really love our mission statement: “We are a people of hope seeking to proclaim the love of Christ.” Hope is one of my…
Hoping and Waiting
By Lee Weems Romans 8:18-25 The typical scenario at the Malls for many families is to stand in the long line with children and/or grandchildren. There each person waits, seemingly…
Parenting is Hard
By Eastin Kandt Isaiah 40:11 “He will take care of his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs together and carry them in his arms; he will gently…
With All Your Heart
By Matt Allen Jeremiah 29:11-13 Craig Courtney composed a beautiful choral anthem based on Jeremiah 29:11-13 (“If You Search With All Your Hearts”). It was a “sugar stick” for my high…
Light in the Darkness
By Dena Dalton Psalm 63:1-8 “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you…” I am partial to Christmas Eve. We attend church. We have our Christmas dinner. We stay…
I Saw Santa, Maybe
By Bob Flynn Isaiah 7:14 We were a farm family in West Texas. We made our Santa Claus list from catalogs—Sears Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, Bella Hess. There was no TV or…
Hurricane Harvey: How to Help
Updated: Sunday, October 29 Here in San Antonio, we watched in relief and horror Hurricane Harvey unleash its fury on the Texas coast. Rain amounts in the worst hit areas…
Recycling – The Four Recycling Categories
By Jim Gladson Recycling – The Four Recycling Categories For the past 4 months it has been my pleasure to introduce folks to the world of Recycling. Download helpful PDFs…
VOLUNTEER: Extended Session Workers Needed
Do you like working with our youngest Woodlanders? Our children Pre-K through Kindergarten age go out of the worship service before the sermon each week. We are in need of…
VOLUNTEER: ESL Teachers Needed
ESL Classes Begin August 28 ESL Classes will be beginning soon. If you or someone you know might be interested in leading a class or helping with conversation with the…
VOLUNTEER: Kids Hope USA Mentors Needed
Have you been wanting to make a difference? Mentors from Woodland work with kids each week at Larkspur Elementary. It takes just one hour a week to mentor a child…
Recycling – Plastics – Not Accepted
By Jim Gladson Recycling – Plastics – Not Accepted Shredded paper Light bulbs Diapers Applicances Household trash Yard trimmings Aluminum foil Toys Waxed paper Trash bags Auto glass Dead animals…
Recycling — 5 – Polypropylene (PP), 6- Polystyrene (PS), and 7 – Other
By Jim Gladson Recycling — 5 – Polypropylene (PP) Caps, disks, syrup bottles, yogurt tubs, straws, toothpaste, & film packaging. Recycling — 6 – Polystyrene (PS) Meat trays, egg cartons, plates, cutlery, carry-out…
Recycling – 3 – Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and 4 – Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
By Jim Gladson Recycling — 3 – Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Window cleaner, cooking oil, & detergent bottles. Peanut butter jars & water jugs. Recycling — 4 – Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Plastic…
In His Own Words
WBC Sanctuary Choir & full orchestra [vimeo height=”HEIGHT” width=”WIDTH”]https://vimeo.com/224007479[/vimeo]
Recycling — 1 – Polyethylene Terephalate Ethylene (PETE) and 2 – High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
By Jim Gladson Recycling — 1 – Polyethylene Terephalate Ethylene (PETE) Soft drinks, juice, water, pill bottle, & cleaner bottles. Also for cooking & peanut butter container. Recycling — 2 – High Density Polyethylene…
Recycling – Plastics – GAPP
By Jim Gladson Recycling – Plastics – GAPP The symbol above is that for Recycling. Different colors are used but black is the most common. The Recycling industry has adopted…
Recycling – Paper – Sample of Paper Products
By Jim Gladson Recycling – Paper – Sample of Paper Products Advertising circulars & catalogs Phone books Envelopes & Junk Mail Magazines & newspapers Dry goods boxes w/liners removed: Cereal,…
Recycling – Paper – GAPP
By Jim Gladson Recycling – Paper – GAPP The “P” is for Paper, which is derived from the Egyptian “papyrus”, the native reed. Paper, as we know it today, was…
The Good Way and the Quick Way in Nuevo Laredo
By Garrett Vickrey Last week a team of 6 from Woodland followed Pastor Lorenzo Ortiz as he made the rounds to five churches in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico who are housing…
Recycling – Aluminum, Tin, & Metal (Iron) Cans – [GAPP]
By Jim Gladson Recycling – Aluminum, Tin, & Metal (Iron) Cans – [GAPP] Developed in the early 1800’s, it is the most abundant metal, yet the last to be developed.…
Recycling – Glass
By Jim Gladson Recycling – Glass The four categories of Recycling are: Glass, Aluminum, Plastic, & Paper or GAPP. Our first categories is Glass, which was first developed by man…
World Water Day
Water is necessary to sustain life. All life (plants and animals) must have water to survive. It is something we take for granted. We can just turn on a faucet…
Garbage — Instructions at Home
By Jim Gladson Garbage – Recycling – Organics Garbage At home, all garbage should be placed in large bags & then in the Brown Cart. Repeat until the cart is…
Cuban Refugees
Cuban Immigration Situation in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. 3-1-17 Their story started over 9 months ago. Cubans by the hundreds left their native land searching for what they considered the promise…
Ash Wednesday
By Lance Mayes I spent yesterday learning about advocacy — how to give a voice to the voiceless and marginalized. I specifically learned about immigration, the child welfare system, and…
New San Antonio System
By Jim Gladson Introduction The following are descriptions for the three Carts in use by many San Antonians. Contents of Carts: Garbage Recycling Organics Color of Cart: Brown Blue Green…
Things You’ll Need to Know
By Jim Gladson Introduction Before we go too far, let’s define some of the terms. 335 lbs – Maximum Load of Cart Carts – Out by 7am & in by…
Brief San Antonio History of Trash
By Jim Gladson Introduction In the 1880’s, the growth of paper products had reached a level that Recycling became a valuable commodity. By the 1950’s, minor recycling of aluminum drink…
The Truth Behind Senior Moments
What Causes Senior Moments and How to Manage Them By Carrie Hill, PhD If you’ve ever experienced senior moments — a nonmedical term for mental glitches — you’re not alone.…
Garbage – Recycling – Organics
By Jim Gladson Introduction San Antonio’s beautiful colors are reflected in…Garbage, Recycling, & Organics. The 24 posts cover: Introduction (4 posts) Garbage (2 posts) Recycling (10 posts) Organics. (8 posts)…
Putting the Decorations Away
by Dan Jean “The whole assembly then agreed to celebrate the festival seven more days; so for another seven days they celebrated joyfully.” 2 Chronicles 30:23 The anticipation of the…
In Need of Rest
By Aaron Tyler John 3:16 For God so loved the world Seven days He rested. Good He saw, but restless Pursuit of a broken Image quickly ensued. For God so…
God’s Present
By Sandra Peters Jude 1:24-25 Hallelujah, it’s Christmas Eve and we are celebrating the Present of presents! King of kings! Lord of lords! Yes! Jesus Christ!! The ultimate Present from…
Sing a New Song
By John Tompson Psalm 98:1-3 Psalm 98:1 begins with the admonition to “Sing to the Lord a new song.” I believe this new song is a song of praise, of…
I’ll Give Him My Heart
By Becky Miller Galatians 5:22-23 Galatians 5:22-23 doesn’t sound much like Christmas, does it? No angels, no baby, no star, but then I remembered a rhyme I learned as a…
Making Space for Love
By Roy Myers 1 Corinthians 13 Our holiday decorations have become one part of the way we create space for celebration and a way to proclaim our love for God…
Longest Night Service
Advent is filled with joy and celebration, but it can also be difficult. The holidays sometimes bring up powerful feelings of grief, loneliness, and sorrow. If you’re feeling blue this…
Love One Another
By Becky Upchurch John 13:34 The setting for today’s text is the Upper Room where Jesus and his disciples have their last meal together. Judas has left to do his…
Goodbye Carts — Hello Blue Steel
By Jim Gladson Give a fond goodbye to the four Recycling Carts. The 4 carts were acquired from the City of San Antonio in October, 2012. In the four years…
Indescribable and Glorious Joy
By Edgar Twedt 1 Peter 1:8 6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness…
Christmas Concert Offering
The offering this evening will support the work of Francis and Missy Angalla with Restoring Voices Ministry in Kampala, Uganda. The purpose of Restoring Voices is to nurture and develop…
Offering for Global Missions – 4
On the leading edge of the modern missionary movement, Baptists have been forming together, making disciples of all nations through long-term presence and commitment to serve the most forgotten and…
Song of Praise
By Lori Tyler Luke 1:46b-55 I don’t know about you, but I love Christmas carols. They are what make the Christmas season so special and memorable. They remind me of…
Joy, Hope, and Rest
By Nora O. Lozano Psalm 40:16 Psalm 40 is full of contrasts. On the one hand, the Psalmist writes about his own difficult experiences: Being in a desolate pit, and…
Love Flowing
By Dan Jean Romans 12:9-12 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.…
Moving into Calling
By Lance Mayes John 1:14 The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like…
Music in Our Hearts
By Bob Morrison Psalm 98:4-9 Who can really sing? Well, at first thought, I was not the best choice for this scripture or so I thought. That rascally Randy Edwards…
Tiny Living
By Linda Mason Luke 1:46-48 If we are truthful, it’s not always easy to be joyful. Mary found herself in a less than desirable situation, and yet, she embraced her…
Offering for Global Missions – 3
On the leading edge of the modern missionary movement, Baptists have been forming together, making disciples of all nations through long-term presence and commitment to serve the most forgotten and…
The Practice of Celebration
By Christyn Baer Isaiah 9:2-3 “Joy” might be my favorite Christmas word; I can’t think of another that produces such a deep and overflowing feeling of excitement. In The Life…
Birth Announcement
By Mark Hart Luke 2:11-14 Don’t people appreciate how busy I am? Good grief, I have these committee meetings to go to and chair, I have to get these reports…
Bread of Life
By Cameron Vickrey John 6:33 Jesus had just gotten through feeding the five thousand with 5 loaves and 2 fish. The disciples had been looking for him the next day,…
Christmas in the Barrio
A one day mission trip on Saturday, December 10. Be at the church at 9:00 am. We should be back around 8:30 pm. We will join our partner church Iglesia…
A Word from Our Creator
By Daniel Zamora Isaiah 43:1-3 Many of those who make or do something for others like to offer words of thankfulness, promise, affirmation, compromise, service and warranty to their customers.…
How Jesus Gives
By Ellen Di Giosia John 14:27 Here is how the world gives: “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” This is how Jesus gives: “For it is by grace…
When Will This Be?
By Lee Weems Isaiah 11:6-9 Already busy shoppers rush about and bump into one another. Still others cut in front of others to grasp that gift away. Perhaps a brief,…
Control Enthusiast
By Edie Dutton Philippians 4:4-7 I think someone is trying to tell me something, I thought as received my Advent devotional assignment. This is the second time I have been…
Offering for Global Missions – 2
On the leading edge of the modern missionary movement, Baptists have been forming together, making disciples of all nations through long-term presence and commitment to serve the most forgotten and…
The Prince of Peace
By Conrad Navarro Isaiah 9:6-7 Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace! What incredibly comforting titles of their future king to the people of Judah! What incredible words…
My Soul Waits in Silence
By Bettie Reddick Psalms 62:1-2, 5-7 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I…
Resting Means Actively “Faithing”
By Randy Edwards Romans 8:18-25 Believing in Jesus is the most counter-cultural thing you and I will ever do. While the world chases down instant gratification, demands quick solutions, politicizes…
The Blessing of Waiting
By Rubye Box Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be…
The Gift of Presence
By Randy Blanton Jeremiah 29:11-13 I am often puzzled by those who misuse human suffering as a litmus test to question the reality of God’s love. “If God is love,”…
The Well that Never Runs Dry
By Barbara Higdon Psalm 63:1-8 “All day I’ve faced a barren waste/Without a taste of water,” sang the Sons of the Pioneers. “Old Dan and I with throats burnt dry/And…
Offering for Global Missions – 1
On the leading edge of the modern missionary movement, Baptists have been forming together, making disciples of all nations through long-term presence and commitment to serve the most forgotten and…
Anxious Rest Broken By Harmonic Hope
By Garrett Vickrey Isaiah 40:1-5 If you were to put the book of Isaiah to a musical score there would be a whole rest between chapters 39 and 40. If…
Election Day Communion
By Ellen Di Giosia During the course of this election season, the airwaves have been filled with divisive rhetoric, accusations of illegal and immoral behavior, and a shocking coarsening of…
God is Always Good | A Psalm
During our weekly Youth Gathering on August 7, we concluded our study of the book of Psalms by writing our own Psalms to God. Some students wrote their own words,…
The God who Saves | A Psalm
During our weekly Youth Gathering on August 7, we concluded our study of the book of Psalms by writing our own Psalms to God. Some students wrote their own words,…
Praise the Lord! | A Psalm
During our weekly Youth Gathering on August 7, we concluded our study of the book of Psalms by writing our own Psalms to God. Some students wrote their own words,…
With Me Everywhere | A Psalm
During our weekly Youth Gathering on August 7, we concluded our study of the book of Psalms by writing our own Psalms to God. Some students wrote their own words,…
Enduring Grace, Mercy and Love
By Lee Weems Psalm 118 The boom of the thunder awakened us. Pounding rain was falling on the roof and we were thankful to be inside. In the dark night,…
Sowing Seeds and Waiting for the Harvest
By Barbara Higdon Psalm 126 We appear to be a nation depressed and angry. We cry out to God to “restore our fortunes.” We rail against the failures of our…
Living Water
By Barbara Higdon Psalm 63:1-8 “All day I’ve faced a barren waste/Without a taste of water,” sang the Sons of the Pioneers. “Old Dan and I with throats burnt dry/And…
We were hacked!
By Lance Mayes A few days ago woodlandsa.org was hacked. Malware was put on many pages on our site. It took a couple of days of some experts working on…
Amazing Signs of Lent
By Edgar Twedt Psalm 63:1-8 It’s amazing how the signs of Lent jump out at us daily, and even more amazing how easily we can miss them. This beautiful psalm…
Strength Through God
By Bridgette Langford Psalm 150 Chapter 150 of Psalms verses 1-5 reminds us to always give thanks to God, sing unto to Him, and to rejoice always for the wonderful…
Thanks, Praise and Good News
By Lance Mayes Psalm 105 The first two verses in Psalm 105 encourage us to give thanks and sing praises to God and let the whole world know the wonderful…
Put Your Trust in God
By Nate Newell Psalm 27 King David writes in Psalm 27 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my…
Follow and Trust
By Mike Elliot Psalm 27 I think that one of the most powerful verses in Psalm 27 is verse 14. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and…
The Lord is My Light
[youtube height=”425″ width=”800″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-bMniVioPA[/youtube] By Lance Mayes Psalm 27 It is easy to be afraid; we have so much to be afraid of — at least that’s what they tell…
The S-L-S of Worship
By Erica Hanchey Psalm 27 In Psalm 27, David calls upon his experiences of strife, war, and fear in the face of his enemies. He expresses, through prayer and song,…
The Joy of Schadenfreude
By Ellen Di Giosia Psalm 17 “As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.” Psalm…
Honest Prayers and God’s Path
By Tasha Kane Psalm 17 When we read the Psalms, we see that King David prays to God in sorrow and joy, in fear and in triumph. He prays as…
Lies, Violence, Hate and Crime – People ask for help!
By Daniel Zamora Psalm 17 Was the line above the headline of a newspaper or tabloid of any city in the twenty-first century? No, that is the topic summary of…
God’s Protection
By Leslie Kandt Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 “The Lord says, ‘If someone trusts me, I will save them. I will protect my followers who call to me for help.’” (Psalm 91:14)…
Living in the Shelter
By Diana Bridges Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 The first image that comes to my mind when reading these words is that of a superhero, impervious to the frailties of mortal life.…
Is It That Simple?
By Jason Hanchey Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 On the surface, this passage makes it so simple. I believe, therefore I am granted all these protections? Where do I sign? This euphoria…
Rest in the Shadow of the Almighty
By Jennie Mayes Psalm 91:1-2; 9-16 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He…
The Problem of Sin
By Lance Mayes Psalm 51:1-17 Lent. Growing up Baptist, I was not too familiar with this practice. My Catholic friends would give up caffeine or chocolate, but I was…
The Gift is Here
By Garrett Vickrey John 3:16 It’s here. Christmas. Joy to the world! The Lord is Come! What will we see now? We have been keeping watch for so long.…
Happy Christmas to All
By Dan Jean Galatians 5:22‐23 “‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” I would be surprised if you…
The Ultimate Gift
By Rubye Box I Corinthians 13 The 13th chapter of I Corinthians is known as the love chapter. Many wedding ceremonies include this chapter because it is a perfect picture…
Teach Us to Love
By Leo Parchman John 13:34 We use the word “love” in many different ways. It can describe a feeling of compatibility among friends, or a “moonlight and roses” feeling of…
Actions of Love
By James Higdon 1 Peter 1:8 Today’s devotional passage focuses on an aspect of love that we don’t often consider, although it is something of which we are certainly conscious…
Magnificat
By Daniel Zamora Luke 1:46b‐55 Today’s passage is known as the Song of Mary, the “Magnificat,” a spontaneous hymn identified through the centuries as the first canticle recorded in the…
Pain, Hope, Transformation
By Chris Langford Psalm 40:16 Where do we place our hope when others cause us pain? This is a question I often seem to ponder and perhaps one that King…
Be the Light of Joy
By Bridgette Langford Romans 12:9‐12 What does it mean to have Joy? Christ shares with us that in order for us to truly seek Joyfulness, our love must be genuine,…
The Word Moved Into The Neighborhood
By Bob Morrison John 1:14 You just cannot begin John’s first Chapter at verse 14. You have to begin at the beginning… “In the beginning was the Word…” Genesis comes…
Joy in My Heart
By Emily Delgado Psalm 98:4‐9 I have had to sit with this Advent devotion for a long me. As much as I love the Christmas season, I have felt unable…
THE Christmas Story
By Windy Barker Luke 2:8‐10 And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the…
We Rejoice Together
By Lance Mayes Joy seems elusive at times; sometimes non-existent for long stretches of me. Such is the case for Israel. These were dark times. No joy. No hope. No…
Wonderful Gift
Gina Garrison Luke 2:11‐14 What a spectacle those shepherds witnessed the night Jesus was born! Picture them out on the hills, minding the flock, perhaps chatting among themselves. Suddenly the…
The Bread of God
By Brad Dutton John 6:33 I have a problem. Actually several problems if you ask my close friends and family. The particular problem I’m thinking about now began 15 years…
Good Shepherd
By Benjamin Tyler Isaiah 43:1‐3 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be…
Peace that Passes Our Understanding
By Barbara Higdon John 14:27 As I prepared to write this Advent message, I reread many of the old Advent booklets from Woodland. So many previous writers have gone on…
And, Until Then?
By Bettie Reddick Isaiah 11:6‐9 The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and…
Inward Preparation
By Karen Calhoun Philippians 4:4‐7 Advent is a season of inward preparation. Advent is the work of the soul. Paul gives us the instructions in Philippians 4:4-7. “Rejoice in the…
Peace and Wholeness
By Ellen Di Giosia Isaiah 9:6‐7 Whenever I read this passage, I immediately start singing: “FOR unto US a child is BO-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-O- o-o-o-o-[this part goes on and on]-o-o-o-ORN!” I love…
Hints of Advent
By Edgar Twedt Psalm 62:1‐2, 5‐7 1. For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my…
Because of Suffering
By Patty Villareal Romans 8:18‐25 “I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us.” (v. 18) Suffering comes in…
Christmas in China
By Cyndi Levesque Isaiah 40:31 Christmas in China was a special experience. Marc and I lived in Nanning, China, for four years, and would always remain there at Christmas because…
Defining Moment
By Randy Blanton Jeremiah 29:11‐13 I’ve had the unpleasant experiences of wondering how I came to be in difficult and distressing circumstances. I had never planned for such to occur,…
First-World Problems
By Randy Edwards Psalm 63:1‐8 I cannot hear this passage without also hearing in my head and heart an extraordinary solo written with this very text by Dan Goeller. The…
The One Who Loves Us
By Diana Bridges Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. In…
Delayed Gratification
By Garrett Vickrey Isaiah 40:1-5 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin…
A New Song
By Christopher Langford Psalm 98 Psalm 98 begins with the verse “O sing unto the Lord a new song”. This simplistic statement is profound. It is so short and easy…
God Never Lets Us Down
By Christyn Baer Psalm 22:25-31 Psalm 22 begins with a line familiar to us all, being five weeks into Eastertide… “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” David…
I Am Not a Theologian
By Lucas Newell Psalm 23 I am not a Theologian. Nor am I a philosopher. Neither am I a half-decent devotional writer. So when I was asked to write a…
An Evening Prayer
By Mary Johns Psalm 4 Have you ever had trouble going to sleep or staying asleep? Do you ever wonder if God listens and answers your prayers? In Psalm 4,…
Living Together in Unity
By Mike Neely Psalm 133 This Psalm states in verse 1: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live in unity”. The Psalmist goes on to state in verse…
All About Me
By Lori Tyler Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16 David was a man after God’s own heart. David was called by God. He worshiped Him with all his being. His Psalms praise God…
Pain, Fears and Doubts
By David Goree Psalm 22 Years ago I was in a play at Manor Baptist Church. The play had two characters: Simon Peter and Judas Iscariot. I played Judas. The…
Serve and Remember
By Bridgette Langford Psalm 116 :1-2, 12-19 On this Thursday before Easter known at Maundy Thursday, we are to remember the importance of the commandments that Jesus instructed his disciples…
Spoiler Alert
By Christie Goodman Psalm 71:1-14 What would it be like to hear the story of the original Holy Week without knowing what comes next? Here, in that first part of…
Do You Love Me?
By Daniel Zamora Psalm 36:5-11 During our lifetime, we are confronted with the question “do you love me?” either initiated by ourselves or someone else. This is a way…
God’s Steadfast Love Endures Forever
By Ed Twedt Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 What a beautiful psalm. It divides easily into three parts. Verses 1 through 4 are about community, verses 5 through 21 are about the…
Looking on the Bright Side
By Barbara Higdon Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Many years ago, I cross-stitched verse 24 of Psalm 118; it still hangs in our bedroom. Even as a young wife with no children…
Connectivity Issues
By Garrett Vickrey Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 The cord is coming out of the ground. Or, maybe it was never really in the ground. I had to call AT&T this…
Worth the Work
By Lori Tyler Psalm 119:9-16 I’ve always loved the changing of seasons, and spring is my favorite time of the year. We took on a huge gardening project this winter…
Bible Drill to Promise
By Ellen Di Giosia Psalm 119:9-16 Like many Baptist children of my era, I was devoted to Bible Drill. While living in Mississippi, I studied each week and reveled in…
The Spirit of the Law
By David Goree Psalm 119:9-16 My cousin Brian is a judge on the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals, which is one step below the Oklahoma Supreme Court. (Please pardon…
Hidden Treasures
By Lance Mayes Psalm 119:9-16 If you grew up going to church, you probably memorized several Bible verses or passages. I know several people who have memorized the book of…
Connected to God
By Bridgette Langford Psalm 51: 1-12 Growing up in a Christian home , it was not until I was young adult I felt what it was like to be disconnected…
Beautiful Mess
By Jennie Mayes Psalm 51:1-12 Often, we want God to perform a “gut job” on us. We want to discard all that is ugly and messy of our lives. We…
Prayerful Plea
By Christie Goodman Psalm 51 One of the seven traditional Psalms for the Lenten season is Psalm 51. It comes with an editor’s note explaining that David wrote it after…
St. Patrick’s Day
By Diana Bridges Psalm 107:1-16 This psalm is an ideal reading for St. Patrick’s Day. It speaks of wanderers and prisoners in need of deliverance. Patrick certainly falls into those…
God’s Steadfast Love
By Ed Twedt Psalm 107:1-16 Reading recently about the history of Lent, it appears that there is no agreement among scholars about the exact origin and development of Lent, but…
Sacrificing Thank Offerings
By Barbara Higdon Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 As I was preparing for this devotional thought, I looked up the term “thank offering.” Most references say simply it’s an offering of thanks,…
Everyday Redemption
By Garrett Vickrey Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 In divinity school my urban ministry class took a pilgrimage to New York City. No, not to Broadway or the Empire State Building. We…
Icy Waters
By Lori Tyler Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 One summer my family and I lived in Northern Ireland. We stayed at a retreat center on the cliffs of the Irish Sea. You…
Worship Together
By Ellen Di Giosia Psalm 84 High above the front door to my house perches a nest made by barn swallows. Every year the birds return for some DIY, rolling…
Practice the Presence
By Lance Mayes Psalm 84 One of the first things that pops in my mind when I read Psalm 84 is a book I read in college, The Practice of the…
Love Beyond Words
By Jennie Mayes Psalm 19 Have you ever tried to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you? Last year, our family had the privilege of hosting…
Grammar 101
By Daniel Zamora Psalm 19 Perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, sure, righteous, precious and sweet. What do all these words have in common? Yes, they all are adjectives. We normally…
Listen to Creation
By Diana Bridges Psalm 19 Years ago, a commercial for a popular brokerage firm showed a busy world coming to a standstill to listen for financial words of wisdom. The…
Sing Praises to God
By Ed Twedt Psalm 105:1-11,37-45 This beautiful psalm is the story of Israel’s history, beginning with Abraham, and God’s promises to him, and God’s covenant with him. In this poignant…
At the Peak End
By Garrett Vickrey Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45 Nobel Prize winning researcher Daniel Kahneman has come up with a theory as to how we experience and remember suffering. He studied the experience…
Remember the Wonders
By Barbara Higdon Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45 In the Christian calendar, Lent is generally a time for solemn reflection on God’s sacrifice on the cross to save us from ourselves. Beginning…
A Legacy of Praise
By Lori Tyler Psalm 22:23-31 I love to sing hymns and songs of praise on Sunday morning. Sitting in a beautiful sanctuary with my family and friends, I am drawn…
Praise and Honor the Lord
By Mike Neely Psalm 22:23-31 This portion of Psalm 22 instructs those that “fear the Lord (to) praise him”. It also reminds us that “dominion belongs to the Lord and…
God is Near
By Ellen Di Giosia Psalm 22:23-31 In this season of Lent, we are reflecting on God’s promises fulfilled in the stories of scripture. From God’s creation of humankind, through the…
Once upon a time – Please pass the potatoes – there was a family, our family…
By Christie L. Goodman Psalm 77 A plethora of research in recent years has confirmed the value of family meal time – adult and child sharing a meal together around the…
The Right Way
By Daniel Zamora Psalm 25:1-10 “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his…
Trusting God
By Diana Bridges Psalm 25:1-10 Trust is in short supply among humans and many other earthlings. A case in point is my backyard birds. Regardless of my documented commitment to…
A is for Alligator and Acrostic
By Barbara Higdon Psalm 25:1-10 There are dozens of alphabet books for children that help to teach them their ABCs. Most feature a picture of something that starts with each…
More than Dust
By Garrett Vickrey Psalm 51:1-17 One night while I was a student at Baylor University I stepped into a Catfish King in Waco, TX to grab a bite to eat.…
The Blood Moon Temptation
By Garrett Vickrey Pastor John Hagee has just announced to his San Antonio congregation (and worldwide audience) that there will be a world-shaking event sometime between this April and October…
Paying Attention
By Ellen Di Giosia I’ve been giving up things for Lent for a number of years now, and it’s become a bit mundane. I could give up Starbucks, of course,…
A Joy that Rocks
By Christie Goodman I recently had to pack up and move into a new office. Working for a non-profit sometimes means tightening your belt a bit. So, like Nikki Blair…
Do Christians Trust God?
By Daniel Zamora In the “good old days,” Christians used to do bring all the daily life problems to the Lord in prayer and wait for His answer. In the meanwhile,…
Expectant Prayer
By Barbara Higdon Recently, my Sunday School class committed to pray at a specific time of day for a member who has suffered a long-term, debilitating medical condition with no apparent…
Life Happens
By Edgar Twedt There is an old aphorism, which says, “Life is what happens to us while we’re making other plans.” In the movie Dead Poet’s Society there is a poignant scene…
Cleaning House
By Nikki Blair If my mother knew I was writing a blog post titled “Cleaning House,” she would laugh. She knows—and I freely admit—that I’m not the consummate housekeeper. If…
What Writing Taught Me about Audiences.
By Bob Flynn I don’t recommend reading the Bible from the beginning to the end, especially for children. I don’t remember how long it took me to read the Bible…
ESL at Woodland
By Diana Bridges The world has come to San Antonio and now it’s coming to our church. After months of dreaming and planning, ESL at Woodland is a reality. On…
The Source of Love
By Carol Hagler John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, you must love one another. Our culture often describes a favorable impression of…
Behind the Gift
By Randy Edwards 1 Peter 1:8 As children, we gain lot of joy from receiving Christmas gifts. Gifts all wrapped up and placed carefully under the tree. Gifts about which…
Magnificat
By Garrett Vickrey Luke 1:46b-55 Be convicted. We need this song of Mary. We need it before we give another gift. Before we shop for that last gift. Before we…
Grace and Joy
By David Dillingham Romans 12:9-12 How many people have you known who have made poor decisions in a quest for happiness? The joy of Christ extends well beyond the boundaries…
In the Silence of Night
By Nikki Blair Psalm 98:4-9 in the silence of night, God whispers a Word, delivering our salvation, and shapes the light, revealing all that is right in the silence of…
Express Love and Gratitude
By Gina Garrison Luke 1:46-48 Mary was bursting with delight! She was to be the mother of the Messiah! Her song of gratitude, humility, and praise overflowed in this passage…
Listen and Run
By Paul Goodman Luke 2:11-14 In the darkness, an angel of God appeared to shepherds. They were terrified, but the angel told them not to be afraid and that a…
Where Peace is Found
By Lance Mayes Matthew 6:33 (NRSV) But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. It is…
Always with Us
By Mary Ellen Goree Isaiah 43:1-3 (Good News translation) Israel, the LORD who created you says, “Do not be afraid—I will save you. I have called you by name—you are…
God’s Gift of Peace
By Becky Upchurch John 14:27 For the last 30 years, my husband, Alan, and I have been driving back and forth to the family ranch in Leakey. Leakey is about…
The Reality of Peace
By Scott Blair Isaiah 11:6-9 I can remember a trip to the library one day in first grade. The librarian had planned a lesson about art and interpretation and that…
God’s Presence is Peace
By Karen Calhoun Philippians 4:4-7 Twenty-seven people were on the stand-by list at the flight gate when I arrived. I watched them return to the agent, time after time, fretting…
Back to the Future
By Garrett Vickrey Isaiah 9:5-7 Shouldn’t that arrow up at the top of this page be facing the other way? Why would it say Return and then have an arrow…
What to do While Waiting
By Randy Edwards Romans 8:18-25 The passage we have just read encourages us to do something we instinctively do not like to do. Simply stated, we vehemently do not want…
Hope in the Lord
By Daniel Zamora Isaiah 40:31 Have you ever felt that you are running out of hope? To some, hope is a futile thought or feeling because, they say, it produces…
Find Hope Once Again
By Lois Gagné Psalm 63:1-8 In this beautiful Psalm, David is a broken father and leader, who’s household and kingdom are in turmoil because of his own indecisiveness and halfhearted…
A Plan of Hope
By Ellen Di Giosia Jeremiah 29:11-13 Where did you last see this passage? Let me guess – a pen? A coffee cup? A wall hanging? Step into a Christian bookstore,…
What is Important
By David Elliott Isaiah 40:1-5 As we approach this Christmas time, it’s easy to get caught up in all of the busyness of the season. We have the onslaught of…
Thankful for Moustaches
By Garrett Vickrey This Thanksgiving I am thankful for moustaches. Or to be more precise. I am thankful that I am not growing a moustache at this time. This past Sunday in…
Describing the Unique
By Bob Flynn I marvel at the gospel writers who were writing about what they believed was a time like no other time when the sublime walked among them, talked…
Do Not Worry… God Takes Care of You
By Daniel Zamora “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear… but seek his kingdom, and these…
Between You and God
By Edgar Twedt “People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest,…
Tashi Deley!
By Lance Mayes This sign is at Leah’s elementary school. They a Leader in Me Lighthouse school (www.theleaderinme.org) based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. What…
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like …
By Nikki Finkelstein-Blair I’m afraid it’s true, I am one of Those People. But, let me be clear: I do not advocate for the celebration of Christmas to begin in…
What Writing Taught Me about Reading the Bible
By Bob Flynn When my parents asked what I wanted for my 9th birthday, I said I wanted a Bible. My mother said I would have a Bible someday but…
Responding with Humility
By Lance Mayes “Ouch! What was that?” “All I saw was wings … maybe a butterfly.” “Nope, definitely not a butterfly; it just stung me!” This exchange was near the…
Living the Book
By Edgar Twedt In “The Book of Eli” Denzel portrays a wanderer in a dark, post-apocalyptic world. He is protecting a book which he carries as he walks westward toward…
Back-to-School Blues?
By Ellen Di Giosia We all know summer is a ton of fun. Whether you’ve spent it at the beach, in the pool, or on vacation, it’s good to get…
“A-Rod: A Case Study in the Parable of the Rich Fool”
By Garrett Vickrey I preached on the parable of the “Rich Fool” from Luke 12 last Sunday. You know, the story about the man who had too much grain, too…
Faith or Certitude
By Bob Flynn When David went to battle Goliath he took five smooth stones. Five? Why not four? Three? Wouldn’t two stones show more faith in God? No. David didn’t…
Beautiful Life
By Lance Mayes Life is pretty amazing, isn’t it? For example, take my Lord Baltimore Hibiscus. When I bought it in the spring of 2012, it was just a 3”…
All the Good You Can
By Ed Twedt It was John Wesley who once famously wrote, “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in…
The Power of Music
By Daniel Zamora “When the trumpets sounded…the wall collapsed” Joshua 6:20 “…David would take his harp and play. Then Relief would come to Saul” 1 Samuel 16:23 “Accompanied by trumpets,…
Saying Yes
By Nikki Finkelstein-Blair Over the past couple of months our family has been on a roller coaster. As a Navy family, we are relocated every three years; we move to a…
Laredo Pilgrimage Report
Dear Woodlanders! I cannot believe it is Tuesday already!! Time flies when you are riding this big wave of God’s mercies and provisions. This is an incredible ride! I’m a story teller,…
A Present Help in Trouble
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of…
Anointing the Body
I was recently at a funeral for the elderly relative of a dear friend. It was a beautiful service – Scripture readings and songs from the woman’s great-grandchildren, glorious choral…
Hero Seeds
Several weeks ago we planted some tomato plants in our backyard. We’ve been told that squirrels and birds love to hijack the fruit. So, Nancy also planted two bird feeders…