“I just don’t know if I believe anymore—and I don’t know what to do about it.”
When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His …
The letters contained in the Bible were selected for preservation in part because they speak to timeless issues in the church. In Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, after a flowery introduction in the first nine verses, Paul gets to the meat of the matter beginning in the 10th verse:
This week I couldn’t help but think about hometowns. In the past two columns, I have discussed stereotypes and the struggles of what others think about you without them truly knowing you. I heard a saying years ago that has stuck with me and I often bring it to memory. I have no famous pers…
Recently I read a portion of Psalm 27 as part of my morning time of devotions. Ascribed to David, this is a Psalm that reaffirms that the God we serve never forsakes us. David urges the reader to rest in God, “the stronghold of life.” That phrase brought an image of two hands clasped tightly…
Last week, I discussed stereotypes and that Jesus had to face them just like any of us. The stereotype I shared that Jesus faced came from the lips of one of his own disciples, Nathanael.
John Wesley used to exhort the early Methodist circuit riders to “Read, or get out of the ministry.” Severe? Perhaps, but I’m convinced that reading is an absolute essential to discipleship. We are called, after all, to be lifelong learners; disciples of the Kingdom never master the curri…
New research from West Virginia University shows religiosity can help turn believers into entrepreneurs.
Life moves fast, 2022 is gone, and the new year has begun. The excitement of the holidays is over, and we’re about to return to the routine of life. In many ways, routine is our friend. The seasons mark the passing of time, and a regular schedule helps us plan our days so that we can be prod…
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,…
Welcome 2023. For many, the idea of a new year brings hope, while for some it brings sadness. As I have read several posts on Facebook, I see a snapshot of 2022 in review. Some posts are about the great joys with births and marriages, while other posts are surrounded with sadness because of …
I wonder what they saw in the sky that first night. What was it that got them thinking?
It often baffles me that, despite Christmas creeping earlier every year, most people seem to just celebrate the first day of Christmas, Dec. 25, and then stop. Within the church, Christmas begins on Dec. 25 and continues for 12 days (thus the song) until Jan. 5.
Ahhh! Christmas. The time has come. On Sunday, weather permitting, we will gather at the small country church I attend and celebrate the birth of the Christ Child on Christmas Day. I am looking forward to my church family singing songs and reading the once more the Christmas Story, reminding…
Birth is such an amazing part of creation. The process of the beginning of life and creation is absolutely amazing when you try to fathom. Adam and Eve were the only beings ever to walk this earth without going through the process of birth according to the scriptures. I know there are many t…
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. B…
After months of planning and anticipation, Christmas appears to be over all too quickly. On Dec. 26, retailers tell us we are in the after-Christmas season of returns, exchanges, and more sales. The church calendar, however, tells us it is still Christmas.
At Christmas, the emphasis can often be narrowly focused on the arrival of the Messiah as the Savior of the world. This is undoubtedly true and a great reason to celebrate, but the arrival of the Messiah brought more than just salvation. When Jesus arrived on the scene, He came to fulfill al…
Over 750 people “came to the stable” for the 1st-ever live nativity scene organized by the Hampshire County Community Event Center on Saturday. The event also raised funds for additions and repairs for the barn at the Hampshire County Fairgrounds in Augusta
For the last 7 weeks, the Lord has taken me through the book of Revelations and together we have looked at the letters to the 7 churches in Asia as listed by John. Every church had different struggles and needed to hear a word from the Lord.
There’s a meanness in the air. The world is cruel. People are inhumane. Life seems dark. In the midst of the meanness, amid the cruelty, in the midst of the inhumanity, amid the darkness, God’s Son is born. God’s Son is born within the inhumanity as a human. God’s son is born amidst the mea…
Many of the Christian community gathered at St. Stephen Episcopal last Sunday afternoon, Nov. 20, for Thanksgiving worship. Mayor Beverly Keadle read a proclamation from the Town of Romney. Church Warden Candy Ponchak of St. Stephen Episcopal led the service, with Pastor Steve Wilson of Romn…
November 27 is the 1st Sunday of Advent. As such, it is also the 1st Sunday of the Church year (as many know, the Church year begins with Advent and ends with Christ the King Sunday). Each year when Advent nears, I look for additional devotional guides. This year I am using the “Upper Room’s…
There is an old Southern Gospel song called “The Old Rugged Cross Made the Difference.” The song is a moving musical testimony about a man’s life before and after his Christian conversion. All who have experienced this change have a before and after testimony, too, even if it is not as drama…
From the time he was a small child, he knew those closest to him did not really know him, at least not in the most essential way. He had a secret they could not bear, a secret he held in his heart until he thought he would explode.
As the holidays approach, the opportunities to bless others appear right on schedule. Churches begin collecting Christmas shoeboxes to send to children throughout the world. Food is collected and gladly shared with the community so every family can enjoy a meal together. Boxes for collecting…
I have been taking a walk down memory lane these past few weeks, asking myself, “Who nurtures, or has nurtured, my faith?” And as I thought of this, I gave thanks for all the folks who have done so. Maybe this question popped into my head because we are entering a season of thankfulness; en…
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