(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on September 20, 2015.) It’s our second week looking at James chapter 1. You’ll get a chance before we are done today to share some things you notice in this chapter. I’m drawn to focus on four verses that …
Read MorePerseverance in the Right Direction
(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on September 13, 2015) If you google, “What happened to sin?”…you discover that lots of people have written about that question. One piece I found was written by Philip Yancey in March of 2014, titled “Whatever Happened to the …
Read MoreIntroduction to James
(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on September 6, 2015) One of the greatest critiques of religion is hypocrisy– when someone doesn’t act in line with what they believe and teach. I think the reason hypocrisy drives us all crazy is that we want faith …
Read MorePeacemaking
(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on August 23, 2015) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18) I’m not an organized person by nature, but the requirements of life force me to try and …
Read MorePreparing for Worship
(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on August 16, 2015) So yesterday as I was preparing for worship by preparing this message I want to say today, I got to thinking: I wonder if there are some people who think it’s the pastors’ job to …
Read MoreWhen We Hurt
(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on August 2, 2015) This week we chose to set aside our original plan for worship. The new title for today is “When We Hurt.” When we hurt is now. I am sure that every single Sunday, we have …
Read MoreDifficult Announcement
(This is the announcement I gave in our worship services at Newberg Friends on August 2, 2015) We felt the need today to take some time in our worship service to talk and pray about a situation that is likely on many of your minds. …
Read MoreYou have value. You are loved.
Yesterday it was announced that the organization I belong to, Northwest Yearly Meeting, through our Council of Elders has asked West Hills Friends Church to leave our Yearly Meeting, because their affirmation of committed same sex relationships is a diversity of thought that our Yearly …
Read MoreUnbiblical?
Our family of churches, the ones that make up Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends, are gathering this week for worship and business. The tension we’ve been living in for the past couple of years is almost palpable at times, while in other moments we just …
Read MoreGenerous Giving
(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on June 28, 2015) One of the gifts we gave you today is that we took the offering BEFORE we started talking about generous giving. You’re welcome! 🙂 My goal is to stay as far away from guilt today …
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