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(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on April 24, 2016) Somehow, it has been 30 years since I graduated from high school. I’ve been working with a couple others to plan our reunion next September. This means, of course, that I’ve been thinking about high …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on April 17, 2016) A couple of years ago, Steve Fawver had this brilliant idea. He found out we could get golf lessons really cheap, and thought several of us should do it together. I think it was a Groupon …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on March 27, 2016) I’m really glad we’re here together today! This is our big day! This is the reason we have a church, have faith, have hope. Easter is when we celebrate the heart of our faith, the …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on March 20, 2016) Movies do a great job of giving visual details to help us understand who is who in a movie. In some cases, the details even work within the movies to help someone discover their identity. …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on March 13, 2016) The judgment of history looks different depending on what century you are in. If you were a time traveler and dropped in around 1500 BC, the Egyptian Empire was the mark of success. Fast forward …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on March 6, 2016) Can an outcast find acceptance and love from Jesus? I think if I frame the question that way, most everyone would say “Of course!” Part of why we so easily believe it to be true …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on February 28, 2016) Today we’re looking at Solomon’s life to see what we can learn about clearing ground in our lives, clearing ground and making room for what God wants to do in us. Solomon is a wonderful …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on February 21, 2016) Have you thought much about what you want your last words to be? I’ve thought about making a will, and about doing financial planning. I’ve thought about what I’d like to be remembered for. But …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on February 14, 2016) ‘Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’ Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious …

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on February 7, 2016) Farming metaphors are so wonderful for the spiritual life! This is a bit of a problem for me, because…I’m not a farmer. I’m not a gardener even. I don’t naturally speak “farm”. But I think …