worship & messages – Page 12

Doors, Judgment, Love

(I had the opportunity to speak in chapel at George Fox University as part of Quaker Focus Week, on November 4, 2014) Have you ever had a recurring nightmare? I had one for years as a kid, and I hated it. Every time, I’d be walking …

Fasting

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on November 2, 2014) I don’t know how it happened exactly, but somehow I’ve gotten in the habit of digging into my past and blurting out the most embarrassing parts on Sunday mornings. I’ve showed you pictures of me …

Living out Love

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on October 5, 2014) At our best, we know, receive and live in the love God has for us. At our best, we’re confident in who we are as people loved by God, and so love tumbles out of …

Changing in the Spirit

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on September 28, 2014) “Changing in the Spirit.” So essential to our vision! We have a problem though. A conflict. A paradox. On the one hand, I never, ever want to lose sight of how important and inspiring and …

Listening to Christ

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on September 21, 2014) “This is no imaginary freak of the brain. The Lord has laid upon me the arduous work of selecting a suitable location for the commencement of a settlement of Friends in Oregon.” (Diary of William …

A Growing Community

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on September 14, 2014) “A growing community.” What does that look like? Why is this an important part of our vision for our church? It’s impossible for me to underestimate how important community and friendships and relationships have meant …

Our Vision Statement

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on September 7, 2014) My dad would sometimes, out of the blue, say: “Brylcreem: a little dab’ll do ya!” I don’t really know why, other than I know he heard that slogan a lot listening to the Lone Ranger …

Enemies

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on August 31, 2014) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your …

Consistent and Faithful

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church on August 17, 2014) Matt. 5:33-37 My wife Elaine has been watching TED talks. She’s working her way through the list of the all-time most watched TED talks. Mostly that’s a cool thing, because she’s learning a lot and …

Sexuality…in Context

(Message given at Newberg Friends Church, August 10, 2014) We’re in this series on the sermon on the mount, and today’s section has adultery, sexuality, gouging your eyes out, divorce…really not many places you can go wrong there, right? Whose bright idea was this series anyway? If I …